Validation of Three-Dimensional Fabricated Object

• US 20180113437A1
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mummidi, Lakshmi Narayana, Singh, Parmjeet
• Application Number:
  US15/299,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20180113437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35134 3-D cad-cam
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37208 Vision, visual inspection of workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49007 Making, forming 3-D object, model, surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/30 Reducing waste in manufacturing processes; Calculations of released waste quantities

Abstract

Described herein is a three-dimensional object validation system in which a source model generation component is configured to receive information about a three-dimensional object to be fabricated (e.g., 3MF file) and, based upon the received information, generate a source model of the three-dimensional object to be fabricated. A fabricated model generation component is configured to receive information about a fabricated three-dimensional object from one or more observation components and, based upon the received information, generate a fabricated model of the three-dimensional object of the fabricated three-dimensional object. A comparison component is configured to compare the generated fabricated model to the generated source model to determine whether a discrepancy exists between the generated fabricated model and the generated source model, and, when the discrepancy is determined to exist, take an action such as halting a fabrication process.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional object validation system, comprising:

a computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising;

a source model generation component configured to receive information about a three-dimensional object to be fabricated and, based upon the received information, generate a source model of the three-dimensional object to be fabricated;

a fabricated model generation component configured to receive information about a fabricated three-dimensional object from one or more observation components and, based upon the received information, generate a fabricated model of the three-dimensional object of the fabricated three-dimensional object; and

a comparison component configured to compare the generated fabricated model to the generated source model to determine whether a discrepancy exists between the generated fabricated model and the generated source model, and, when the discrepancy is determined to exist, take an action; and

the observation component, wherein the observation component comprises a sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information about the three-dimensional object to be fabricated comprises a 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF) file, an object (OBJ) file, a stereo lithography (STL) file, a virtual reality modeling language (VRML) file, an X3G file, a polygon (PLY) file or a filmbox (FBX) file.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information about the three-dimensional object to be fabricated comprises a file.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabricated model generation component receives information about the fabricated three-dimensional object during fabrication of the three-dimensional object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the action taken is based upon the determined discrepancy.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabricated model generation component stitches together a plurality of images from the one or more observation components using image processing and a three-dimensional model creation algorithm.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more observation components comprise a depth camera.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more observation component comprises at least one of a digital camera, a three-dimensional camera, a movement detector, a microphone, a precision sensor, a z-index sensor and a depth sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the action comprises at least one of halting a fabrication process, providing an audible signal the user, providing a visual signal to the user, sending an e-mail message to the user, sending a telephone message to the user or sending a text message to the user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the action taken is based upon a receive user input selecting one of a plurality of actions.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the discrepancy is based upon at least one accuracy, quality, thickness, alignment, measurement in one or more axes, a deformation.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the action comprises providing information a potential cause of the determined discrepancy to the user.

13. A method of validating a three-dimensional object, comprising:

generating a source model based upon received information regarding a three-dimensional object to be fabricated;

during fabrication of the three-dimensional object, obtaining information about the three-dimensional object being fabricated, wherein the obtained information about the three-dimensional object being fabricated is received from a sensor;

generating a fabricated model of the three-dimensional object being fabricated based upon the obtained information;

comparing the source model with the fabricated model to determine whether a discrepancy exists between the source model and the fabricated model; and

, if the discrepancy exists, performing an action.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the received information regarding the three-dimensional object to be fabricated comprises a 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF) file, an object (OBJ) file, a stereo lithography (STL) file, a virtual reality modeling language (VRML) file, an X3G file, a polygon (PLY) file or a filmbox (FBX) file.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the obtained information about the three-dimensional object being fabricated is further received from a depth camera.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the determine whether the discrepancy exists between the source model and the fabricated model is based upon a user-specified threshold.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the action performed is based upon the determined discrepancy.

18. A computer storage media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

generate a source model based upon received information regarding a three-dimensional object to be fabricated;

during fabrication of the three-dimensional object, obtain information about the three-dimensional object being fabricated;

generate a fabricated model of the three-dimensional object being fabricated based upon the obtained information;

compare the source model with the fabricated model to determine whether a discrepancy exists between the source model and the fabricated model; and

,

when the discrepancy exists, perform an action comprising halting the fabrication of the three-dimensional object.

19. The computer storage media of claim 18, wherein the received information regarding the three-dimensional object to be fabricated comprises a 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF) file, an object (OBJ) file, a stereo lithography (STL) file, a virtual reality modeling language (VRML) file, an X3G file, a polygon (PLY) file or a filmbox (FBX) file.

20. The computer storage media of claim 18, wherein the obtain information about the three-dimensional object being fabricated is received from at least one of a depth camera or a sensor.