# US 12,761,629 B2 · Element placement on 3D surfaces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,761,629 B2 - Document ID: US12761629B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/279,130 - Filed: 2021-03-10 - Published: 2024-04-25 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-10 - Assignees: Peridot Print LLC; Nanyang Technological University - Applicants: Peridot Print LLC; Nanyang Technological University - Inventors: Jianmin Zheng; Weidan Xiong; Jun Zeng; Edward Dale Davis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761629B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/4099: Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing - G06T 15/00: Three-dimensional [3D] image rendering - G06T 17/20: Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, {tesselation} - G06T 19/20: Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts - G05B 2219/49023: 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder - G06T 2219/2004: Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts - 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) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Examples of design element placement on 3D surfaces are described herein. In some examples, a three-dimensional (3D) mesh of a 3D surface is converted to a two-dimensional (2D) surface. In some examples, placement of design elements on the 2D surface is determined to maximize density of the design elements while satisfying a minimum separation distance between the design elements. In some examples, the design element placement on the 2D surface is converted to the 3D surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: converting, by a processor, a three-dimensional (3D) mesh of a 3D surface to a two-dimensional (2D) surface that is planar, wherein the 3D surface is part of a 3D model of a mold to be printed using a 3D printer, and the mold is for a molded fiber object and used during production of the molded fiber object; determining, by the processor, placement of design elements on the 2D surface to maximize density of the design elements while satisfying a minimum separation distance between the design elements, wherein the design elements correspond to pores to be added to the 3D model such that the mold is formed with the pores when printed using the 3D printer; converting, by the processor, design element placement on the 2D surface to the 3D surface of the 3D model to add the pores to the 3D model; and printing, by the 3D printer, the mold using the 3D model to which the pores have been added, such that the mold is formed with the pores. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein converting the 3D mesh of the 3D surface to the 2D surface comprises transforming a 3D triangular mesh to a 2D triangular mesh. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein converting the 3D mesh of the 3D surface to the 2D surface comprises: mapping vertices of the 3D mesh to the 2D surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the processor, the minimum separation distance to ensure a minimum distance between any two design elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pores in the mold facilitate dewatering during the production of the molded fiber object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: using the mold for dewatering during the production of the molded fiber object. ### Claim 7 A computing device comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: convert a three-dimensional (3D) mesh of a 3D surface to a two-dimensional (2D) surface that is planar, wherein the 3D surface is part of a 3D model of a mold to be printed using a 3D printer, and the mold is for a molded fiber object and used during production of the molded fiber object; determine a design element grid for placement of design elements on the 2D surface to maximize density of the design elements while satisfying a minimum separation distance between the design elements, wherein the design elements correspond to pores to be added to the 3D model such that the mold is formed with the pores when printed using the 3D printer; convert the design element grid from the 2D surface to the 3D surface to add the pores to the 3D model; and cause the 3D printer to print the mold using the 3D model to which the pores have been added, such that the mold is formed with the pores. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computing device of claim 7, wherein the design element grid comprises a pattern of design elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computing device of claim 8, wherein the pattern comprises a hexagonal pattern of design elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The computing device of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when execute by the processor, further cause the processor is to: overlay the design element grid on the 2D surface; and trim the design element grid at a boundary of the 2D surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The computing device of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when execute by the processor, cause the processor to convert the design element grid from the 2D surface to the 3D surface by mapping the design element grid from the 2D surface to the 3D surface. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to: convert a three-dimensional (3D) mesh of a 3D surface to a two-dimensional (2D) surface that is planar, wherein the 3D surface is part of a 3D model of a mold to be printed using a 3D printer, and the mold is for a molded fiber object and used during production of the molded fiber object; determine placement of design elements on the 2D surface to maximize density of the design elements while satisfying a minimum separation distance between the design elements, wherein the design elements correspond to pores to be added to the 3D model such that the mold is formed with the pores when printed using the 3D printer; convert design element placement on the 2D surface to the 3D surface; refine the design element placement on the 3D surface to account for distortion from conversion from the 2D surface to the 3D surface; and cause the 3D printer to print the mold using the 3D model to which the pores have been added, such that the mold is formed with the pores. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: determine curvature of the 3D surface; and adjust a separation distance of the design elements on the 3D surface based on the curvature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: perturb the design element placement on the 3D surface based on a spring model between the design elements to bring the design elements toward each other on the 3D surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: apply a virtual force to the spring model to regulate distribution of the design elements on the 2D surface.