Methods and systems for producing a desired apparent coloring in an object produced through rapid prototyping

• US 20040080078A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Collins, David C.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080078A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/165 using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/00 Shaping techniques not covered by groups B29C39/00 - B29C65/00, B29C70/00 or B29C73/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/002 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0021 Multi-coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor

Abstract

A method of producing a desired apparent coloring in an object produced through rapid prototyping includes varying a color of successive layers that are nested inwardly from a surface of the object.

Claims

1. A method of producing a desired apparent coloring in an object produced through rapid prototyping, said method comprising:

varying a color of successive layers that are nested inwardly from a surface of said object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said rapid prototyping comprises printing technology, said method further comprising:

printing a first color in a first, outermost layer of a cross section of said object; and

printing a second color in a second layer of said cross section of said object, said second layer being inside said first, outermost layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first color and said second color are the same color.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

printing a third color in a third layer of said cross section of said object;

printing a fourth color in a fourth layer of said cross section of said object; and

printing a fifth color in a fifth layer of said cross section of said object.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said first and second colors are different colors and each is printed by half-toning using two or more differently colored inks.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying a depth of one or more of said successive layers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said rapid prototyping system is a jetted polymer system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said rapid prototyping system is a fused deposition rapid prototyping system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said nested layers are all internal to and spaced from said surface of said object.

10. A method of compensating for non-functioning nozzles of a print head in a rapid prototyping system that uses a printing process to print successive cross sections of an object being fabricated, said method comprising:

at a point on a build material where said non-functioning nozzle is to deposit a drop of ink, firing a second, functioning nozzle to deposit a drop of ink of a color different than would have been deposited by said non-functioning, nozzle;

displacing said print head; and

at a spot, deeper inside a surface of said object being formed, printing a color under said point that compensates for said deposited drop of ink being of a color different than would have been deposited by said non-functioning nozzle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising varying a color of successive layers that are nested inwardly from a surface of said object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said rapid prototyping comprises printing technology, said method further comprising:

printing a first color in a first, outermost layer of a cross section of said object; and

printing a second color in a second layer of said cross section of said object, said second layer being inside said first, outermost layer.

13. A rapid prototyping system for producing a desired object from electronic data, said system comprising:

a fabrication chamber for holding a bed of powdered base material; and

a print head for distributing successive layers of powder in said fabrication chamber and for selectively ejecting binder and differently colored inks into each layer of powder;

wherein said print head varies a color of successive shells that are nested inwardly from a surface of said object within a single layer of powder to produce a desired apparent coloring for said object.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said print head:

prints a first color in an first, outermost shell of said object; and

prints a second color in a second shell of said object, said second shell being inside said first, outermost shell.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first color and said second color are the same color.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said print head further:

prints a third color in a third shell of said object;

prints a fourth color in a fourth shell of said object; and

prints a fifth color in a fifth shell of said object.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said first and second colors are different colors and each is printed by half-toning using two or more of said differently color inks.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said print head varies a width of one or more of said successive shells.

19. A rapid prototyping system for producing a desired object from electronic data, said system comprising:

a fabrication chamber for holding a bed of powdered base material; and

a print head for distributing successive layers of powder in said fabrication chamber and for selectively ejecting binder and differently colored inks into each layer of powder, said print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting said colored inks;

wherein said print head varies a color of successive shells that are nested inwardly from a surface of said object within a single layer of powder to produce a desired apparent coloring for said object;

wherein said print head, at a point on a layer of said powder where said non-functioning nozzle is to deposit a drop of ink, fires a second, functioning nozzle to deposit a drop of ink of a color different than would have been deposited by said non-functioning, nozzle; and

wherein said print head, at a spot, deeper inside said surface of said object being formed, prints a color under said point that compensates for said deposited drop of ink being of a color different than would have been deposited by said non-functioning nozzle.

20. A system producing a desired apparent coloring in an object produced through rapid prototyping, said system comprising:

means for building a series of successive cross sections of said object from a base material to form said object; and

means for varying a color of successive shells that are nested inwardly from a surface of said object within each cross section of said object to produce said desired apparent coloring.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for printing a first color in a first, outermost shell of a cross section of said object; and

means for printing a second color in a second shell of said cross section of said object, said second layer being inside said first, outermost layer.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said first color and said second color are the same color.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for printing a third color in a third shell of said cross section of said object;

means for printing a fourth color in a fourth shell of said cross section of said object; and

means for printing a fifth color in a fifth shell of said cross section of said object.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said first and second colors are different colors and each is printed by half-toning using two or more differently color inks.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising means for varying a width of one or more of said successive shells.