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Method for printing a three-dimensional structure, method for controlling a print head and a printed article

  • US 10,556,417 B2
  • Filed: 04/29/2013
  • Issued: 02/11/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for printing a three-dimensional structure comprising the following steps:

  • 1) providing structural parameters defining a shape of the three-dimensional structure in a first step;

    2) converting the structural parameters into a single intensity image having multiple pixels which are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern and which comprises at least different intensities in a second step;

    wherein the structural parameters are converted into a colored intensity image having multiple pixels which comprises different colors in the second step,wherein the structural parameters are converted into the colored intensity image in the second step in such a manner that each pixel represents a certain position in an orthogonal projection of the three-dimensional structure,wherein a color of each pixel represents geometrical, optical and/or visual characteristics of the three-dimensional structure at this position,wherein an intensity of each pixel represents a height of the three-dimensional structure at this position;

    3) controlling a print head in dependency of the intensity image in order to print the three-dimensional structure in a third step,wherein the print head moves to a certain position and deposits at least one droplet of printing material when processing a certain pixel,wherein a number of droplets and/or an amount of printing material deposited at the certain position by the print head is chosen in dependency of the intensity of the corresponding pixel.

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