Evaluation of 3D printed objects

A three-dimensional printing apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform processing comprising:
• receiving, object model data defining an object to be built by the three-dimensional printing apparatus by selectively fusing layers of build powder;
• simulating, using the object model data, a cleaning process to remove excess build powder from the object after having been built, to identify whether the object has portions that would not be processable by the cleaning process after the object has been built;
• in response to determining that there are no portions of the object that would not be processable by the cleaning process, building the object using the object model data;
• and
• in response to determining that there are portions of the object that would not be processable by the cleaning process, outputting an indication of non-processability of the portions that would not be processable by the cleaning process, instead of building the object using the object model data.

A method comprising:

• obtaining, by a processor, object model data defining an object to be built by a three-dimensional printing apparatus by selectively fusing layers of build powder;
• simulating, by the processor and using the object model data, a painting process to color the object after having been built, to identify whether the object has portions that would not be processable by the painting process after the object has been built;
• in response to determining that there are no portions of the object that would not be processable by the painting process, causing, by the processor, the three-dimensional printing apparatus to build the object using the object model data;
• and
• in response to determining that there are portions of the object that would not be processable by the painting process, outputting, by the processor, an indication of non-processability of the portions that would not be processable by the painting process, instead of causing the three-dimensional printing apparatus to build the object using the object model data.