Printing Three-Dimensional Objects Using Hybrid Format Data
First Claim
1. A method of building a 3D model, comprising:
- receiving image data as input, said image data being a 3D image of the 3D model;
processing the image data to break down the 3D image into two or more layers wherein processed data of each layer contain attribute information of the 3D model that includes color and hardness;
printing the processed data of each layer onto a printing sheet and depositing one or more selected materials onto the printed sheet as dictated by the processed data of each layer;
preparing and binding the printed sheet into a stack;
continuing the printing and the preparing and binding steps until the processed data of a last layer has been printed onto a last sheet and the last sheet has been assembled into the stack;
finishing the 3D model by removing any excessive material from the 3D model.
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Abstract
Methods of how to build a 3D model with both surface features and internal structures are disclosed. 3D image data in a hybrid data format or other suitable data formats are first received as input and then broken down into layers of 2D data. The layers of 2D data hold various attribute information about the model, such as colors, shapes, durometer hardness, etc. The layers of data are printed on printing sheets that are specially formulated. Selected materials are also deposited on printed sheets as dictated by the 2D data. Each printed sheet is cut along the shape boundaries either before or after it has been bound to previously printed sheets. Finished sheets are then bound and processed to generate a 3D model with rich details.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of building a 3D model, comprising:
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receiving image data as input, said image data being a 3D image of the 3D model; processing the image data to break down the 3D image into two or more layers wherein processed data of each layer contain attribute information of the 3D model that includes color and hardness; printing the processed data of each layer onto a printing sheet and depositing one or more selected materials onto the printed sheet as dictated by the processed data of each layer; preparing and binding the printed sheet into a stack; continuing the printing and the preparing and binding steps until the processed data of a last layer has been printed onto a last sheet and the last sheet has been assembled into the stack; finishing the 3D model by removing any excessive material from the 3D model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A 3D printing apparatus that is used to build a 3D model, comprising:
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a data processing module for processing image data of the 3D model and for breaking down the image data into processed data of two or more layers with the image data being a 3D image of the 3D model; a system controlling module for controlling the 3D printing apparatus; a media cartridge for holding printing sheets; a building module for printing, preparing, assembling, and binding printed sheets into a stack and for finishing the 3D model after the stack is completed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A 3D object builder for building complex objects derived from 3D hybrid data, comprising:
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a media holder that includes a plurality of media, a media holding feature, a memory device wherein the memory device includes data regarding media details and security and wherein said media are of uniform dimensions to all media in the holder; a mechanical mechanism that moves media from the media holder to a work area; a means to implement a plurality of colors at each volumetric location of the 3D object while the media is in the work area, wherein the means to implement a plurality of colors is a typical color printing method attached to a 3D object builder such that the printer may deposit a plurality of color at each volumetric location in the 3D object that is being printed; a means to implement a plurality of durometer hardness at each volumetric location of the 3D object while the media is in the work area, wherein the means to implement a plurality of said durometer hardness include materials in conjunction with chemical, curing and heating means; and a means to build a plurality of objects within the 3D object all derived from said native hybrid data wherein the means to implement a plurality of objects derived from said data files is by distinguishing regions in each cross sectional layer of the 3D object and separating each of said regions in each cross section during the 3D object building process where the thickness of said cross sectional layer is dependent on the thickness of the media used to build the 3d object.
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Specification