Boolean layer comparison slice
Assignee3D Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid E. Snead, Dennis R. Smalley, Adam L. Cohen, Joseph W. Allison, Thomas J. Vorgitch, Thomas P. Chen
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Abstract
A method of and apparatus for slicing a three-dimensional object representation into a plurality of layer representations is described, wherein the layer representations are subsequently used to form the object layer-by-layer according to the principles of stereolithography. If not already provided in the object representation, a plurality of layer boundary representations are first formed, and then the boolean difference of successive layer boundary representations are computed to derive boundaries of up and down-facing regions, enabling different cure parameters to be specified for these different regions.
Claims51
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object from initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising the following steps:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer spaced below a second layer,
- supplying an initial layer representation of the second layer;
- forming a desired layer representation for a first selected one of the first and second layers comprising forming a Boolean difference between the initial layer representation of the first selected one and the initial layer representation of a second selected one of the first and second layers different from the first selected one;
- forming desired layer representations for other layers;
- and
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object from initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising the following steps:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer spaced below a second layer;
- supplying an initial layer representation of the second layer;
- forming a desired layer representation for a first selected one of the first and second layers comprising forming a Boolean union between the initial layer representation of the first selected one and the initial layer representation of a second selected one of the first and second layers different from the first selected one;
- and
- forming desired layer representations for other layers;
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object from initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising the following steps:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer spaced below a second layer;
- supplying an initial layer representation of the second layer;
- forming a desired layer representation for a first selected one of the first and second layers comprising forming a Boolean intersection between the initial layer representation of the first selected one and the initial layer representation of a second selected one of the first and second layers different from the first selected one;
- and
- forming desired layer representations for other layers;
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object from initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising the following steps:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer spaced below a second layer;
- supplying an initial layer representation of the second layer;
- forming a desired layer representation for a first selected one of the first and second initial layer representations comprising forming a Boolean complement of one of the first and second initial layer representations different from the first selected one to form a modified layer representation, and performing a subsequent Boolean operation between the modified layer representation and the initial layer representation of the first selected one;
- forming desired layer representations for at least some other layers;
- and
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object from initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising the following steps:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer spaced below a second layer;
- supplying an initial layer representation of the second layer;
- supplying an initial layer representation of a third layer spaced above the second layer;
- forming a non-outward-facing layer representation for the second layer comprising forming a Boolean intersection between the initial layer representations of the first, second, and third layers;
- using the non-outward-facing representation in forming the desired layer representation of the second layer;
- forming desired layer representations for other layers;
- and
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object from initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising the following steps:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer spaced below a second layer;
- supplying an initial layer representation of the second layer;
- forming an outward-facing layer representation for a first selected one of the first and second layers comprising forming a Boolean difference between the initial layer representation of the first selected one of said first and second layers and the layer representation of a second selected one of said first and second layers different from said first selected one;
- using the outward-facing boundary representation in forming the desired layer representation of the first selected one of said first and second layers;
- and
- forming desired layer representations for other layers;
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object form initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer;
- forming a desired layer representation for a layer comprising forming a Boolean complement of the initial layer representation of the first layer;
- forming desired layer representations for at least some other layers, and using the desired layer representations for forming solidified layers of the three-dimensional object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming an undersized representation of a three-dimensional object for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis with a desired surface offset from the original design of the object, comprising the following steps:
- supplying initial layer representations of the object;
- providing desired layer representations of the object for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, including:
- modifying boundaries for each cross-section by offsetting the boundaries a desired amount into an interior of the object;
- modifying locations of down-facing object regions by offsetting the downfacing regions a desired amount upward into the interior of the object;
- modifying locations of up-facing object regions by offsetting the up-facing regions a desired amount downward into the interior of the object;
- and
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
A method for forming a plurality of desired layer representations of a three-dimensional object from initial layer representations, for use in forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis, comprising the following steps:
- supplying an initial layer representation of a first layer;
- supplying an initial layer representation of a second layer;
- forming a desired layer representation for one of the first and second layers comprising forming a Boolean complement on a first selected one of the first and second initial layer representations to form a modified layer representation, and performing a subsequent Boolean operation between the modified layer representation and the initial layer representation of a second selected one of the first and second layers different from the first selected one;
- forming desired layer representations for at least some other layers;
- and
- supplying the desired layer representations for forming the object on a layer-by-layer basis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.