Abstract: Interpolation of the cross-sectional contours can decrease distance between adjacent layers. With this interpolation, the data of cross-sectional contours can be directly used for rapid prototyping, which makes it easier to integrate RE and RP. On the other side, similarity and degree of overlapping of contours between adjacent layers are improved, ensuring the correctness of reconstructed results. A linear interpolation algorithm is adopted. Research on various methods for establishing vertex-pairs of linear interpolation based on cross-sectional contours is performed and an improved linear interpolation algorithm is proposed. The linear interpolation methods used for the branched contours based on this algorithm are also dis-cussed. Application results show that this algorithm is feasible and reliable.

Key words: 3D model reconstruction, Cross-sectional images, Linear interpolation