Method for specifying and fabricating an object, associated apparatus, and applications

A machine-implemented method for specifying a target object to be fabricated, comprising the steps of:

• i) defining the target object to be fabricated, comprising one of sourcing the target object from a prescribed image and sourcing the target object from a mathematical model, wherein the step of sourcing the target object from a prescribed image further comprises reconstructing the image of the target object into a 3D machine-readable format, and further wherein sourcing the target object from a prescribed image comprises the steps of:
• a) obtaining a plurality of image layers;
• b) determining a desired image resolution;
• c) selecting one or more of the plurality of image layers as an nth fabrication layer image, where n is equal to or greater than one;
• and
• d) optionally, resizing the nth fabrication layer image for specifying at least one of a size and a volume characteristic of the target object;
• ii) determining a locally-heterogeneous, anisotropic distribution of phenotypic characteristics of the target object to be fabricated, comprising assigning values between zero to one to a each of a plurality of pixels or voxels, or to each of a plurality of sets of adjoining pixels or voxels, of the nth fabrication layer image;
• iii) ascribing the distribution of phenotypic characteristics to a plurality of materials from which the target object will be fabricated, comprising associating a plurality of the assigned values to respective ones of the materials;
• iv) stitching together each distribution corresponding to respective ones of the materials into respective sets of vector paths corresponding to respective ones of the materials, wherein each set of vector paths is one or more line elements of a given length and orientation, and further where stitching together each distribution further comprises dithering each of the plurality of the assigned values into a plurality of segments corresponding to respective ones of the materials;
• v) converting each of the plurality of segments into the vector paths for the respective ones of the materials, comprising:
• a) selecting a starting index;
• b) comparing the starting index to an adjacent index in a specified direction;
• c) determining whether the starting and adjacent indices are assigned to the same one of the materials;
• and
• d) if the starting and adjacent indices are assigned to the same one of the materials, then creating a vector path between the indices;
• or e) if the starting and adjacent indices are not assigned to the same one of the materials, then changing the adjacent index into a new starting index and performing steps (b-d);
• and f) performing steps (a-e) until a sufficient number of vector paths have been generated to specify the target object;
• vi) creating a vector print file for the target object readable by a compatible fabrication apparatus, and
• vii) directing the fabrication apparatus to execute the vector print file to fabricate the target object.