3D printer vision calibration system based on embedding Sobel bilateral filter in least squares filtering algorithm

To address the calibration challenge in 3D printing technology, an improved calibration system has been developed, which facilitates the widespread use of bionic stents. Crucially, this system only requires a reference object with known dimensions for automatic calibration. To acquire the required compensation coefficients, various operations are conducted, including printing cell scaffolds as test cube, capturing images, preprocessing images, detecting contours, and classifying with the K-means algorithm. During the image preprocessing stage, an Embedding Bilateral Filter is employed within a least squares filtering-based method, combined with the Sobel operator, to increase the accuracy in obtaining pixel gradient values. Finally, the capability of the developed printer calibration system is demonstrated by a series of print tests; compared to caliper measurements, this approach considerably reduces the time taken, improving calibration efficiency by 98.51% and enhancing accuracy by 9.62%. This development has the potential to enhance the precision and reliability of 3D printing, which is crucial when it comes to producing medical devices and implants. Overall, this is a promising advancement that could have far-reaching implications for the medical industry.