Automated metrology and model correction for three dimensional (3D) printability
First Claim
1. A system to improve output operation of a 3D printer including a system for automated metrology, measurement, and model correction of a three dimensional (3D) model to ensure 3D printability and manufacturability of the 3D model as a physical object, said system comprising:
- at least one processor configured to;
simulate an actual 3D printing process of the 3D model to generate a layered simulated 3D model describing the 3D model as it is to be printed, wherein operations to simulate the actual 3D printing process of the 3D model includes global model correction and local model correction being available;
receive or generate slices of the 3D model, the slices representing two dimensional (2D) solids of the 3D model to be printed in corresponding print layers;
calculate medial axis transforms of the slices, the medial axis transforms representing the slices in terms of corresponding medial axes, wherein a medial axis transform is a representation of a shape in terms of a lower dimensional medial axis that represents a focus of centers of maximal inscribed discs that are completely contained inside the shape, a medial axis topologically equivalent to the shape, and a local feature size at a point “
x”
on a boundary of the shape is thus the radius of the disc that is tangent to the shape at “
x”
;
determine the local feature size at any point along the boundary of the slices as the shortest distance from the point to a corresponding medial axis, wherein the local feature size defined in terms of the medial axis transform is used to automatically identify regions that require a differential addition of material to ensure manufacturability at regions including at least one of walls, bridges, protrusions, and holes, and wherein topological consistency between parts of the 3D model before and after manufacture is maintained;
generate a visual rendering of the layered simulated 3D model;
display the visual rendering of the layered 3D model on a display device; and
control a 3D printer to physically print the 3D model according to the layered simulated 3D model.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method automate metrology, measurement, and model correction of a three dimensional (3D) model for 3D printability. Slices of the 3D model are received or generated. The slices represent 2D solids of the 3D model to be printed in corresponding print layers. Medial axis transforms of the slices are calculated. The medial axis transforms represent the slices in terms of corresponding medial axes. A local feature size at any point along a boundary of the slices is determined as the shortest distance from the point to a corresponding medial axis.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system to improve output operation of a 3D printer including a system for automated metrology, measurement, and model correction of a three dimensional (3D) model to ensure 3D printability and manufacturability of the 3D model as a physical object, said system comprising:
at least one processor configured to; simulate an actual 3D printing process of the 3D model to generate a layered simulated 3D model describing the 3D model as it is to be printed, wherein operations to simulate the actual 3D printing process of the 3D model includes global model correction and local model correction being available; receive or generate slices of the 3D model, the slices representing two dimensional (2D) solids of the 3D model to be printed in corresponding print layers; calculate medial axis transforms of the slices, the medial axis transforms representing the slices in terms of corresponding medial axes, wherein a medial axis transform is a representation of a shape in terms of a lower dimensional medial axis that represents a focus of centers of maximal inscribed discs that are completely contained inside the shape, a medial axis topologically equivalent to the shape, and a local feature size at a point “
x”
on a boundary of the shape is thus the radius of the disc that is tangent to the shape at “
x”
;determine the local feature size at any point along the boundary of the slices as the shortest distance from the point to a corresponding medial axis, wherein the local feature size defined in terms of the medial axis transform is used to automatically identify regions that require a differential addition of material to ensure manufacturability at regions including at least one of walls, bridges, protrusions, and holes, and wherein topological consistency between parts of the 3D model before and after manufacture is maintained; generate a visual rendering of the layered simulated 3D model; display the visual rendering of the layered 3D model on a display device; and control a 3D printer to physically print the 3D model according to the layered simulated 3D model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21)
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11. A method to improve output operation of a 3D printer including a method for automated metrology, measurement, and model correction of a three dimensional (3D) model to ensure 3D printability and manufacturability of the 3D model as a physical object, said method comprising:
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simulating an actual 3D printing process of the 3D model to generate a layered simulated 3D model describing the 3D model as it is to be printed, wherein operations to simulate the actual 3D printing process of the 3D model includes global model correction and local model correction being available; receiving or generating by at least one processor slices of the 3D model, the slices representing two dimensional (2D) solids of the 3D model to be printed in corresponding print layers; calculating by the at least one processor medial axis transforms of the slices, the medial axis transforms representing the slices in terms of corresponding medial axes, wherein a medial axis transform is a representation of a shape in terms of a lower dimensional medial axis that represents a focus of centers of maximal inscribed discs that are completely contained inside the shape, a medial axis topologically equivalent to the shape, and a local feature size at a point “
x”
on a boundary of the shape is thus the radius of the disc that is tangent to the shape at “
x”
;determining by the at least one processor the local feature size at any point along the boundary of the slices as the shortest distance from the point to a corresponding medial axis, wherein the local feature size defined in terms of the medial axis transform is used to automatically identify regions that require a differential addition of material to ensure manufacturability at regions including at least one of walls, bridges, protrusions, and holes, and wherein topological consistency between parts of the 3D model before and after manufacture is maintained; generating a visual rendering of the layered simulated 3D model; displaying the visual rendering of the layered 3D model on a display device; and controlling a 3D printer to physically print the 3D model according to the layered simulated 3D model. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system to improve output operation of a 3D printer including a system for automated metrology, measurement, and model correction of a three dimensional (3D) model to ensure 3D printability and manufacturability of the 3D model as a physical object, said system comprising:
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at least one processor configured to; simulate an actual 3D printing process of the 3D model to generate a layered simulated 3D model describing the 3D model as it is to be printed, wherein operations to simulate the actual 3D printing process of the 3D model includes global model correction and local model correction being available; receive or generate slices of the 3D model, the slices representing two dimensional (2D) solids of the 3D model to be printed in corresponding print layers; calculate medial axis transforms of the slices, the medial axis transforms representing the slices in terms of corresponding medial axes, wherein a medial axis transform is a representation of a shape in terms of a lower dimensional medial axis that represents a focus of centers of maximal inscribed discs that are completely contained inside the shape, a medial axis topologically equivalent to the shape, and local feature size at a point “
x”
on a boundary of the shape is thus the radius of the disc that is tangent to the shape at “
x”
;identify segments of the medial axes where thickening the slices does not change topology and continuity of the slices; thicken the slices up to a threshold feature size along the identified segments, user selection of a print material to be used to represent the received or generated slices of the 3D model and parameters of a 3D printing process to be used for a simulation of printing of the 3D model, the parameters including a process type, and one of a printing nozzle and laser beam diameter, generate a visual rendering of the layered simulated 3D model; display the visual rendering of the layered 3D model on a display device; a 3D printer configured to receive data from the at least one processor and to print a 3D physical object in accordance with the data received from the at least one processor; and control a 3D printer to physically print the 3D model according to the layered simulated 3D model.
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Specification