Fabrication of non-homogeneous articles via additive manufacturing using three-dimensional voxel-based models

A system for fabricating a non-homogenous article, the system comprising:

• a 3D printer configured to fabricate the non-homogenous article;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
• receive a 3D voxel-based model of the non-homogenous article, wherein
• the 3D voxel-based model comprises a multi-dimensional array of voxel elements, wherein
• each voxel element of the multi-dimensional array of voxel elements is assigned one or more values representing one or more physical properties;
• based upon the 3D voxel-based model, define a plurality of 3D dots, wherein
• each dot of the plurality of 3D dots comprises a respective one or more physical properties, wherein the respective one or more physical properties are defined at a resolution of the 3D printer, and
• the plurality of 3D dots, upon agglomeration as one or more materials deposited by the 3D printer, are configured to produce the shape of the non-homogenous article;
• determine, for each 3D dot of the plurality of 3D dots, a respective transfer function T(M), wherein
• the respective transfer function identifies the one or more materials, and
• the one or more materials, when deposited by the 3D printer, are configured to produce a closest matching material to a material having the one or more prescribed physical properties associated with the respective 3D dot;
• and
• provide instructions to the 3D printer, based upon the plurality of 3D dots, to produce the non-homogenous article;
• wherein
• the 3D printer is configured to deposit each dot of the plurality of 3D dots as the one or more materials, and
• producing the non-homogenous article comprises curing a resin identified by the transfer function associated with at least a portion of the dots of the plurality of 3D dots, wherein the transfer function associated with the portion of the dots identifies at least one light frequency for curing the respective dot.