Determine sample points on slices from nurbs models

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• mapping, by the processor, a Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) model having surfaces into projective space;
• identifying, by the processor, slices of the NURBS model, each of the slices abutting a slicing plane and having a slice height;
• adaptively generating, by the processor, bounding boxes for respective surfaces of the NURBS model, the bounding boxes respectively including a portion of a surface of the NURBS model, intersecting at least one of the slicing planes, and meeting a predefined dimensional criterion;
• for each of the adaptively generated bounding boxes that meet the predefined criterion, sampling, by the processor, points of the surface with which the bounding box corresponds;
• and
• output, by the processor, the sampled points of the surfaces.

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

• map a Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) model having surfaces into projective space;
• identify slices of the NURBS model, each of the slices abutting a slicing plane and having a slice height, the slices being orthogonal to a vertical axis of the NURBS model;
• adaptively generate bounding boxes for respective surfaces of the NURBS model, the bounding boxes respectively including a portion of a surface of the NURBS model, intersecting at least one of the slicing planes, and meeting a predefined dimensional criteria;
• for each of the adaptively generated bounding boxes that meet the predefined criterion, identify points of the surface with which the bounding box corresponds;
• and
• output, by the processor, the identified points of the surfaces.