Method and apparatus for identifying surface features associated with selected lamina of a three dimensional object being stereolithographically formed
First Claim
1. A method for analyzing data representing a three-dimensional object, said three-dimensional object to be physically formed from a plurality of lamina on a lamina-by-lamina basis, to derive data descriptive of the lamina that have associated therewith a desired trapped volume region, comprising:
- supplying data descriptive of the three-dimensional object including data corresponding to lamina N and N-1 of the three-dimensional objects;
identifying any up-facing regions of lamina N-1 and any trapped volume regions of lamina N-1;
deriving a potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N by unioning any up-facing regions associated with lamina N-1 and any trapped volume regions associated with lamina N-1;
identifying individual holes associated with lamina N;
comparing the individual holes associated with lamina N to the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N;
identifying a trapped volume as being associated with lamina N if at least one individual hole for lamina N has an overlap with the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N which Is greater than a predetermined criteria.
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Abstract
This invention relates to the stepwise layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object through application of the principles of stereolithography and to the automatic detection of surface features of each layer of a three-dimensional object to manufacture parts more reliably, more accurately and more quickly. Automatic detection of trapped volume regions and size of solidified cross-sectional regions are disclosed. Automatic selection of recoating styles is made based on(1) the detected regions, (2) empirically or otherwise determined optimum recoating styles for different types of regions, and (3) a look-up table, other correlation system, or processor for associating recoating style information with laminae containing particular identified regions.
80 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing data representing a three-dimensional object, said three-dimensional object to be physically formed from a plurality of lamina on a lamina-by-lamina basis, to derive data descriptive of the lamina that have associated therewith a desired trapped volume region, comprising:
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supplying data descriptive of the three-dimensional object including data corresponding to lamina N and N-1 of the three-dimensional objects; identifying any up-facing regions of lamina N-1 and any trapped volume regions of lamina N-1; deriving a potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N by unioning any up-facing regions associated with lamina N-1 and any trapped volume regions associated with lamina N-1; identifying individual holes associated with lamina N; comparing the individual holes associated with lamina N to the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N; identifying a trapped volume as being associated with lamina N if at least one individual hole for lamina N has an overlap with the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N which Is greater than a predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for analyzing data representing a three-dimensional object, said three-dimensional object to be physically formed on a lamina-by-lamina basis, to derive data descriptive of the laminae that have associated therewith a desired trapped volume region, comprising the steps of:
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a memory for receiving data descriptive of the three-dimensional object; and a processor programed to; (1) derive a potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N by unioning any up-facing regions associated with lamina N-1 and any trapped volume regions associated with lamina N-1; (2) identify individual holes associated with lamina N; (3) compare the individual holes associated with lamina N to the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N; and (4) identify a trapped volume as being associated with lamina N if at least one individual hole for lamina N has an overlap with the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N which is greater than a predetermined criteria.
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8. A method of identifying a trapped volume region in a lamina N of a multi-lamina three-dimensional object, comprising:
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providing data corresponding to the lamina N and N-1 of the three-dimensional object; identifying any up-facing region of lamina N-1 and any trapped volume region of lamina N-1; identifying any holes associated with lamina N; determining whether any hole identified in lamina N sufficiently overlaps any up-facing region or trapped volume region of lamina N-1; and associating any hole in lamina N which overlaps any up-facing region or trapped volume region of lamina N-1 as a trapped volume. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system including a computer for identifying a trapped volume region in a lamina N of a multi-lamina three-dimensional object, comprising:
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means for providing data corresponding to the laminae N and N-1 of the three-dimensional object; means for controlling the computer for processing said data to identify any up-facing region of lamina N-1 and any trapped volume region of lamina N-1; means for controlling the computer for processing said data to identify any holes associated with lamina N; means for controlling the computer for determining whether any hole identified in lamina N overlaps any up-facing region or trapped volume region of lamina N-1; and means for controlling the computer to associate any hole in lamina N which overlaps any up-facing region or trapped volume region of lamina N-1 as a trapped volume. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification