Method and system for variable data printing in a 3D print system

• US 10,459,430 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Levine, Jonathan D., Vandervort, David R., Pangrazio, III, Donald M., Nuuja, Robert Eero
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Gary
• Application Number:
  US14/851,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 700 98
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35134 3-D cad-cam
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1243 Variable data printing, e.g. document forms, templates, labels, coupons, advertisements, logos, watermarks, transactional printing, fixed content versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00827 Arrangements for reading an image from an unusual original, e.g. 3-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method of producing a variable data design file for use in production of personalized copies of a reference 3D object may include receiving a plurality of fixed structural parameters for a reference object and receiving information for creation of a plurality of variable structural parameters corresponding to variable data regions on the reference 3D object. The method may include using the plurality of fixed structural parameters to develop an instruction set configured to cause a 3D printing device to form a 3D object that exhibits the plurality of fixed structural parameters; and including, in the instruction set, instructions for creating the plurality of variable structural parameters based on the received information that will cause the 3D printing device to render at least one of the plurality of variable data regions in the 3D object, wherein the variable data region differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object.

Claims

1. A method of producing a variable data design file for use in production of a personalized copy of a three-dimensional (3D) object, the method comprising:

by a processing device;

receiving a plurality of fixed structural parameters for a reference 3D object;

receiving information for creation of a plurality of variable structural parameters corresponding to a plurality of variable data regions on the reference 3D object, wherein the information comprises mapping information for associating each of the plurality of variable data regions with one or more data sources;

using the plurality of fixed structural parameters to develop an instruction set that is configured to, when executed by a processor of a 3D printing device, cause the 3D printing device to form a 3D object that exhibits the plurality of fixed structural parameters;

including, in the instruction set, instructions for creating the plurality of variable structural parameters based on the received information, that when executed by the processor of the 3D printing device, will cause the 3D printing device to render at least one of the plurality of variable data regions in the 3D object, wherein the at least one variable data region differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object;

saving the instruction set to a variable data design file; and

causing a 3D printing device to use the variable data design file to print a plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object, wherein each personalized copy of the reference 3D object is a 3D object that exhibits the plurality of fixed structural parameters and comprises at least one variable data region that differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information for creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters further comprises at least one of the following:

location information of each of the plurality of variable data regions,

identification information for each of the plurality of variable data regions, or

metadata information for each of the plurality of variable data regions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping information comprises at least one of the following:

identification of at least one database for retrieving variable data for creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters;

a rule set for linking variable data included in the at least one database to the plurality of variable data regions;

or

a rule set for automatically identifying the at least one database or the rule set for linking the variable data to the plurality of variable data regions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, by the processing device:

receiving variable data for creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters from a data source;

linking the variable data to the at least one variable data region;

creating the plurality of variable structural parameters using the information for creation of a plurality of variable structural parameters and the variable data;

creating a variable data job specification comprising the plurality of variable structural parameters corresponding to the at least one variable data region; and

saving the variable data job specification.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, by the processing device, creating a 3D print job for creating the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object by:

retrieving a plurality of records corresponding to variable job specifications of each of the plurality of personalized copies; and

merging each of the plurality of records with the variable data design file.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein causing the 3D printing device to use the variable data design file to print the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object comprises:

by the processor of the 3D printing device, executing the 3D print job and, based on the 3D print job, forming the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, by the processing device:

rendering digital images of each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D print job;

presenting the digital images to a user, via a user interface; and

receiving user approval for forming the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D printer.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising, by the processing device:

receiving print device capabilities corresponding to the 3D printing device; and

formatting the variable data design file to be compatible with the 3D print device based on the received print device capabilities.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, by the processing device:

formatting each of the variable job specifications to be compatible with the 3D print device to create a plurality of formatted variable job specifications; and

merging each of the plurality of formatted variable job specifications with the formatted variable data design file to create the 3D print job.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information for creation of a plurality of variable structural parameters corresponding to the plurality of variable data regions on the reference 3D object comprises:

by the processing device, accessing a data source comprising information relating to a plurality of customers; and

by the processing device, accessing a rule set to automatically determine the information for the creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters.

11. A method of producing a plurality of personalized copies of a reference three-dimensional (3D) object, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a reference three-dimensional object;

by a processing device, accessing a reference data file comprising a plurality of fixed structural parameters for the reference 3D object;

by the processing device, accessing a variable data file comprising instructions for creating a plurality of variable structural parameters for producing a plurality of variable data regions on the reference 3D object;

by the processing device, executing, for each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference three-dimensional object, a plurality of instructions to create a variable data job specification, wherein the variable data job specification comprises a set of variable structural parameters corresponding to a set of variable data regions in that personalized copy;

by the processing device, creating a 3D print file by merging the variable data job specification for each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object with at least one of the following;

the reference data file, or

the variable data file; and

by the processing device, causing a 3D printing device to form the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D print file, wherein each personalized copy of the reference 3D object is a 3D object that exhibits the plurality of fixed structural parameters and comprises at least one variable data region that differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein executing the plurality of instructions to create the variable data job specification comprises:

receiving mapping information for each of the plurality of variable data regions;

receiving variable data for creation of the set of variable structural parameters from a data source;

linking the variable data to the set of variable data regions in the personalized copy; and

creating the set of variable structural parameters using the variable data file.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, by the processing device:

receiving print device capabilities corresponding to the 3D printing device; and

using the received print device capabilities to format the variable data file to be compatible with the 3D print device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, by the processing device:

using the received print device capabilities to format the variable job specifications for each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object to be compatible with the 3D print device to create a plurality of formatted variable job specifications; and

merging each of the plurality of formatted variable job specifications with the formatted variable data design file to create the 3D print file.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising, by the processing device:

rendering digital images of each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D print file;

presenting the digital images to a user, via a user interface; and

receiving user approval for forming the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D printing device.

16. A system for producing a variable data design file for use in production of a personalized copy of a three-dimensional (3D) object, the system comprising:

a processing device; and

a computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to;

receive a plurality of fixed structural parameters for a reference 3D object;

receive information for creation of a plurality of variable structural parameters corresponding to a plurality of variable data regions on the reference 3D object, wherein the information comprises mapping information for associating each of the plurality of variable data regions with one or more data sources;

use the plurality of fixed structural parameters to develop an instruction set that is configured to, when executed by a processor of a 3D printing device, cause the 3D printing device to form a 3D object that exhibits the plurality of fixed structural parameters;

include, in the instruction set, instructions for creating the plurality of variable structural parameters based on the received information, that when executed by the processor of the 3D printing device, will cause the 3D printing device to render at least one of the plurality of variable data regions in the 3D object, wherein the at least one variable data region differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object;

save the instruction set to a variable data design file; and

cause a 3D printing device to use the variable data design file to print a plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object, wherein each personalized copy of the reference 3D object is a 3D object that exhibits the plurality of fixed structural parameters and comprises at least one variable data region that differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the information for creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters further comprises at least one of the following:

location information of each of the plurality of variable data regions,

identification information for each of the plurality of variable data regions, or

metadata information for each of the plurality of variable data regions.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the mapping information comprises at least one of the following:

identification of at least one database for retrieving variable data for creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters;

a rule set for linking the variable data to the plurality of variable data regions;

or

a rule set for automatically identifying the at least one database or the rule set for linking the variable data to the plurality of variable data regions.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to:

receive variable data for creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters from a data source;

link the variable data to the at least one variable data region;

create the plurality of variable structural parameters using the information for creation of a plurality of variable structural parameters and the variable data;

create a variable data job specification comprising the plurality of variable structural parameters corresponding to the at least one variable data region; and

save the variable data job specification.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to create a 3D print job for creating the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object by:

retrieving a plurality of records corresponding to variable job specifications of each of the plurality of personalized copies; and

merging each of the plurality of records with the variable data design file.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the programming instructions that cause the 3D printing device to use the variable data design file to print the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object further comprise programming instructions that, when executed cause the processor of the 3D printing device to:

execute the 3D print job; and

form the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object based on the 3D print job.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising, comprising programming instructions that, when executed cause the processing device to:

render digital images of each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D print job;

present the digital images to a user, via a user interface; and

receive user approval for forming the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D printer.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising, comprising programming instructions that, when executed cause the processing device to:

receive print device capabilities corresponding to the 3D printing device; and

format the variable data design file to be compatible with the 3D print device based on the received print device capabilities.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising, comprising programming instructions that, when executed cause the processing device to:

format each of the variable job specifications to be compatible with the 3D print device to create a plurality of formatted variable job specifications; and

merge each of the plurality of formatted variable job specifications with the formatted variable data design file to create the 3D print job.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to receive information for creation of a plurality of variable structural parameters corresponding to the plurality of variable data regions on the reference 3D object comprise programming instructions to:

access a data source comprising information relating to a plurality of customers; and

access a rule set to automatically determine the information for the creation of the plurality of variable structural parameters.

26. A system for producing a plurality of personalized copies of a reference three-dimensional (3D) object, the system comprising:

a processing device; and

a computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to;

receive a selection of a reference three-dimensional object;

access a reference data file comprising a plurality of fixed structural parameters for the reference 3D object;

access a variable data file comprising instructions for creating a plurality of variable structural parameters for producing a plurality of variable data regions on the reference 3D object;

execute, for each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference three-dimensional object, a plurality of instructions to create a variable data job specification, wherein the variable data job specification comprises a set of variable structural parameters corresponding to a set of variable data regions in that personalized copy;

create a 3D print file by merging the variable data job specification for each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object with at least one of the following;

the reference data file, or

the variable data file; and

cause a 3D printing device to form the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D print file, wherein each personalized copy of the reference 3D object is a 3D object that exhibits the plurality of fixed structural parameters and comprises at least one variable data region that differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to execute the plurality of instructions to create the variable data job specification comprise instructions to:

receive mapping information for each of the plurality of variable data regions;

receive variable data for creation of the set of variable structural parameters from a data source;

link the variable data to the set of variable data regions in the personalized copy; and

create the set of variable structural parameters using the variable data file.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to:

receive print device capabilities corresponding to the 3D printing device; and

use the received print device capabilities to format the variable data file to be compatible with the 3D print device.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising, programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to:

use the received print device capabilities to format the variable job specifications for each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object to be compatible with the 3D print device to create a plurality of formatted variable job specifications; and

merge each of the plurality of formatted variable job specifications with the formatted variable data design file to create the 3D print file.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising, programming instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to:

render digital images of each of the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D print file;

present the digital images to a user, via a user interface; and

receive user approval for forming the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object using the 3D print device.

31. A system for producing a plurality of personalized copies of a reference three-dimensional (3D) object, the system comprising:

a 3D printing device; and

a computer-readable memory comprising a 3D print file comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, will cause the 3D printing device to form a plurality of personalized copies of a reference three-dimensional (3D) object by;

depositing, for each of the plurality of personalized copies, a plurality of layers of build material, and

including, for each of the plurality of personalized copies, in one or more of the layers, at least one variable data region that differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object,

wherein the 3D print file comprises a plurality of variable data job specifications for printing the plurality of personalized copies of the reference 3D object, wherein each of the plurality of variable data job specifications comprises a set of variable structural parameters corresponding to a set of variable data regions each of which differs from a corresponding region of the reference 3D object and a set of fixed structural parameters corresponding to a set of fixed structural regions each of which is identical to a corresponding region of the reference 3D object.