Computer aided processing of three-dimensional object and apparatus thereof

An apparatus for generating data for manufacturing a three-dimensional body, said device comprising:

• a computer including a processor, memory, an input device, and an output device;
• means for generating input data for said computer, said data representing a three-dimensional body model;
• means for storing said input data in said computer;
• means for generating, first signals to form, based on said input data, a plurality of surfaces representing said three-dimensional body model, wherein each surface comprises a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of said three-dimensional body model;
• means responsive to activation of said input device for locating a preparation line on said contour of said three-dimensional body;
• means responsive to activation of said input device for generating second signals to modify contours of vertical sections in accordance with said desired three-dimensional body;
• and
• means responsive to activation of said input device for generating third signals to store output data which denotes modifications of said contours in response to said second signals, said output data being transmittable from said computer to a manufacturing facility.

A process for generating data for manufacturing a three-dimensional body utilizing a computer-aided design program, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing mathematical models corresponding to reference three-dimensional bodies, said mathematical models being stored in a memory of a computer;
• generating macro models representing standard copying and production functions including formation of a base of a three-dimensional body and altering width and height of a three-dimensional body;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a mathematical model by merging selected ones of the macro models with features of the mathematical models corresponding to reference three-dimensional bodies stored in the memory of the computer;
• providing to the computer input data representing an input three-dimensional body;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a representation the input data on a display of the computer, the representation comprising at least a portion of a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of the input three-dimensional body;
• determining a location of a preparation line on the representation of the input three-dimensional body for manufacturing the manufactured three-dimensional body;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a representation comprising at least a portion of a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of the one of the mathematical models on the display of the computer superimposed on the representation of the input data;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a representation comprising at least a portion of a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of the merged macro models and mathematical models on the display of the computer superimposed on the representation of the input data;
• generating through the computer-aided design program based upon a comparison of the representation of the input three-dimensional body with the representation of the merged macro models and mathematical models a modification of the input data on the display of the computer utilizing an input device of the computer;
• and
• generating through the computer-aided design program the output data representing the modified input three-dimensional body, the output data being transmittable from the computer for manufacturing the three-dimensional body.

A process for generating data for manufacturing a three-dimensional body utilizing a computer-aided design program, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing mathematical models corresponding to reference three-dimensional bodies, said mathematical models being stored in a memory of a computer;
• providing to the computer input data representing an input three-dimensional body;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a representation the input data on a display of the computer, the representation comprising at least a portion of a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of the input three-dimensional body;
• determining a location of a preparation line on the representation of the input three-dimensional body for manufacturing the manufactured three-dimensional body;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a representation comprising at least a portion of a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of the one of the mathematical models on the display of the computer superimposed on the representation of the input data;
• generating through the computer-aided design program based upon a comparison of the representation of the input three-dimensional body with the representation of the mathematical model a modification of the input data on the display of the computer utilizing an input device of the computer;
• generating through the computer-aided design program upon activation of the input device signals to represent a displaceable unit, which, based upon the signals is controllable in the vertical direction of the vertical sections, wherein, upon displacement of the unit to a part of the respective vertical section representing the preparation line of the input three-dimensional body, the computer-aided design program generates through the computer and presents on the display a line represented by dots, the line representing the preparation line of the three-dimensional body to be manufactured when applied to a flat surface, and wherein data relating to the preparation line representation forms part of the output data;
• and
• generating through the computer-aided design program the output data representing the modified input three-dimensional body, the output data being transmittable from the computer for manufacturing the three-dimensional body.

A process for generating data for manufacturing a three-dimensional body utilizing a computer-aided design program, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing mathematical models corresponding to reference three-dimensional bodies representing different types of teeth, said mathematical models being stored in a memory of a computer;
• forming of a library for storing data files attributable to various basic types of teeth, and other variables including at least one of strength and facade material;
• providing to the computer input data representing an input three-dimensional body;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a representation the input data on a display of the computer, the representation comprising at least a portion of a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of the input three-dimensional body;
• determining a location of a preparation line on the representation of the input three-dimensional body for manufacturing the manufactured three-dimensional body;
• generating through the computer-aided design program a representation comprising at least a portion of a contour of a vertical section extending through a central axis of the one of the mathematical models on the display of the computer superimposed on the representation of the input data;
• generating through the computer-aided design program based upon a comparison of the representation of the input three-dimensional body with the representation of the mathematical model a modification of the input data on the display of the computer utilizing an input device of the computer;
• and
• generating through the computer-aided design program the output data representing the modified input three-dimensional body, the output data being transmittable from the computer for manufacturing the three-dimensional body.