Techniques for generating motion sculpture models for three-dimensional printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10620610-B2
Application number	US-201514811746-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2015
Priority date	Jul 28, 2015
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a motion effect generator enables the creation of tangible representations of the motion of three-dimensional (3D) animated models for 3D printing. In operation, the motion effect generator receives a 3D animated model and animates the model through a configurable interval of time. As the motion effect generator animates the model, the motion effect generator applies a motion depiction technique to one or more selected components included in the model—explicitly portraying the motion of the 3D animated model as static motion effect geometries. Subsequently, based on the motion effect geometries, the motion effect generator creates a 3D motion sculpture model that is amenable to 3D printing. By automating the design of motion sculpture models, the motion effect generator reduces the time, sculpting expertise, and familiarity with 3D printer fabrication constraints typically required to create motion sculpture models using conventional, primarily manual design techniques.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a motion sculpture for 3D printing, the method comprising:
receiving a 3D animated model representing an object;
receiving, via a user interface, one or more user inputs selecting a first motion depiction technique, a time interval, and a component included within the 3D animated model;
determining a respective location of the selected component at each of one or more points in time within the time interval;
generating a 3D motion effect geometry by applying the first motion depiction technique to the selected component based on the respective location of the selected component at each of the one or more points in time; and
converting the 3D motion effect geometry into at least a portion of a 3D digital model configured for 3D printing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the first motion depiction technique comprises producing a geometric shape that represents a motion line, a sweep, a multiple stroboscopic stamp, a particle system, or a fluid system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the 3D motion effect geometry comprises generating a polygon mesh based on the 3D motion effect geometry.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first motion depiction technique is included in a plurality of motion depiction techniques, and further comprising receiving a first parameter via the user interface, and applying the first motion depiction technique based on the first parameter.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving a second parameter via the user interface, and configuring the first motion depiction technique based on the second parameter.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving a third parameter via the user interface, and adjusting the 3D motion effect geometry to reflect the third parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the selected component based on a component type associated with the first motion depiction technique.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected component comprises at least one of a vertex, an edge, a two dimensional curve, and an object.

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of a motion sculpture for 3D printing by performing the steps of:
receiving a 3D animated model representing an object;
receiving, via a user interface, one or more user inputs selecting a first motion depiction technique, a time interval, and a component included within the 3D animated model;
determining a respective location of the selected component at each of one or more points in time within the time interval;
generating a 3D motion effect geometry within the 3D animated model by applying the first motion depiction technique to the selected component based on the respective location of the selected component at each of the one or more points in time; and
converting the 3D motion effect geometry into at least a portion of a 3D digital model configured for 3D printing.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein applying the first motion depiction technique comprises producing a geometric shape that represents a motion line, a sweep, a multiple stroboscopic stamp, a particle system, or a fluid system.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein converting the 3D motion effect geometry comprises automatically adding one or more geometric shapes that are configured to physically support at least the portion of the 3D digital model corresponding to the 3D motion effect geometry during 3D printing.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein generating the 3D motion effect geometry comprises determining a length of a physical dimension based on the received time interval, and generating one or more geometric shapes that span the length of the physical dimension.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein converting the 3D motion effect geometry comprises generating a polygon mesh based on the 3D motion effect geometry.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the steps further comprise identifying the selected component based on a component type associated with the first motion depiction technique.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the selected component comprises at least one of a vertex, an edge, a two dimensional curve, and an object.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the steps further comprise displaying an enhanced image of the 3D animated model, wherein the enhanced image includes the 3D motion effect geometry.

17. A system configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of a motion sculpture for 3D printing, the system comprising:
a processing unit configured to:
receive a 3D animated model representing an object,
receive, via a user interface, one or more user inputs selecting a first motion depiction technique, a time interval, and a component included within the 3D animated model,
determine a respective location of the selected component at each of one or more points in time within the time interval,
generate a 3D motion effect geometry within the 3D animated model by applying the first motion depiction technique to the selected component based on the respective location of the selected component at each of the one or more points in time, and
convert the 3D motion effect geometry into at least a portion of a 3D digital model configured for 3D printing; and

a display device coupled to the processing unit and configured to display an enhanced image of the 3D animated model, wherein the enhanced image includes the 3D motion effect geometry.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein applying the first motion depiction technique comprises producing a geometric shape that represents a motion line, a sweep, a multiple stroboscopic stamp, a particle system, or a fluid system.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein converting the 3D motion effect geometry comprises generating a polygon mesh based on the 3D motion effect geometry.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the selected component comprises at least one of a vertex, an edge, a two dimensional curve, and an object.

Assignees

• Autodesk Inc

Inventors

• Grossman Tovi
• Schmidt Ryan Michael
• HABIB Rubaiat
• Mogk Cory
• Fitzmaurice George

Classifications

• G05B19/4099 Primary

  Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/386

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• G05B2219/49023

  3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder · CPC title