US 10,518,473 B2 · Parts arrangement determination for a 3D printer build envelope

Abstract

According to an example, an arrangement of parts to be printed in a build envelope of a three dimensional (3D) printer may be determined through identification of a plurality of parts to be printed and generation of a respective virtual bounding box for each of the plurality of parts. In one example, a determination may be made that a total volume occupied by the generated virtual bounding boxes falls below a predetermined threshold of the build envelope volume and an arrangement of the virtual bounding boxes inside the build envelope that results in a total height of the virtual bounding boxes being minimized may be determined, to enhance efficiency in printing of the plurality of parts by the 3D printer.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for determining an arrangement of parts to be printed in a build envelope of a three dimensional (3D) printer, said method comprising:

identifying a plurality of parts to be printed;
generating a respective virtual bounding box for each of the plurality of parts;
determining that a total volume occupied by the generated virtual bounding boxes falls below a predetermined threshold of the build envelope;
and
determining, by a processor, an arrangement of the virtual bounding boxes inside the build envelope that results in a total height of the virtual bounding boxes being minimized and results in a shortest edge of the virtual bounding boxes forming a free space inside of the build envelope being longer than the shortest edge of the virtual bounding boxes in other candidate arrangements of the virtual bounding boxes, to enhance efficiency in printing of the plurality of parts by the 3D printer.

2 more elements

An apparatus for determining arrangements of objects to be printed in a build volume of a three dimensional (3D) printer, said apparatus comprising:

a processor;
and
a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
identify a plurality of objects to be printed by the 3D printer;
generate a respective virtual bounding box for each of the plurality of objects;
and
determine an arrangement of the virtual bounding boxes inside the build volume that results in a free space inside of the build volume having a least complex geometry and results in a shortest edge of the virtual bounding boxes forming the free space inside of the build volume being longer than the shortest edge of the virtual bounding boxes in other candidate arrangements of the virtual bounding boxes, to enhance efficiency in printing of the plurality of objects by the 3D printer.

4 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium on which is stored machine readable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

identify a plurality of objects to be printed by a three dimensional (3D) printer;
generate a respective virtual bounding box for each of the plurality of objects;
and
determine an arrangement of the virtual bounding boxes inside the build volume that results in a free space inside of the build volume having a least complex geometry and results in a shortest edge of the virtual bounding boxes forming the free space inside of the build volume being longer than the shortest edge of the virtual bounding boxes in other candidate arrangements of the virtual bounding boxes, to enhance efficiency in printing of the plurality of objects by the 3D printer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Parts arrangement determination for a 3D printer build envelope

Life of this patent

Parts arrangement determination for a 3D printer build envelope

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17