Adaptive 3d printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018307209-A1
Application number	US-201815959063-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods provide for fabricating objects through additive manufacturing in a manner that compensates for deformations introduced during post-print processing, such as sintering. An initial model may be divided into a plurality of segments, the initial model defining geometry of an object. For each of the segments, modified geometry may be calculated, where the modified geometry compensates for a predicted deformation. Print parameters can then be updated to incorporate the modified geometry, where the print parameters define geometry of the printed object (e.g., configuration settings of the printer, a tool path, an object model). The object may then be printed based on the updated print parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of configuring an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
dividing an initial model into a plurality of segments, the initial model defining a geometry of an object; calculating, for each of the plurality of segments, a predicted deformation of the segment based on a predicted deformation of the geometry of the object between a printed state and a finished state; calculating, for each of the plurality of segments, a modified geometry of the segment as a function of the predicted deformation, the modified geometry compensating for the predicted deformation of corresponding portions of the printed object; and updating print parameters of the object to incorporate the modified geometry, the print parameters defining a printed geometry of the object.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing the object based on the updated print parameters.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating, for each of the plurality of segments, a stress value representing a predicted measure of stress applied to a corresponding portion of a printed object, the stress value being calculated as a function of a cross-sectional area of the segment and a mass of segments located above the segment.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising calculating, for each of the plurality of segments, a modified geometry of the segment as a function of the stress value, the modified geometry compensating for a predicted deformation of the corresponding portion of the printed object as a result of the stress.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the stress value is calculated as a function of a location of a center of gravity of segments located above the segment.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the print parameters includes generating a correction model of the object, the correction model defining the printed geometry of the object with modifications to the initial model based on the modified geometry.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted deformation is based on a predicted deformation of the object during a sintering process.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted deformation is based on a predicted deformation of the object during a debinding process.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted deformation is based on a predicted anisotropic distortion due to anisotropy in a material composition of the object in the printed state.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted deformation is based on a predicted gravitational force on the object during a sintering process.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted deformation is based on a predicted deformation caused by at least one artifact exhibited by print patterns of a printed object.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted deformation is based on a predicted deformation of the segment based on a predicted gravitational force on the object.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted deformation is based on a predicted difference between shrinkage of an outer layer of the object and shrinkage of an interior of the object during a sintering process.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating a modified geometry of a support structure as a function of the predicted deformation, the support structure being printed concurrently with the object and being positioned beneath at least a portion of the object.

15 . A method of manufacturing an object, comprising:
dividing an initial model into a plurality of segments, the initial model defining a geometry of an object; calculating, for each of the plurality of segments, a predicted deformation of the segment based on a predicted deformation of the geometry of the object between a printed state and a finished state; calculating, for each of the plurality of segments, a modified geometry of the segment as a function of the predicted deformation, the modified geometry compensating for the predicted deformation of corresponding portions of the printed object; and updating print parameters of the object to incorporate the modified geometry, the print parameters defining a printed geometry of the object; printing a part according to the updated print parameters; and sintering the part, the sintering causing the part to transform toward a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the object.

Assignees

• Desktop Metal Inc

Inventors

• Chin Ricardo
• Gibson Michael A
• Reeves Blake Z
• Raghu Shashank Holenarasipura

Classifications

• G06F30/17

  Mechanical parametric or variational design · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F2003/247

  Removing material: carving, cleaning, grinding, hobbing, honing, lapping, polishing, milling, shaving, skiving, turning the surface · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B22F2301/00

  Metallic composition of the powder or its coating · CPC title