Techniques for optimizing orientation of models for three-dimensional printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10239258-B2
Application number	US-201414544158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 3, 2013
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a print orientation tool efficiently determines an orientation of a three-dimensional (3D) model such that, when 3D printed, the structural integrity of the resulting 3D object is optimized. In operation, the print orientation tool configures a stress analysis engine to slice the 3D model into two-dimensional (2D) cross-sections. The stress analysis engine then compute structural stresses associated with the 2D cross-sections. The print orientation tool translates the structural stresses to weakness metrics. Subsequently, the print orientation tool evaluates the orientations of the cross-sections in conjunction with the corresponding weakness metrics to select a printing orientation that minimizes weaknesses in the 3D model. Advantageously, by aligning the 3D model to the print bed based on the optimized printing orientation, the user mitigates weaknesses in the corresponding 3D object attributable to the 3D printing manufacturing process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for optimizing the orientation of a three-dimensional model for three-dimensional printing, the method comprising:
slicing the three-dimensional model to produce multiple two-dimensional cross-sections;
grouping at least two of the two-dimensional cross-sections into a first virtual cross-section based on connectivity characteristics of the three-dimensional model;
computing a first structural stress associated with the first virtual cross-section based on bending moment equilibrium;
applying a weakness heuristic to the first structural stress to determine a weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section; and
based on the weakness heuristic and an orientation of the first virtual cross-section, selecting a printing orientation for the three-dimensional model.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the printing orientation comprises:
weighting a direction associated with a neutral axis of the first virtual cross-section based on the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section to produce a first weighted direction;
weighting a direction associated with a neutral axis of a second virtual cross-section based on a weakness metric for the second virtual cross-section to produce a second weighted direction; and
setting the printing orientation to a direction most orthogonal to the first weighted direction and the second weighted direction.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the printing orientation comprises:
comparing the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section to a weakness metric for a second virtual cross-section; and
if the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section is greater than the weakness metric for the second virtual cross section, then indicating that a direction associated with a neutral axis of the first virtual cross-section is a weakest direction, or
if the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section is not greater than the weakness metric for the second virtual cross section, then indicating that a direction associated with a neutral axis of the second virtual cross-section is a weakest direction; and
setting the printing orientation to a direction orthogonal to the weakest direction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connectivity characteristics indicate that the at least two of the two-dimensional cross sections collectively influence the distribution of an external force applied to the three-dimensional model when the three-dimensional object is fixed at a first location.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the first structural stress comprises:
selecting a neutral axis based on each of the two-dimensional cross-sections included in the first virtual cross-section; and
applying bending moment equilibrium to the virtual cross-section based on the neutral axis.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to slicing the three-dimensional model, selecting a first number of slicing axes, wherein each slicing axis is orthogonal to a potential printing orientation, and the number of slicing axes satisfies an accuracy constraint.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising superimposing at least one of the weakness metric and the printing orientation on the three-dimensional model for display.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an updated three-dimensional model;
repeating the steps of slicing, grouping, computing, and applying to determine a modified printing orientation; and
superimposing the modified printing orientation on the three-dimensional model for display.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to slicing the three-dimensional model, selecting a thickness for each slice that satisfies a time constraint related to an allotted time for determining the printing orientation.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to optimize the orientation of a three-dimensional model for three-dimensional printing by performing the steps of:
slicing the three-dimensional model to produce multiple two-dimensional cross-sections;
grouping at least two of the two-dimensional cross-sections into a first virtual cross-section based on connectivity characteristics of the three-dimensional model;
computing a first structural stress associated with the first virtual cross-section based on bending moment equilibrium;
applying a weakness heuristic to the first structural stress to determine a weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section; and
based on the weakness heuristic and an orientation of the first virtual cross-section, selecting a printing orientation for the three-dimensional model.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein selecting the printing orientation comprises:
weighting a direction associated with a neutral axis of the first virtual cross-section based on the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section to produce a first weighted direction;
weighting a direction associated with a neutral axis of a second virtual cross-section based on a weakness metric for the second virtual cross-section to produce a second weighted direction; and
setting the printing orientation to a direction most orthogonal to the first weighted direction and the second weighted direction.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein selecting the printing orientation comprises:
comparing the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section to a weakness metric for a second virtual cross-section; and
if the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section is greater than the weakness metric for the second virtual cross section, then indicating that a direction associated with a neutral axis of the first virtual cross-section is a weakest direction, or
if the weakness metric for the first virtual cross-section is not greater than the weakness metric for the second virtual cross section, then indicating that a direction associated with a neutral axis of the second virtual cross-section is a weakest direction; and
setting the printing orientation to a direction orthogonal to the weakest direction.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the connectivity characteristics indicate that the at least two of the two-dimensional cross sections collectively influence the distribution of an external force applied to the three-dimensional model when the three-dimensional object is fixed at a first location.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein computing the first structural stress comprises:
selecting a neutral axis based on each of the two-dimensional cross-sections included in the first virtual cross-section; and
applying bending moment equilibrium to the virtual cross-section based on the neutral axis.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising, prior to slicing the three-dimensional model, selecting a first number of slicing axes, wherein each slicing axis is orthogonal to a potential printing orientation, and the number of slicing axes satisfies an accuracy constraint.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising superimposing at least one of the weakness metric and the printing orientation on the three-dimensional model for display.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving an updated three-dim

Assignees

• Autodesk Inc

Inventors

• Schmidt Ryan Michael
• Umetani Nobuyuki

Classifications

• G06F2119/18

  Manufacturability analysis or optimisation for manufacturability · CPC title

• G06F30/00

  Computer-aided design [CAD] · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• G05B2219/49038

  Support help, grid between support and prototype, separate easily · CPC title

• B29C64/40

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title