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Amino acids have emerged as promising molecular frameworks for the generation of functional materials owing to the bio-compatibility and thermodynamic stability of their self-assembled architectures.

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Parts made by Layered Manufacturing (LM) have a limited surface accuracy and their build time is often long due to the deposition of sacrificial support structure. However, LM machines with an ability to deposit along multiple directions can improve upon the surface quality and reduce the support volume. In this paper we analyze the problem of multi-direction slicing. This analysis addresses the questions: How much of a part should be made along a particular direction and why. The strategy used in multi-direction slicing is to progressively decompose the part into sub-volumes, each of which can be completely built along a certain direction. Key issues are identified and a task framework for multidirection slicing is proposed. Algorithms and implemented examples are presented.

Layered Manufacturing (LM) techniques build a part by adding thin layers of material. In this process, overhangs need to be supported by sacrificial supports, resulting in an increase in the build time, wastage of material, and costly post-processing. Metal-based LM machines with the capability to deposit material along multiple directions resolve most of the above problems. Importantly, these machines can deposit nonplanar slices. In this paper, we study such slices and present a task framework for their use with multidirectional layered deposition machines. The aim of the analysis is to identify part subvolumes that can be built using nonplanar slices for a process-dependent overhang angle. Solution methodologies for 2D, extruded parts, and general 3D parts are presented. Algorithms and illustrative example parts are included.