Configuration of build envelopes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024092022-A1
Application number	US-201917768805-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2019
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Mar 21, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are a system, method and computer program product for generating three dimensional models for use by an additive manufacturing or 3D printing system, in which object model data defining one or more objects to be built by a three-dimensional printing apparatus is input and used to generate a three dimensional model for a protective structure to surround the one or more objects. A user is provided with selectable configuration options for the protective structure. The method includes presenting, via a user interface, selectable configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the three-dimensional printing apparatus. In response to user selection of one or more configuration options via the user interface, a three dimensional model for the protective structure is automatically generated.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
obtaining object model data defining one or more objects to be built by a three-dimensional printing apparatus; and presenting, via a user interface, selectable configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the three-dimensional printing apparatus; and in response to user selection of one or more configuration options via the user interface, automatically generating a three-dimensional model for the protective structure.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selectable configuration options comprise one or more of: protective structure dimensions; protective structure geometry; protective structure wall characteristics; and spacing between walls of the protective structure and the one or more objects.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
automatically determining, from the obtained object model, valid configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the three-dimensional printing apparatus; wherein the presenting via a user interface comprises presenting a set of valid configuration options for the protective structure.

4 . The method of claim 3 , comprising:
in response to user selection of a first configuration parameter, determining configuration options for a second configuration parameter.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
in response to user selection of a first configuration option, determining an effect of the user selection on at least one build parameter; and presenting information about the effect via a user interface.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one build parameter comprises at least one of: an amount of build material, a cost of build material, a minimum cooling time before removal of built objects from a build chamber of a three dimensional printing apparatus, or a build cost per object.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
in response to user selection of a first configuration option, calculating an amount of build material for the protective structure, or for a set of protective structures to be printed together, and providing a user notification based on the calculated amount of build material.

8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising: generating printer control data comprising instructions to control a three-dimensional printing apparatus to build the one or more objects and to build the protective structure around the one or more objects.

9 . The method of claim 8 , comprising: controlling a three-dimensional printing apparatus to build the one or more objects and to build the protective structure around the one or more objects.

10 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
obtaining object model data defining one or more additional objects to be built by the three-dimensional printing apparatus; and presenting, via a user interface, selectable configuration options for an additional protective structure to be built around the one or more additional objects by the three-dimensional printing apparatus; and in response to user selection of one or more configuration options via the user interface, automatically generating a three dimensional model for the additional protective structure, wherein the respective models for the protective structure and additional protective structure are each determined by respective user selections.

11 . A system comprising:
a controller configured to:
obtain object model data defining one or more objects to be generated by an additive manufacturing system;
display, via a user interface, selectable configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the additive manufacturing system; and
generate a three-dimensional model for the protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the additive manufacturing system, wherein the three dimensional model for the protective structure is generated in dependence on user selection of one or more configuration options via the user interface.

12 . The system of claim 11 , comprising a computer-implemented modelling system for generating printer control data, the printer control data comprising instructions to control a three-dimensional printing apparatus to build the one or more objects and to build the protective structure around the one or more objects.

13 . The system of claim 11 , comprising an additive manufacturing system including:
a user interface for selecting configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the additive manufacturing system; and a build unit for building the one or more objects and the protective structure.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically determine, from the obtained object model, valid configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the three-dimensional printing apparatus, and wherein the controller is configured to present a set of valid configuration options via the user interface.

15 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor communicably coupled to an additive manufacturing system, cause the processor to:
obtain object model data defining one or more objects to be built by the additive manufacturing system; determine configuration parameters for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the additive manufacturing system, based on the obtained object model for the one or more objects and one or more configuration options for the protective structure selected via a user interface; and generating printer control data comprising build data to control the additive manufacturing system to build the one or more objects and the protective structure in accordance with the obtained object model and the determined configuration parameters.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Rubio Castillo Leticia
• Gonzalez Martin Sergio
• Machado Neto Jaime
• Carruesco Llorens Alex
• Gonzalez Rogel Jordi
• Rossow Sethne Yngvar
• Raventos Catasus Jordi

Classifications

• B29C64/386 Primary

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/40

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title

• B33Y50/00 Primary

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• G06F30/10

  Geometric CAD · CPC title

• B29C64/379

  Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots · CPC title