Method for building and using three-dimensional objects containing embedded identification-tag inserts

• US 20090173443A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Inventors: Chillscyzn, Steven A., Kozlak, David M., Batchelder, J. Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,858,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/303.100
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/448 destructible B29C33/52 takes precedence; in particular used in injection moulding B29C45/4457
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/124 using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/129 characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/135 the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/188 involving additional operations performed on the added layers, e.g. smoothing, grinding or thickness control surface shaping B29C59/00; after-treatment of articles without altering their shape B29C71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/35 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/40 Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/68 by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers , e.g. foam blocks mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/20 Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications

Abstract

A method for building a three-dimensional object containing an identification-tag insert, the method comprising performing a build operation to form layers of the three-dimensional object using a layer-based additive technique, placing the identification-tag insert on at least a portion of the layers during the build operation, and reading information from the identification-tag insert.

Claims

1. A method for building a three-dimensional object containing an identification-tag insert, the method comprising:

performing a build operation to form layers of the three-dimensional object using a layer-based additive technique;

placing the identification-tag insert on at least a portion of the layers during the build operation, thereby at least partially embedding the identification-tag insert in the three-dimensional object; and

reading information from the identification-tag insert while the identification-tag insert is at least partially embedded within the three-dimensional object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification-tag insert tag is fully embedded within the three-dimensional object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification-tag insert comprises a radio-frequency identification tag.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing at least one surface-modifying operation on the three-dimensional object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one surface-modifying operation is selected from the group consisting of support structure removal, surface smoothing processes, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification-tag insert is placed on at least a portion of the layers in a horizontal orientation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification-tag insert is placed on at least a portion of the layers at an angle from a vertical axis that ranges from zero degrees to 45 degrees.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising writing the information to the identification-tag insert while the identification-tag insert is at least partially embedded within the three-dimensional object.

9. A method for building a three-dimensional object containing an identification-tag insert, the method comprising:

forming a plurality of layers of the three-dimensional object using a layer-based additive technique;

placing at least one identification-tag insert at least one of the plurality of formed layers, thereby at least partially embedding the at least one identification-tag insert in the three-dimensional object;

reading information from the at least one identification-tag insert while the at least one identification-tag insert is at least partially embedded within the three-dimensional object; and

performing at least one action on the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the read information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one identification-tag insert tag is fully embedded within the three-dimensional object.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one identification-tag insert comprises at least one radio-frequency identification tag.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a data representation of the at least one identification-tag insert in a computer-aided design model of the three-dimensional object.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein performing the at least one action on the three-dimensional object comprises performing at least one post-build operation selected from the group consisting of support structure removal, surface smoothing processes, cooling operations, cleaning operations, machining, benching, painting, packaging, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one identification-tag insert is placed on at least a portion of the layers in a horizontal orientation.

15. A method for building a three-dimensional object containing an identification-tag insert, the method comprising:

forming a first set of layers of the three-dimensional object using a layer-based additive technique;

placing the identification-tag insert on at least a first portion of the first set of layers;

forming a second set of layers of the three-dimensional object on at least a second portion of the first set of layers and on at least a portion of the identification-tag insert using the layer-based additive technique such that the identification-tag insert is at least partially embedded between the first set of layers and the second set of layers;

reading information from the identification-tag insert after forming the second set of layers; and

performing at least one post-build operation on the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the read information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one identification-tag insert tag is fully embedded between the first set of layers and the second set of layers.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one identification-tag insert comprises at least one radio-frequency identification tag.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a computer-aided design model of the three-dimensional object; and

generating a data representation of the identification-tag insert in the computer-aided design model.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein forming a first set of layers of the three-dimensional object comprises forming an unfilled region having dimensions substantially corresponding to dimensions of the identification-tag insert, and wherein placing the identification-tag insert on at least the first portion of the first set of layers comprises placing the identification-tag insert in the unfilled region.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the information read from the identification-tag insert comprises information selected from the group consisting of identification information, routing information, handling information, safety information, information relating to one or more post-build operations, and combinations thereof.