# US 10,503,149 B2 · System, method, and computer program for creating united cellular lattice structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,149 B2 - Document ID: US10503149B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/282,099 - Filed: 2016-09-30 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-30 - Assignees: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Gregory John Vernon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503149B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/4099: Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing - G06F 30/23: using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM] - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - G05B 2219/35134: 3-D cad-cam - G05B 2219/49023: 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder - G06F 30/10: Geometric CAD - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method for generating a computer-based united cellular lattice structure includes dividing a part volume into a number of adjacent subvolumes each having a side combination corresponding to a number and orientation of adjoining sides and non-adjoining sides. A modified lattice cell may be generated from a base lattice cell for each side combination of the subvolumes such that each modified lattice cell has face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to non-adjoining sides and does not have face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to adjoining sides. Copies of the modified lattice cells may then be generated and inserted into corresponding subvolumes such that the faces of the modified lattice cell copies having face surfaces are positioned along non-adjoining sides of the subvolumes and faces of the modified lattice cell copies not having face surfaces are positioned along adjoining sides of the subvolumes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of generating a computer-based united cellular lattice structure comprising the steps of: receiving data representative of a plurality of subvolumes formed from a part volume, each subvolume having a plurality of sides such that the subvolume is configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one other subvolume, the plurality of sides including at least one of an adjoining side and a non-adjoining side, the subvolume having a side combination corresponding to a number and orientation of adjoining sides and non-adjoining sides; receiving data representative of a base lattice cell having a plurality of surfaces, some of the surfaces being face surfaces corresponding to faces of the base lattice cell; generating data representative of a modified lattice cell from the base lattice cell for each side combination of the subvolumes such that each modified lattice cell has face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to non-adjoining sides and does not have face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to adjoining sides; generating data representative of copies of the modified lattice cells; and inserting the copies of the modified lattice cells into corresponding subvolumes such that the faces of the modified lattice cell copies having face surfaces are positioned along non-adjoining sides of the subvolumes and the faces of the modified lattice cell copies not having face surfaces are positioned along adjoining sides of the subvolumes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the subvolume is hexahedral. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell is generated during a pre-processing phase. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell is generated during a runtime processing phase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell is generated during a post-processing phase. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the data representative of the modified lattice cells is performed substantially simultaneously with the steps of generating the data representative of the copies of the modified lattice cells and inserting the copies of the modified lattice cells into the corresponding subvolumes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the data representative of the modified lattice cells is performed before the steps of generating data representative of the copies of the modified lattice cells and inserting the copies of the modified lattice cells into the corresponding subvolumes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell is a finite element surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell is a finite element volume mesh. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell is a face-node connectivity polygonal surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell is a unique-polygonal surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base lattice cell includes meta-data defining surface classes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving data representative of a part volume includes creating data representative of the part volume via a computer-aided design system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving data representative of the base lattice cell includes creating data representative of the base lattice cell via a computer aided design system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying a shape of at least some of the subvolumes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying a shape of at least some of the copies of the modified lattice cells. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of replacing a copy of a modified lattice cell with a copy of another modified lattice cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving data representative of a part volume, the step of receiving data representative of the plurality of subvolumes including decomposing the part volume into the plurality of subvolumes. ### Claim 19 A method of generating a computer-based united cellular lattice structure comprising the steps of: generating data representative of a part volume; decomposing the part volume into a plurality of subvolumes, each subvolume having a plurality of sides such that the subvolume is configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one other subvolume, the plurality of sides including at least one of an adjoining side and a non-adjoining side, the subvolume having a side combination corresponding to a number and orientation of adjoining sides and non-adjoining sides; generating data representative of a base lattice cell having a plurality of surfaces, some of the surfaces being face surfaces corresponding to faces of the base lattice cell, the base lattice cell being created during a pre-processing phase; generating data representative of a modified lattice cell from the base lattice cell for each side combination of the subvolumes such that each modified lattice cell has face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to non-adjoining sides and does not have face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to adjoining sides, the modified lattice cells being generated during the pre-processing phase; generating data representative of copies of the modified lattice cells, the modified lattice cell copies being generated during the pre-processing phase; and inserting the copies of the modified lattice cells into corresponding subvolumes such that the faces of the modified lattice cell copies having face surfaces are positioned along non-adjoining sides of the subvolumes and the faces of the modified lattice cell copies not having face surfaces are positioned along adjoining sides of the subvolumes, modified lattice cell copies being inserted into the corresponding subvolumes during a processing phase. ### Claim 20 A system for creating a part based on a united cellular lattice structure, the system comprising: a computer modeling system comprising: a processor configured to: receive data representative of a plurality of subvolumes formed from a part volume, each subvolume having a plurality of sides such that the subvolume is configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one other subvolume, the plurality of sides including at least one of an adjoining side and a non-adjoining side, the subvolume having a side combination corresponding to a number and orientation of adjoining sides and non-adjoining sides; receive data representative of a base lattice cell having a plurality of surfaces, some of the surfaces being face surfaces corresponding to faces of the base lattice cell; generate data representative of a modified lattice cell from the base lattice cell for each side combination of the subvolumes such that each modified lattice cell has face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to non-adjoining sides and does not have face surfaces on faces thereof corresponding to adjoining sides; generate data representative of copies of the modified lattice cells; and insert the copies of the modified lattice cells into corresponding subvolumes such that the faces of the modified lattice cell copies having face surfaces are positioned along non-adjoining sides of the subvolumes and the faces of the modified lattice cell copies not having face surfaces are positioned along adjoining sides of the subvolumes; a non-transitory computer readable memory configured to store the data representative of the base lattice cell, the subvolumes, the modified lattice cells, and the modified lattice cell copies thereon; a plurality of inputs for receiving inputs from a user; and a display configured to visually produce the base lattice cell, the subvolumes, the modified lattice cells, and the modified lattice cell copies for allowing the user to inspect and modify the united cellular lattice structure; and an additive manufacturing system configured to form the part via additive manufacturing material deposited layer by layer according to the united cellular lattice structure.