Seam concealment for three-dimensional models

Abstract

A three-dimensional model built with an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, and having a perimeter based on a contour tool path that defines an interior region of a layer of the three-dimensional model, where at least one of a start point and a stop point of the contour tool path is located within the interior region of the layer.

1 . A three-dimension model built with an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the three-dimension model comprising a plurality of layers of an extruded material, wherein at least one of the layers comprises:
 a perimeter of the extruded material, the perimeter comprising a start point and a stop point; and   an interior region of the layer defined by the perimeter, wherein at least one of the start point and the stop point is located within the interior region of the layer.   
     
     
         2 . The three-dimensional model of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the at least one of the start point and the stop point is offset from a centerline of the perimeter of the layer by a distance that is greater than about 50% of a road width of the perimeter. 
     
     
         3 . The three-dimensional model of  claim 2 , wherein the distance ranges from greater than about 50% of the road width to about 200% of the road width. 
     
     
         4 . The three-dimensional model of  claim 1 , wherein the start point and the stop point are each located within the interior region of the layer. 
     
     
         5 . The three-dimensional model of  claim 1 , wherein the locations of the start point and the stop point define an arrangement selected from the group consisting of an open-square arrangement, a closed-square arrangement, an overlapped closed-square arrangement, an open-triangle arrangement, a closed-triangle arrangement, a converging-point arrangement, an overlapped-cross arrangement, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The three-dimensional model of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter comprises at least one step-over arrangement between the start point and the stop point.