Generating a preview of a part to be printed

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021232118-A1
Application number	US-201817051559-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2018
Priority date	Aug 20, 2018
Publication date	Jul 29, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one example, a representation of a volume of a part to be printed by an additive manufacturing system is generated, where the representation depicts a plurality of voxels. A plurality of slices of the representation are generated. Each slice relates to a plurality of voxels within a first plane. A first process is performed in respect of a slice of the plurality of slices, wherein in the first process at least one voxel that has a predetermined colour and is located on a predetermined surface of the part is identified and a data file is updated to include data representative of the identified at least one voxel. The first process is repeated in respect of another slice. A three-dimensional preview of the part to be printed is generated based on the data file.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising
generating a representation of a volume of a part to be printed by an additive manufacturing system, wherein the representation depicts a plurality of voxels; generating a plurality of slices of the representation, wherein each slice relates to a plurality of voxels within a first plane; performing a first process in respect of a slice of the plurality of slices, the first process comprising:
identifying at least one voxel that has a predetermined colour and is located on a predetermined surface of the part; and
updating a data file to include data representative of the identified at least one voxel;
repeating the first process in respect of another slice; and generating a three-dimensional preview of the part to be printed based on the data file.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the first process comprising:
determining at least one colour property of each of the plurality of voxels related to the slice; determining at least one surface property of each of the plurality of voxels related to the slice; and identifying, a subset of voxels containing colour and located at a predetermined surface of the part.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , the first process comprising:
generating a 2D image representative of the colour properties of the slice; and generating a 2D image representative of the surface properties of the slice.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:
applying a downscale factor, such that the first process is repeated in accordance with the downscale factor.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:
displaying the three-dimensional preview for user validation; and upon receiving user validation, printing the part.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data file comprises a point cloud.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , comprising:
receiving a print file comprising the printing data.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the print file is a 3MF print file.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented by a printer of an additive manufacturing system.

10 . An additive manufacturing system controllable to produce a part based on printing data, the additive manufacturing system comprising a processor, the processor configured to:
receive printing data defining a part to be printed by the additive manufacturing system, wherein the printing data defines a volumetric representation of the part; divide the volumetric representation into a plurality of layers, each layer corresponding to an array of voxels; for each layer, extract data relating to at least one voxel located on a perimeter of the layer, wherein the at least one voxel has a predetermined colour; input the extracted data into a data file; and generate a three-dimensional preview of the part to be printed using the data file.

11 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine at least one colour property of each voxel of the array of voxels corresponding to the layer; determine at least one surface property of each voxel of the array of voxels corresponding to the layer; and identify, a subset of voxels containing colour and located at a perimeter of the part.

12 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to:
generate a 2D image representative of the colour properties of the slice; and generate a 2D image representative of the surface properties of the slice.

13 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
apply a downscale factor to the 2D image representative of the colour properties.

14 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 10 , comprising a display, wherein the display is controllable to:
display the three-dimensional preview for user validation; and receive user validation; wherein in response to receipt of user validation, the processor is configured to effect printing of the part.

15 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
receive a print file defining a part to be printed; generate a plurality of 2D slices representing the part to be printed, based on print file, wherein each slice corresponds to a plurality of voxels in a single plane defining a section of the part to be printed; for each slice, update a preview file with data representative of one or more voxels of a predetermined colour and located at a perimeter of the part to be printed; and generate a three-dimensional preview based on the preview file.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Gonzalez Martin Sergio
• Carruesco Llorens Alex
• Domingo Millan Arturo
• Shepherd Matthew A

Classifications

• B22F10/80

  Data acquisition or data processing · CPC title

• B22F10/30 Primary

  Process control · CPC title

• G05B19/4099 Primary

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

• B33Y30/00

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

• B29C64/386

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title