3D printing computer application 3D printing using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11931964-B2
Application number	US-201816970453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2018
Priority date	Apr 30, 2018
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A method is disclosed for generating a 3D printing file containing an object model of a part having a body and an integral electronic component. To generate the 3D printing file, a processor receives at least one geometry specification of the part to be printed and at least one component performance property of the electronic component to be printed integral to the part. An object model is determined by the processor in accordance with the at least one geometry specification of a part to be printed, the at least one component performance property of an electronic component to be printed, and at least one material property of an electronic component printing material of a 3D printer. The 3D printing file is generated by the processor and comprises the object model.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a processor:
a geometry specification of a part to be three-dimensionally (3D) printed using a 3D printer; and
a performance specification of an electronic component to be integrally 3D printed within the part;

retrieving, by the processor and from a configuration library, a plurality of physical configurations of the electronic component that satisfy the geometry specification of the part to be printed, each physical configuration defining a corresponding shape of the electronic component;
simulating, by the processor and for each physical configuration, an operating performance of the electronic component if the electronic component were to have the physical configuration when integrally 3D printed within the part having the geometry specification;
determining, by the processor, an object model of the part including, from among the plurality of physical configurations, a particular physical configuration having the simulated operating performance that most closely matches the performance specification of the electronic component, the object model determined according to the specification of the part, the performance specification of the electronic component, and a material property of an electronic component printing material of the 3D printer with which the electronic component is to be integrally 3D printed within the part;
generating, by the processor, a 3D printing file comprising the object model of the part in which the electronic component is integrally 3D printed within the part with the particular physical configuration; and
causing, by the processor, the 3D printer to 3D-print the part including the electronic component with the particular physical configuration, such that the electronic component is integrally printed within the part.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating for each physical configuration, the operating performance of the electronic component if the electronic component were to have the physical configuration when integrally 3D printed within the part having the geometry comprises:
modifying the physical configuration such that the operating performance is closer to the performance specification of the electronic component;
simulating the operating performance of the electronic component if the electronic component were to have the physical configuration when integrally 3D printed within the part having the geometry specification; and
repeating modification of the physical configuration and simulation of the operating performance of the electronic component one or more times.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processor:
a material property of a part printing material of the 3D printer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the material property of the part printing material is provided at a voxel level of the 3D printer that is to 3D-print the part.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component printing material comprises a conducting material and a dielectric material.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving, by the processor:
a material property of a part printing material of the 3D printer,
wherein the part printing material comprises a dielectric material matching the dielectric material of the electronic component printing material.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material property of the electronic component printing material is provided at a voxel level of the 3D printer that is to 3D-print the part.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component comprises an antenna.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the performance specification specifies one or multiple of: an antenna operating frequency, an antenna gain, and an antenna directivity.

10. A 3D printing system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing program code executable by the processor to:
receive:
a geometry specification of a part to be three-dimensionally (3D) printed using a 3D printer; and
a performance specification of an electronic component to be integrally 3D printed within the part;

retrieve, from a configuration library, a plurality of physical configurations of the electronic component that satisfy the geometry specification of the part to be printed, each physical configuration defining a corresponding shape of the electronic component;
simulate, for each physical configuration, an operating performance of the electronic component if the electronic component were to have the physical configuration when integrally 3D printed within the part having the geometry specification;
determine an object model of the part including, from among the plurality of physical configurations, a particular physical configuration having the simulated operating performance that most closely matches the performance specification of the electronic component, the object model determined according to the specification of the part, the performance specification of the electronic component, and a material property of an electronic component printing material of the 3D printer with which the electronic component is to be integrally 3D printed within the part;
generate a 3D printing file comprising the object model of the part in which the electronic component is integrally 3D printed within the part with the particular physical configuration; and
cause the 3D printer to 3D-print the part including the electronic component with the particular physical configuration, such that the electronic component is integrally printed within the part.

11. The 3D printing system of claim 10 , further comprising the 3D printer.

12. The 3D printing system of claim 10 , wherein the program code is executable by the processor to simulate, for each physical configuration, the operating performance of the electronic component if the electronic component were to have the physical configuration when integrally 3D printed within the part having the geometry by:
modifying the physical configuration such that the operating performance is closer to the performance specification of the electronic component;
simulating the operating performance of the electronic component if the electronic component were to have the physical configuration when integrally 3D printed within the part having the geometry specification; and
repeating modification of the physical configuration and simulation of the operating performance of the electronic component one or more times.

13. A non-transitory computer readable data storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform processing comprising:
receiving:
a geometry specification of a part to be three-dimensionally (3D) printed using a 3D printer; and
a performance specification of an electronic component to be integrally 3D printed within the part;

retrieving, from a configuration library, a plurality of physical configurations of the electronic component that satisfy the geometry specification of the part to be printed, each physical configuration defining a corresponding shape of the electronic component;
simulating, for each physical configuration, an operating performance of the electronic component if the electronic component were to have the physical configuration when integrally 3D printed within the part having the geometry specification;
determining an object model of the part including, from among the plurality of physical configurations, a particular physical configuration having the simulated operating performance that most closely matches the performance specification of the electronic component, the object model determined

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Zamorano Alvear Juan Manuel
• Shawi Sanchez Mayid
• Soler Pedemonte Xavier

Classifications

• G06F2113/10

  Additive manufacturing, e.g. three-dimensional [3D] printing · CPC title

• G06F30/10 Primary

  Geometric CAD · CPC title

• B29C64/386 Primary

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title