MEDIA-BASED SYSTEM FOR FORMING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

• US 20130138234A1
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dufort, Ron Edward, Porter, Frank Albert, Chivukula, Venkata Bharadwaj, Moore, Aaron Michael, Ledgerwood, Adam Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,073,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/224 Machines for forming tactile or three dimensional images by electrographic means, e.g. braille, 3d printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/008 Cut plane or projection plane definition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments described herein are directed to generating physical three-dimensional color-accurate objects based on a 3D computer-based color model using printed layers of media. Embodiments can slice a 3D computer-based color model into 3D cross-sectional components, which retain the color information of the model. The 3D cross-sectional segments can be converted into 2D page images and the color information can be included in a plan image corresponding to the cross-sectional segments. Embodiments can print the page images to form cross-sectional prints which can be layered and trimmed to shape the prints into a color accurate physical object that represents the model.

Claims

1. A method for forming a color-accurate physical object from a three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model comprising:

forming page images for a 3D computer-based model, the page images corresponding to cross-sectional segments of the 3D computer-based model, the 3D computer-based model including an image color that is different than a media color to be used to form the physical object; and

incorporating the image color into the page images based on a location of the image color in the 3D computer-based model, the pages images configured to be printed on media to form cross-sectional prints from which the physical object is formed

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

slicing the 3D computer-based model into the cross-sectional segments based on a dimension of the physical object to be generated from the 3D computer-based model and the media used to generate the physical object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein slicing the 3D model further comprises:

identifying a dimension of the physical object;

identifying the media being used to form the physical model; and

determining a quantity of the media necessary to form a stack with a height determined by the dimension of the physical object and the media being used to form the physical model.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein slicing the 3D model further comprises:

slicing the 3D computer-based model into the cross-sectional segments based on the quantity of media necessary to form the stack.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the page images further comprises:

converting the cross-sectional segments from 3D model segments to two-dimensional (2D) plan images.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein forming the page images further comprises:

disposing the plan images on background layers; and

aligning the plan images on the background layers so that when the plan images are stacked, the plan images replicate the 3D computer-based model.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein forming the page images further comprises:

forming an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter for each plan image, a trim path being between the inner and outer parameters, at least one of the plan images including the image color between the inner and outer perimeters based on the location of the color in the 3D computer-based model so that trimming the at least one of the plan images along the trim path reveals the image color.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

printing the page images on the media to form cross-sectional prints, the image color being printed on at least one of cross-sectional prints.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

layering the cross-sectional prints to form a stack, adjacent cross-sectional prints in the stack being operatively coupled; and

trimming the cross-sectional prints along the trim path of the plan images printed on the cross-sectional prints to shape the cross-sectional prints to form the physical object, the cross-sectional prints being trimmed to reveal the image color so that the physical object formed from the cross-sectional prints represents a color-accurate rendering of the 3D computer-based model.

10. A system for forming a physical object from a three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model, the system comprising:

a processing device configured to form page images for a 3D computer-based model and to incorporate an image color into the page images based on a location of the image color in the model, the page images corresponding to cross-sectional segments of the 3D computer-based model, the 3D computer-based model including the image color that is different than a media color to be used to form the physical object; and

a media printing system configured to print the page images on media to form cross-sectional prints from which the physical object is formed.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to slice the 3D computer-based model into the cross-sectional segments based on a dimension of the physical object to be generated from the 3D computer-based model and the media used to generate the physical object.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is configured to convert the cross-sectional segments from 3D model segments to two-dimensional plan images.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to dispose the plan images on background layers and align the plan images on the background layers so that when the plan images are stacked, the plan images replicate the 3D computer-based model.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing device is configured to form an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter for each plan image, a trim path being between the inner and outer parameters, at least one of the plan images including the image color between the inner and outer perimeters based on the location of the color in the 3D computer-based model so that trimming the at least one of the plan images along the trim path reveals the image color.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a 3D printing system to layer the cross-sectional prints to form a stack and trim the cross-sectional prints along the trim path of the plan images printed on the cross-sectional prints to shape the cross-sectional prints to form the physical object, adjacent cross-sectional prints in the stack being operatively coupled by the 3D printing system, the cross-sectional prints being trimmed to reveal the image color so that the physical object formed from the cross-sectional prints represents a color accurate rendering of the 3D computer-based model.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processing device, wherein execution of the instructions implements a method for forming a physical object from a three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model comprising:

forming page images for a 3D computer-based model, the page images corresponding to cross-sectional segments of the 3D computer-based model, the model including an image color that is different than a media color to be used to form the physical object; and

incorporating the image color into the page images based on a location of the image color in the model, the pages images configured to be printed on media to form cross-sectional prints from which the physical object is formed.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the method implemented by execution of the instructions further comprises:

converting the cross-sectional segments from 3D model segments to two-dimensional plan images;

disposing the plan images on background layers; and

aligning the plan images on the background layers so that when the plan images are stacked, the plan images replicate the 3D computer-based model.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the method implemented by execution of the instructions further comprises:

forming an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter for each plan image, a trim path being between the inner and outer parameters, at least one of the plan images including the image color between the inner and outer perimeters based on the location of the color in the 3D computer-based model so that trimming the at least one of the plan images along the trim path reveals the image color.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the method implemented by execution of the instructions further comprises:

printing the page images on the media to form cross-sectional prints, the image color being printed on at least one of cross-sectional prints.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein the method implemented by execution of the instructions further comprises:

layering the cross-sectional prints to form a stack, adjacent cross-sectional prints in the stack being operatively coupled; and

trimming the cross-sectional prints along the trim path of the plan images printed on the cross-sectional prints to shape the cross-sectional prints to form the physical object, the cross-sectional prints being trimmed to reveal the image color so that the physical object formed from the cross-sectional prints represents a color accurate rendering of the 3D computer-based model.