Three dimensional printing on three dimensional objects
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising a processor and memory, wherein said processor is configured to perform the steps of:
- obtaining a representation of a base object, wherein the base object is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the base object is pre-existing;
obtaining a representation of a product, wherein the product is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the product is producible by adding layers of material on the base object, wherein the product comprises, as a part thereof, the base object;
determining a representation of a support structure configured in size and shape to retain the base object in a position within an additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the position is associated with producing the product;
producing the support structure using an additive manufacturing process.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention allow performing an additive manufacturing process using a base object. Some embodiments enable placement of a three-dimensional base object inside a three-dimensional printer and print on the base object to produce a three-dimensional product. One exemplary embodiment is a method including: obtaining a representation of a three-dimensional physical object as a base object; obtaining a representation of a three-dimensional physical object as a product producible by adding layers of material on the base object. A representation of a support structure configured to retain the base object position within an additive manufacturing apparatus is determined, and the support structure is produced using an additive manufacturing process. Alternatively, a representation of an on-object structure determined and the on-object structure is produced using an additive manufacturing process by adding one or more layers of material on the base object.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising a processor and memory, wherein said processor is configured to perform the steps of:
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obtaining a representation of a base object, wherein the base object is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the base object is pre-existing; obtaining a representation of a product, wherein the product is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the product is producible by adding layers of material on the base object, wherein the product comprises, as a part thereof, the base object; determining a representation of a support structure configured in size and shape to retain the base object in a position within an additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the position is associated with producing the product; producing the support structure using an additive manufacturing process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising a processor and memory, wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of:
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obtaining a representation of a base object, wherein the base object is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the base object is pre-existing; obtaining a representation of a product, wherein the product is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the product is producible by adding layers of materials on the base object, wherein the product comprises, as a part thereof, the base object; determining a representation of an on-object structure, wherein the on-object structure is configured to be produced on the base object, whereby assisting in placing the base object in a position which is suitable for producing the product; producing the on-object structure using an additive manufacturing process by adding one or more layers of material on the base object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which program instructions when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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obtaining a representation of a base object, wherein the base object is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the base object is pre-existing; obtaining a representation of a product, wherein the product is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the product is producible by adding layers of materials on the base object, wherein the product comprises, as a part thereof, the base object; determining a representation support structure configured in size and shape to retain the base object in a position within an additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the position is suitable for producing the product; and outputting the representation to be used in production of the product. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method comprising:
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obtaining a representation of a base object, wherein the base object is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the base object is pre-existing; obtaining a representation of a product, wherein the product is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the product is producible by adding layers of material on the base object, wherein the product comprises, as a part thereof, the base object; determining a representation of a support structure configured in size and shape to retain the base object in a position within an additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the position is associated with producing the product; and producing the support structure using an additive manufacturing process. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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obtaining a representation of a base object, wherein the base object is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the base object is pre-existing; obtaining a representation of a product, wherein the product is a three-dimensional physical object, wherein the product is producible by adding layers of materials on the base object, wherein the product comprises, as a part thereof, the base object; determining a representation of an on-object structure, wherein the on-object structure is configured to be produced on the base object, whereby assisting in placing the base object in a position which is suitable for producing the product; and producing the on-object structure using an additive manufacturing process by adding one or more layers of material on the base object. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification