Generation of three-dimensional objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017113414-A1
Application number	US-201415307745-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 22, 2014
Priority date	Aug 29, 2014
Publication date	Apr 27, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to one example, there is provided a system for managing the generation of three-dimension objects by an additive manufacturing system. The system comprises a processor to receive one or multiple virtual objects, to generate a spatial arrangement of those objects within a virtual build volume, to control an additive manufacturing system to process the virtual build volume, to modify the virtual build volume in response to a request, and to control the additive manufacturing system to process the modified virtual build volume.

First claim

1 . A method of managing the generation of three-dimensional objects by an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
generating, a spatial arrangement of virtual objects within a virtual build volume; controlling the additive manufacturing system to process successive layers of a build material corresponding to the virtual build volume; receiving a request to modify the virtual build volume; determining whether the request can be accepted based on the portion of the virtual build volume that has not yet been processed by the additive manufacturing system, and where it is so determined, modifying the virtual build volume; and controlling the additive manufacturing system to continue processing layers of the build material based on the modified virtual build volume.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a request comprises receiving one or more of: a request to cancel the generation of an object; a request to add a new object; a request to displace an object; a request to substitute one object for another object; a request to duplicate an object; and a request to modify an object characteristic.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the request can be accepted comprises determining the number of layers of build material that have been processed by the additive manufacturing system.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining from the determined number of layers, the portion of the virtual build volume not yet processed by the additive manufacturing system.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising, where the received request is a request to add a new object, determining whether there is sufficient space in the un-processed portion of the build volume to accommodate the new object.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising, where the received request is a request to move or cancel an object, determining whether a portion of the object has already been generated by the additive manufacturing system.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the request can be accepted is based on data associated with an object.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the request can be accepted is based on performing one or multiple geometric operations on the new virtual object or any other virtual object in the virtual build volume to determine a new spatial arrangement of objects within the virtual build volume that would allow the new virtual object to be included therein

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the additive manufacturing system comprises generating and sending data representing slices of the virtual build volume to the additive manufacturing system, and further wherein where it is determined that the request can be accepted, modifying the virtual build volume in accordance with the request, and generating and sending modified data representing slices of the modified virtual build volume to the additive manufacturing system.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising sending the modified data to the additive manufacturing system without interrupting processing of a layer build material.

11 . A system for managing the generation of three-dimension, comprising a processor to:
obtain one or multiple virtual objects; generate a spatial arrangement of those objects within a virtual build volume; control an additive manufacturing system to process the virtual build volume; modify the virtual build volume in response to a request; and control the additive manufacturing system to process the modified virtual build volume.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is to receive a request comprises receiving one or more of: a request to cancel the generation of an object; a request to add a new object; a request to displace an object; a request to substitute one object for another object; a request to duplicate an object; and
a request to modify an object characteristic.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is to determine whether the request to modify the virtual build volume can be accepted, and to modify the virtual build volume if it is determined that the request can be accepted based on the portion of the virtual build volume not yet processed by the additive manufacturing system.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is to generate and send data representing slices of the virtual build volume to the additive manufacturing system, and where it is determined that the request can be accepted, to modify the virtual build volume in accordance with the request, and to generate and send modified data representing slices of the modified virtual build volume to the additive manufacturing system.

15 . A computer readable media on which are stored processor understandable instructions that, when executed by a processor:
generate, an arrangement of virtual objects within a virtual build volume; control an additive manufacturing system to process successive slices of the virtual build volume; receive a request to modify the virtual build volume; determine whether the request can be accepted based on the portion of the virtual build volume that has not yet been processed by the additive manufacturing system, and where it is so determined, modify the virtual build volume; and control the additive manufacturing system to process successive slices of virtual build volume.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp

Inventors

• Zeng Jun
• Cortes I Herms Sebastia
• White Scott A

Classifications

• G06T2219/2004

  Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts · CPC title

• G06T19/20

  Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title