3D object fabrication methods and systems

• US 20090012640A1
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lin, Hsien-Chang, Wu, Jeng-Feng, Chen, Chia-Chen
• Granted Patent: US 8,155,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/00 Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/147 using sheet material, e.g. laminated object manufacturing [LOM] or laminating sheet material precut to local cross sections of the 3D object
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes

Abstract

A 3D object fabrication method implemented in a fabrication system includes the following steps. A digital object model is retrieved. Sections of the digital object model are respectively printed on plural pieces of plane material. The pieces of plane material are combined to form a physical 3D object of the digital object model.

Claims

1. A 3D object fabrication method, implemented in a 3D fabrication system, comprising:

retrieving a digital object model;

generating a plurality of sections of the digital object model on a plurality of planes perpendicular to a vector;

outputting the sections to plural pieces of plane material; and

combining the pieces of plane material to form a physical 3D object of the digital object model.

2. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 3D fabrication system comprises a printing device, and the outputting step further comprises respectively printing the sections of the digital object model on the pieces of plane material using the printing device.

3. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sections are respectively printed on the pieces of the plan material using color pigments.

4. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the sections is composed of plural pieces of point data, and the printing step further comprises printing a color of a color pigment of the pieces of the point data on one piece of plane material according to a color of a point data of a section.

5. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane material is transparent material.

6. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

respectively projecting each of the sections onto each of a plurality of layouts; and

in the outputting step, outputting the layouts to the pieces of plane material.

7. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a section projected onto a layout comprises plural pieces of point data, further comprising:

forming an outline line of the digital object model on the layout using the plural pieces of point data of the layout; and

in the outputting step, outputting the outline line.

8. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining the width of the outline line.

9. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

forming the outline line of the digital object model based on the plural pieces of point data using interpolation.

10. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein first point data of the section is projected on the layout to be second point data, further comprising:

generating a color of the second point data according to a color of the first point data.

11. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outputting step further comprises:

outputting a locating mark to each piece of the plane material and combining the pieces of the plane material according to the locating marks on the pieces of plane material to construct the physical 3D object of the digital object model.

12. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining the vector.

13. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining distances between the planes.

14. A 3D object fabrication method, implemented in a fabrication system, comprising:

retrieving a digital object model;

respectively printing sections of the digital object model on plural pieces of plane material; and

combining the pieces of plane material to form a physical 3D object of the digital object model.

15. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the printing comprises a color printing using color pigments.

16. The 3D object fabrication method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plane material is transparent material.

17. A 3D object fabrication system, comprising:

a computer device, retrieving a digital object model and generating a plurality of sections of the digital object model on a plurality of planes perpendicular to a vector; and

an output device, outputting the sections to plural pieces of plane material and combining the pieces of plane material to form a physical 3D object of the digital object model.

18. The 3D object fabrication system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a print device, respectively printing the sections on the pieces of plane material.

19. The 3D object fabrication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the print device respectively prints the sections on the pieces of plane material with color pigments.

20. The 3D object fabrication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the plane material is transparent material.