Image processing method and method of three-dimensional printing incorporating the same

A method of generating a physical model using three-dimensional printing, the method comprising:

• inputting a vector-based surface representation of a virtual three-dimensional object;
• sampling the volume enclosed by the three-dimensional object to generate a digitised three-dimensional representation of the object;
• eroding the digitised three-dimensional representation of the object to generate an internal volume;
• generating a vector-based surface representation of the internal volume, wherein the surfaces of the internal volume represent internal surfaces;
• and
• combining the vector-based surface representation of the virtual three-dimensional object with the vector-based surface representation of the internal volume.
• outputting the combined vector-based surface representation to a three-dimensional printer;
• and
• operating the three-dimensional printer to create a physical model corresponding to the combined vector-based surface representation.

A method of preparing a virtual three-dimensional object for computer-based analysis, the method comprising:

• obtaining a vector-based surface representation of a virtual three-dimensional object;
• sampling the volume enclosed by the three-dimensional object to generate a digitised three-dimensional representation of the object;
• eroding the digitised three-dimensional representation of the object to generate an internal volume;
• combining the digitised three-dimensional representation is of the object with digitised three-dimensional representation of the internal volume;
• and
• performing computer-based analysis on the combined digitised three-dimensional representation.

A method of preparing a virtual three-dimensional object for three-dimensional printing, the method comprising:

• scanning a physical three-dimensional object to obtain a digitised three-dimensional representation of the object;
• eroding the digitised three-dimensional representation of the object to generate an internal volume;
• subtracting a digitised representation of a microstructure from the eroded digitised three-dimensional representation of the object, wherein the generated internal volume consists of an inverted version of the microstructure;
• and
• subtracting the generated internal volume from the digitised three-dimensional representation of the object to create a hollowed out representation of the object.

A method of preparing a virtual three-dimensional object for three-dimensional printing, the method comprising:

• scanning a physical three-dimensional object to obtain a digitised three-dimensional representation of the object;
• eroding the digitised three-dimensional representation of the object to generate an internal volume;
• inverting the digitised representation of the internal volume;
• performing a union operation to combine a digitised representation of a microstructure with the inverted digitised internal volume, wherein the generated internal volume consists of the microstructure;
• and
• combining the digitised three-dimensional representation of the object with digitised three-dimensional representation of the internal volume to create a hollowed out representation of the object.

Apparatus for preparing a virtual three-dimensional object for three-dimensional printing, the apparatus comprising:

• an input device for receiving a vector-based surface representation of a virtual three-dimensional object;
• a memory arranged to store the vector-based surface representation of a virtual three-dimensional object;
• a processor programmed to:
• sample the volume enclosed by the three-dimensional object to generate a digitised three-dimensional representation of the object,
• erode the digitised three-dimensional representation of the object to generate an internal volume,
• generate a vector-based surface representation of the internal volume, wherein the surfaces of the internal volume represent internal surfaces, and
• combine the vector-based surface representation of the virtual three-dimensional object with the vector-based surface representation of the internal volume;
• and
• an output device for outputting the combined vector-based surface representation of the object and internal volume.