Page 75 - MSAM-1-3

Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing 2D/3D visualization software for bioprinting

extracts the information from the lines that contain Cartesian A B
coordinates (X, Y, and Z) and stores this information in a file.
In simple terms, if X, Y, and/or Z letters exist in a G-code line,
the program extracts those lines alongside the G commands
that specify the type of movement mentioned (e.g., linear
or circular) and then determines whether positioning
is absolute or relative. The positioning type determines C D
how the Cartesian coordinates of the 3D construct are
calculated. In case of absolute positioning, the XYZ values
are specific coordinates and stored as they are. However,
in relative positioning, the XYZ values of a line are added
to corresponding XYZ of the previous line. Sometimes a
G-code line might not have coordinate information for all E F
XYZ; in this case, the values of the missing coordinates in
a line are copied from the previous stored line information.

2.3. From G-code to visualization
The calculated XYZ coordinates and movement types were
retrieved from either a.txt or.xlsx file to begin the translation
process from written text lines into a 3D visualized model. Figure 2. (A-F) Overview of graphical user interface for the two-
The stored information represents the 3D trajectory points dimensional and three-dimensional visualization sections.
that form the path of the cross-section of the sliced surfaces.
The sweep lines along the axes and generates the object’s remark on a model’s rigidity, while infills take note of its
outer boundaries. The file is read sequentially, line by line, stability, both factors of which are of high importance in
and an instantaneous conversion from a line to a visualized 3D printing modules.
layer results in the high precision of the plotted shapes. The Another feature the software provides is an
visualization was made using Scientific Graphics and GUI interactive interface with a dynamic graphics view.
[22]
Library for Python (PyQtGraph) , and inspired by codes This interface allows the user to zoom in and out of the
from these sources [23-25] . model, as well as to rotate around to observe different
2.4. Software development perspectives. The software also allows the isolation of
specific layers to evaluate the initiating and finalizing
All the scripts and coding files used for the development paths (Figure 3A, 3C, and 3E) in addition to a scalable
of the 2D or 3D G-code preview software were written increase of layers for a path-centered view of the 3D
in Python Programming Language. This is also the same object (Figure 3B, 3D and 3F). This comes with the
language used to build the TwinPrint System. ability to customize size, type, and color of the path

3. Results and discussion lines. For ease of view, the user can also modify the
background colors by selecting one of the two offered
The GUI of our program, as shown in Figure 2, has two options. Axis labels can also be set for better navigation.
main partitioned sections. The first section is used for Furthermore, the software is capable of visualizing 3D
previewing the 2D representation of the model and is models with various structural complexities, ranging
shown singularly layer by layer through a white background from very simple constructs (composed of straight lines
and black lines, enabling a clear view; this can be seen in and circles, e.g., Figure 2C) to irregular and curved
Figure 2A, 2C and 2E. The second section, likewise, shows structures (e. g., Figure 2D).
a 3D preview by transferring the code line into path shapes Another aspect accessible by plotting any given G-code’s
as stated earlier, and shown in Figure 2B, 2D and 2F. The data is its capability of interactivity. In other words, such
black lines, shown in Figure 2A and B, preview the shapes
of the shell exteriors at those layers; they can be thought viewing measures allow the user to rotate and zoom the
of as “the lines to be colored into” in the 3D viewing tab. model and get closer looks at specific layers within it; such
Further detail of the 3D shape of the model (e.g., infills) accessibility is shown in Figure 4.
can be seen as the “colored in” areas within the previewed Coupling the accessibility of viewing in the third
3D section (e.g., in Figure 2F). This illustration of detail dimension with the ability for line customization (e.g.,
represents the utility of a viewing program since shells size, type, and color) facilitates the preview of not only

Volume 1 Issue 3 (2022) 4 https://doi.org/10.18063/msam.v1i3.19