FABRICATING FULL COLOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

• US 20160342150A1
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Jin, Yulin, Lalish, Emmett, Iverson, Kris N., McGatha, Jesse, Boettcher, Shanen J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,539,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0021 Multi-coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49008 Making 3-D object with model in computer memory
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49013 Deposit layers, cured by scanning laser, stereo lithography SLA, prototyping
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49018 Laser sintering of powder in layers, selective laser sintering SLS
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49019 Machine 3-D slices, to build 3-D model, stratified object manufacturing SOM
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49023 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder

Abstract

A method, computing system, and one or more computer-readable storage media for fabricating full color three-dimensional objects are provided herein. The method includes transforming a three-dimensional model into instructions for a fabrication device by slicing the three-dimensional model into layers with color information preserved, generating two-dimensional polygons for each layer based on colors on faces, colors on textures, and/or gradient colors, and determining a tool path for fabricating an object from colored materials based on the two-dimensional polygons for each layer. Determining the tool path includes generating instructions that direct the fabrication device to apply colored material for all two-dimensional polygons of a same color before switching colors, smooth an exterior of the object by switching colors at an internal vertex of each two-dimensional polygon within each layer, and deposit transitional material within an infill area, a support structure, and/or an area outside the object when switching colors.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating full color three-dimensional objects, comprising transforming, via a computing device comprising three-dimensional printing capabilities, a three-dimensional model into instructions for a fabrication device by:

slicing the three-dimensional model into layers with color information preserved;

generating two-dimensional polygons for each layer based on colors on faces, colors on textures, or gradient colors, or any combinations thereof, wherein each two-dimensional polygon comprises a single color; and

determining a tool path for fabricating a full color three-dimensional object from colored materials based on the two-dimensional polygons for each layer, wherein determining the tool path comprises generating instructions that direct the fabrication device to;

apply colored material for all two-dimensional polygons of a same color before switching colors;

smooth an exterior of the full color three-dimensional object by switching colors at an internal vertex of each two-dimensional polygon within each layer; and

deposit transitional material within an infill area, a support structure, or an area outside the full color three-dimensional object, or any combinations thereof, when switching colors.