Three-dimensional object manufacturing method and three-dimensional object

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object and a three-dimensional object capable of improving the image quality of at least a portion of an image displayed on the surface of a three-dimensional object. The method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object generates two-dimensional data for a two-dimensional printed object and three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional object based on three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object, wherein the two-dimensional printed object is formed by printing at least a portion of an image to be displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object on a medium, and the three-dimensional object includes a mounting groove for mounting the two-dimensional printed object inside, and the three-dimensional object is formed by mounting the two-dimensional printed object inside the mounting groove (S102), and the two-dimensional printed object is generated based on the two-dimensional data generated by S102 using a two-dimensional printer (S103), and the three-dimensional object is generated based on the three-dimensional data generated by S102 using a three-dimensional printer (S104), and the three-dimensional object is generated by mounting the two-dimensional printed object generated by S103 inside the mounting groove of the three-dimensional object generated by S104 (S105).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a three-dimensional object manufacturing method and a three-dimensional object. Background Art

[0002] As a conventional three-dimensional object, a three-dimensional object formed in full color by an inkjet three-dimensional printer using ultraviolet curing ink is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-064539 Summary of the invention

[0004] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0005] When printing in full color on a medium using an inkjet two-dimensional printer that uses ultraviolet-curing ink, there is no need to fill the entire surface of the medium with ink. Therefore, even if the dots of ink ejected from the inkjet head are reduced to a size smaller than a certain size, an appropriate printing speed that is not too slow can be obtained.

[0006] On the other hand, when a three-dimensional object is formed in full color using an inkjet 3D printer using ultraviolet curing ink, since a plurality of ink layers are overlapped to form the three-dimensional object, the entire surface of each ink layer needs to be filled with ink in order to form each ink layer with a thickness greater than a specific thickness. Therefore, as the speed of forming the three-dimensional object, in order to obtain an appropriate speed that is not too slow, the ink dots ejected from the inkjet head need to be increased to a size greater than a specific size.

[0007] Therefore, when using an inkjet 3D printer that uses ultraviolet-curing ink to form a three-dimensional object in full color, compared to the case where an inkjet 2D printer that uses ultraviolet-curing ink is used to print on a medium in full color, the dots of ink ejected from the inkjet head are more likely to become larger, and the image quality of the image formed by the ink is more likely to become lower.

[0008] Moreover, when using an inkjet 3D printer that uses ultraviolet-curing ink to form a three-dimensional object in full color, depending on the components that come into contact with the surface of the ink layer, it is sometimes necessary to flatten each ink layer by removing unnecessary ink from the surface of the ink layer, and the image quality of the image formed by the ink is reduced due to this flattening.

[0009] As described above, conventional three-dimensional objects have a problem in that the image quality of an image displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object is lower than the image quality of an image printed on a medium using a two-dimensional printer.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a three-dimensional object and a three-dimensional object capable of improving at least a portion of the image quality of an image displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object.

[0011] Solutions for solving problems

[0012] The three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention is characterized in that the three-dimensional object manufacturing method includes: a data generating step, generating two-dimensional data for a two-dimensional printed object and three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional sculpture based on the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object, the two-dimensional printed object being formed by printing at least a portion of an image to be displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object on a medium, the three-dimensional sculpture including a sculpture side engaging portion as a engaging portion which engages with a printed object side engaging portion as a engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object in a positioned state, and the three-dimensional object is formed by engaging the sculpture side engaging portion with the printed object side engaging portion; a two-dimensional printed object generating step, generating the two-dimensional printed object based on the two-dimensional data generated by the data generating step using a two-dimensional printer; a three-dimensional sculpture generating step, generating the three-dimensional sculpture based on the three-dimensional data generated by the data generating step using a three-dimensional printer; and a three-dimensional object generating step, generating the three-dimensional object by engaging the sculpture side engaging portion of the three-dimensional sculpture generated by the three-dimensional sculpture generating step with the print object side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object generated by the two-dimensional printed object generating step.

[0013] According to this structure, the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention uses a two-dimensional printer to generate a two-dimensional print product in which at least a portion of an image to be displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object is printed on a medium, and uses a three-dimensional printer to generate a three-dimensional shape. The three-dimensional shape includes a shape side engaging portion for engaging with the print side engaging portion of the two-dimensional print product in a positioned state. The three-dimensional object is generated by engaging the shape side engaging portion of the three-dimensional shape with the print side engaging portion of the two-dimensional print product. Therefore, compared with the case where the entire three-dimensional object is generated by using a three-dimensional printer, the image quality of at least a portion of the image displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object can be improved.

[0014] In the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention, the object side engaging portion may engage with the printed object side engaging portion to thereby position the two-dimensional printed object relative to the three-dimensional object in at least one of a planar direction and a direction orthogonal to the planar direction.

[0015] In the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention, the object-side engaging portion may be a groove extending parallel to the planar direction, and the printed object-side engaging portion may be engaged with the printed object-side engaging portion in the groove.

[0016] In the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention, the groove may be shaped along the entire circumference of the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object, and may be formed in a shape such that the entire circumference of the outer contour is hidden inside the groove when the three-dimensional object is visually observed from the orthogonal direction.

[0017] According to this structure, the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention hides the entire circumference of the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object inside the groove of the three-dimensional shape, thereby suppressing the reduction in the appearance of the three-dimensional object caused by visually seeing the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object.

[0018] In the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention, the three-dimensional object may include a positioning portion having a shape corresponding to at least a partial shape of the two-dimensional printed object so as to position the printed object side engaging portion relative to the object side engaging portion.

[0019] According to this structure, the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention can use the positioning part of the three-dimensional object to position the printing side clamping part of the two-dimensional printed object relative to the object side clamping part of the three-dimensional object, thereby easily positioning the printing side clamping part of the two-dimensional printed object relative to the object side clamping part of the three-dimensional object.

[0020] In the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention, the three-dimensional object may include an end cover portion that covers at least a portion of an end of the two-dimensional printed object where the printed object side engaging portion is engaged with the object side engaging portion.

[0021] According to this structure, the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention uses the end cover of the three-dimensional shape to cover at least a part of the end of the two-dimensional printed object, thereby suppressing the reduction in the appearance of the three-dimensional object caused by visually seeing the end of the two-dimensional printed object.

[0022] The three-dimensional object of the present invention includes: a two-dimensional printed object, which is formed by printing at least a portion of an image to be displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object on a medium; and a three-dimensional shaped object, which includes a shaped object side engaging portion as a engaging portion, which engages with the printed object side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object as a engaging portion in a positioned state. The three-dimensional object is characterized in that the printed object side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object engages with the shaped object side engaging portion, and the three-dimensional shaped object includes a positioning portion having a shape corresponding to at least a portion of the shape of the two-dimensional printed object so as to position the printed object side engaging portion relative to the shaped object side engaging portion.

[0023] According to this structure, the three-dimensional object of the present invention is generated by engaging the print side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object with the object side engaging portion of the three-dimensional object, and the two-dimensional printed object is formed by printing at least a portion of the image to be displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object on a medium, so that the image quality of at least a portion of the image displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object can be improved compared to the case where the entire three-dimensional object is generated using a three-dimensional printer. In addition, the three-dimensional object of the present invention can position the print side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object relative to the object side engaging portion of the three-dimensional object using the positioning portion of the three-dimensional object, so the print side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object can be easily positioned relative to the object side engaging portion of the three-dimensional object.

[0024] Effects of the Invention

[0025] The three-dimensional object manufacturing method and the three-dimensional object of the present invention can improve the image quality of at least a part of an image displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a three-dimensional object manufacturing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of a computer is shown.

[0028] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The three-dimensional appearance of the two-dimensional printer shown.

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A block diagram of a two-dimensional printer is shown.

[0030] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A schematic front view of a portion of the 3D printer is shown.

[0031] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A schematic side view of a portion of a 3D printer is shown.

[0032] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A block diagram of a 3D printer is shown.

[0033] Figure 8 It is used Figure 1 A flow chart of a three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the three-dimensional object manufacturing system shown.

[0034] Fig. 9 Is Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the appearance of an example of a three-dimensional object represented by three-dimensional data used in the three-dimensional object manufacturing method shown.

[0035] Fig.10 is based on Fig. 9 The illustrated diagram is a front view of an example of a two-dimensional printed product generated from three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional object.

[0036] Fig.11 (a) is based on Fig. 9 The illustrated three-dimensional object is a top view of an example of a three-dimensional object generated from three-dimensional data. Fig.11 (b) is Fig.11 (a) is a main cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional shape shown.

[0037] Fig.12 (a) is achieved by Fig.11 The internal installation of the groove for mounting the three-dimensional object shown Fig.10 A top view of a three-dimensional object generated by printing the two-dimensional object shown. Fig.12 (b) is Fig.12 (a) is a main sectional view of the three-dimensional object shown.

[0038] Fig.13 A three-dimensional object is created by installing a two-dimensional printed object inside a groove for installing a three-dimensional object. Fig.12 The example shown is a front cross-sectional view of a different example.

[0039] Description of Reference Numerals

[0040] 30. Two-dimensional printer; 50. Three-dimensional printer; 70. Medium; 110. Three-dimensional object; 111. Image; 120. Two-dimensional printed object; 120a. End (printed object side snap-fitting portion, outer contour); 130. Three-dimensional object; 131. Installation groove (object side snap-fitting portion, groove); 132. Positioning portion; 133. End cover; 140. Three-dimensional object. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0042] First, the configuration of the three-dimensional object manufacturing system according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the three-dimensional object manufacturing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0044] like Figure 1As shown, the three-dimensional object manufacturing system 10 includes: a computer 20, which is used to generate two-dimensional data used for two-dimensional printed objects and three-dimensional data of three-dimensional shapes based on the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object. The computer 20 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer); a two-dimensional printer 30, which can print in full color; and a three-dimensional printer 50, which can shape in full color.

[0045] The computer 20 and the two-dimensional printer 30 and the three-dimensional printer 50 may be connected in a communicative manner via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or may be directly connected in a communicative manner using wires or wirelessly without going through a network.

[0046] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the computer 20 .

[0047] like Figure 2 As shown, the computer 20 includes: an operating unit 21, which is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse to which various operations are input; a display unit 22, which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information; a communication unit 23, which is a communication device that communicates directly with an external device via a network or without a network but using wired or wireless means; a storage unit 24, which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information; and a control unit 25, which controls the computer 20 as a whole.

[0048] The storage unit 24 stores a data generation program 24a for generating two-dimensional data for two-dimensional printed objects and three-dimensional data of three-dimensional objects from three-dimensional data of three-dimensional objects. The data generation program 24a can be loaded into the computer 20 when the computer 20 is manufactured, or can be loaded into the computer 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a CD (Compact Disk), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or can be loaded into the computer 20 from a network.

[0049] The control unit 25 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of ​​the CPU of the control unit 25. The CPU of the control unit 25 executes the program stored in the ROM of the control unit 25 or the storage unit 24.

[0050] The control unit 25 executes the data generation program 24a to realize a data generation unit 25a for generating two-dimensional data for two-dimensional printed matter and three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional object from three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional object.

[0051] Figure 3 It is a perspective view of the appearance of the two-dimensional printer 30 .

[0052] like Figure 3 As shown, the two-dimensional printer 30 includes: a platen 31, which supports a medium 70 from the lower side in the vertical direction indicated by an arrow 30a; a guide rail 32, which is arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction relative to the platen 31 and extends in the left-right direction indicated by an arrow 30b orthogonal to the vertical direction; a slide 33, whose movement in the left-right direction is guided by the guide rail 32; a plurality of inkjet heads 34, which eject ink toward the medium 70 supported by the platen 31; and a plurality of light irradiation units 35, which irradiate light toward the ink attached to the medium 70 supported by the platen 31.

[0053] The carriage 33 carries an inkjet head 34 and a light irradiation unit 35 .

[0054] The inkjet head 34 can eject ink from a plurality of nozzles (not shown) arranged in the front-rear direction indicated by arrow 30c, which is orthogonal to the vertical direction and the left-right direction. The ink ejected from the inkjet head 34 is ink that is cured by irradiating light using the light irradiation unit 35, such as ultraviolet curing ink.

[0055] The light irradiation unit 35 is a device that irradiates ultraviolet rays using, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0056] Figure 4 is a block diagram of the two-dimensional printer 30 .

[0057] like Figure 4 As shown, the two-dimensional printer 30 includes: a plurality of inkjet heads 34; a plurality of light irradiation units 35; a medium conveying unit 36, which conveys the medium 70 in the front-to-back direction (refer to Figure 3 ); carriage scanning unit 37, which makes the carriage 33 (reference Figure 3 ) along the guide rail 32 (refer to Figure 3 ) in the left-right direction relative to the platen 31 (refer to Figure 3 ) move; an operating unit 38, which is an input device such as a key to which various operations are input; a display unit 39, which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a communication unit 40, which is a communication device that communicates directly with an external device via a network or without a network but by wired or wireless means; a storage unit 41, which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, HDD, etc. that stores various information; and a control unit 42, which controls the two-dimensional printer 30 as a whole.

[0058] The control unit 42 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing programs and various data, and a RAM used as a work area of ​​the CPU. The CPU executes the program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 41 .

[0059] Figure 5 It is a schematic front view of a part of the 3D printer 50 . Figure 6 It is a schematic side view of a part of the 3D printer 50 .

[0060] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , the three-dimensional printer 50 includes: a forming table 51, which serves as a table for the three-dimensional object when manufacturing the three-dimensional object; a carriage 52, which is arranged at an upper side of the forming table 51 in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow 50a and can move in the left-right direction indicated by the arrow 50b orthogonal to the vertical direction; a plurality of inkjet heads 53, which form an ink layer 81 by ejecting ultraviolet curing ink toward the lower side in the vertical direction; a flattening roller 54, which serves as a flattening mechanism, flattens the surface 81a of the ink layer 81 by removing a part of the surface 81a side of the ink layer 81 formed by the inkjet head 53, and adjusts the thickness of the ink layer 81 to a specific thickness; and a plurality of ultraviolet irradiation units 55, which irradiate ultraviolet rays toward the ink layer 81 flattened by the flattening roller 54. The three-dimensional printer 50 is a device that finally manufactures the entire three-dimensional object by stacking the ink layer 81 formed of ink in the vertical direction.

[0061] The molding table 51 is movable relative to the carriage 52 in the vertical direction, and is also movable relative to the carriage 52 in the front-rear direction indicated by the arrow 50 c which is orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the left-right direction.

[0062] The carriage 52 carries an inkjet head 53 , a planarizing roller 54 , and an ultraviolet irradiation unit 55 .

[0063] The inkjet head 53 can eject ink from a plurality of nozzles (not shown) arranged in the front-rear direction.

[0064] The flattening roller 54 extends in the front-rear direction and is mounted on the carriage 52 in a state where it can rotate around a central axis 54 a extending in the front-rear direction.

[0065] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a 3D printer 50 .

[0066] like Figure 7 As shown, the three-dimensional printer 50 includes: a plurality of inkjet heads 53; a plurality of ultraviolet irradiation units 55; a modeling table moving unit 56, which enables the modeling table 51 (refer to Figure 5 ) moves; the carriage scanning unit 57, which enables the carriage 52 (reference Figure 5 ) moves; the roller rotation driving unit 58, which makes the flattening roller 54 to the flattening roller 54 (reference Figure 5 ) of the central axis 54a (refer to Figure 5 ) is rotated around the center; a roller movement drive unit 59, which moves the flattening roller 54 in the vertical direction; an operation unit 60, which is an input device such as a key to which various operations are input; a display unit 61, which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a communication unit 62, which is a communication device that communicates directly with an external device via a network or without a network but by wired or wireless means; a storage unit 63, which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, HDD, etc. that stores various information; and a control unit 64, which controls the 3D printer 50 as a whole.

[0067] The modeling table moving unit 56 can move the modeling table 51 in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction.

[0068] The carriage scanning unit 57 can move the carriage 52 in the left-right direction.

[0069] The roller movement drive unit 59 lowers the flattening roller 54 when the flattening roller 54 is intended to flatten the ink layer 81 , and raises the flattening roller 54 when the flattening roller 54 is not intended to flatten the ink layer 81 .

[0070] The control unit 64 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing programs and various data, and a RAM used as a work area of ​​the CPU of the control unit 64. The CPU of the control unit 64 executes the program stored in the ROM of the control unit 64 or the storage unit 63.

[0071] Next, a three-dimensional object manufacturing method using the three-dimensional object manufacturing system 10 will be described.

[0072] Figure 8 It is a flowchart of the three-dimensional object manufacturing method using the three-dimensional object manufacturing system 10 .

[0073] like Figure 8As shown, the operator uses the data generation program 24a of the computer 20 to determine, for the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object, a portion including at least a portion of an image displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object as a portion that needs to be expressed in two dimensions (S101). At this time, the data generation unit 25a displays the three-dimensional object on the display unit 22 based on the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object.

[0074] After the process of S101, the operator uses the data generation program 24a of the computer 20 to generate two-dimensional data for a two-dimensional printed object and three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional object based on the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object, wherein the two-dimensional printed object is formed by printing the image of the part determined in S101 to be required to be expressed in two dimensions on a medium, and the three-dimensional object includes a groove for mounting the two-dimensional printed object, i.e., a mounting groove, and the three-dimensional object is formed by mounting the two-dimensional printed object in the mounting groove (S102). That is, the data generation unit 25a generates two-dimensional data for a two-dimensional printed object and three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional object based on the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object according to the instruction via the operation unit 21.

[0075] After the process of S102, the operator instructs the computer 20 through the operation unit 21 to cause the two-dimensional printer 30 to generate a two-dimensional print product based on the print data, which is print data based on the two-dimensional data generated in S102 (S103). Therefore, the control unit 25 of the computer 20 generates print data based on the two-dimensional data generated in S102, and sends the print data to the two-dimensional printer 30. Then, the two-dimensional printer 30 generates a two-dimensional print product based on the print data sent from the computer 20.

[0076] Here, generation of a two-dimensional printed material using the two-dimensional printer 30 will be described.

[0077] When the control unit 42 of the two-dimensional printer 30 receives the print data via the communication unit 40, it performs printing on the medium 70 based on the print data received via the communication unit 40. That is, the control unit 42 moves the carriage 33 in the left-right direction by using the carriage scanning unit 37, ejects ink toward the medium 70 by using the inkjet head 34, and irradiates light toward the ink attached to the medium 70 by using the light irradiation unit 35, thereby performing printing in the left-right direction of the medium 70. In addition, when performing printing in the left-right direction of the medium 70, the control unit 42 transports the medium 70 in the front-back direction by using the medium transport unit 36 ​​as needed, thereby changing the printing position in the front-back direction of the medium 70, and then performs printing in the left-right direction of the medium 70 again.

[0078] Furthermore, when the shape of the two-dimensional printed material is different from the shape of the medium 70 , the operator prints the two-dimensional printed material on the medium 70 according to the print data based on the two-dimensional data and then cuts the two-dimensional printed material from the medium 70 .

[0079] After the process of S103, the operator instructs the computer 20 through the operation unit 21 to cause the 3D printer 50 to generate a 3D object based on the shaping data, which is shaping data based on the 3D data generated in S102 (S104). Therefore, the control unit 25 of the computer 20 generates shaping data based on the 3D data generated in S102, and sends the shaping data to the 3D printer 50. Then, the 3D printer 50 generates a 3D object based on the shaping data sent from the computer 20.

[0080] Here, the generation of a three-dimensional object using the three-dimensional printer 50 will be described.

[0081] When the control unit 64 of the three-dimensional printer 50 receives the shaping data via the communication unit 62, it shapes the three-dimensional object based on the shaping data received via the communication unit 62. That is, the control unit 64 moves the carriage 52 in the left-right direction by using the carriage scanning unit 57, ejects ink toward the shaping table 51 by using the inkjet head 53, and irradiates light toward the ink attached to the shaping table 51 or the ink layer on the shaping table 51 by using the ultraviolet irradiation unit 55, thereby performing printing in the left-right direction of the ink layer. In addition, when performing printing in the left-right direction of the ink layer, the control unit 64 moves the shaping table 51 in the front-back direction by using the shaping table moving unit 56 as needed, thereby changing the printing position in the front-back direction of the shaping table 51 or the ink layer on the shaping table 51, and then performs printing in the left-right direction of the ink layer again. In addition, when performing printing of the ink layer, the control unit 64 controls the roller rotation driving unit 58 and the roller movement driving unit 59 so that the ink layer is flattened by removing unnecessary ink on the surface of the ink layer by using the flattening roller 54. When executing printing of a specific ink layer, the control unit 64 moves the forming table 51 downward in the vertical direction by using the forming table moving unit 56 as necessary, and then executes printing of the ink layer again on the ink layer.

[0082] After the process of S104, the operator installs the two-dimensional printed material generated in S103 into the installation groove of the three-dimensional shape generated in S104 to generate a three-dimensional object (S105). Figure 8 The three-dimensional object manufacturing method shown is completed.

[0083] In the above description, the process of S103 is performed before the process of S104. However, either the process of S103 or the process of S104 may be performed first or simultaneously.

[0084] Fig. 9 Is Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the appearance of an example of a three-dimensional object 110 expressed by three-dimensional data used in the three-dimensional object manufacturing method shown.

[0085] like Fig. 9 As shown, the three-dimensional object 110 has an image 111 displayed on its surface.

[0086] Fig.10 Based on the three-dimensional object 110 (refer to Fig. 9 ) is a front view of an example of a two-dimensional printed material 120 generated from three-dimensional data.

[0087] like Fig.10 As shown, the two-dimensional printed material 120 is an image 111 printed on a medium 70 (see Figure 3 ) is formed on the surface. The two-dimensional printed object 120 includes a positioning portion 121, which has a positioning portion 121 with a three-dimensional shape 130 (see Fig.11 ) of the positioning portion 132 described later (see Fig.11 The shape of the positioning portion 121 is, for example, a notch shape.

[0088] Fig.11 (a) is based on the three-dimensional object 110 (refer to Fig. 9 ) is a top view of an example of a three-dimensional object 130 generated by three-dimensional data. Fig.11 (b) is Fig.11 (a) is a main cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional object 130 shown.

[0089] like Fig.11 As shown, the three-dimensional object 130 includes: a mounting groove 131, which is used to mount the two-dimensional printed object 120 (see Fig.10 ) groove; positioning portion 132, which has a two-dimensional printed object 120 of the positioning portion 121 (reference Fig.10 ) so as to position the two-dimensional printed object 120 relative to the mounting groove 131; and an end cover 133, which covers the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object 120 installed inside the mounting groove 131, that is, the end 120a (refer to Fig.10 ). The shape of the positioning portion 132 is, for example, a protrusion shape.

[0090] Fig.12 (a) is achieved by Fig.11 The internal installation of the installation groove 131 of the three-dimensional shape 130 shown Fig.10 A top view of a three-dimensional object 140 generated by printing a two-dimensional object 120 as shown. Fig.12 (b) is Fig.12 (a) is a main cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional object 140 shown.

[0091] exist Fig.12In the three-dimensional object 140 shown, the two-dimensional printed object 120 can be attached to the three-dimensional shape 130 by using an adhesive, or can be simply embedded in the mounting groove 131. Fig.12 The appearance of the three-dimensional object 140 is similar to Fig. 9 The three-dimensional objects 110 shown have substantially the same appearance.

[0092] In the three-dimensional object 140, the end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120 is an engaging portion that engages with the mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130 in the positioning state, and constitutes the printed object side engaging portion of the present invention. Similarly, in the three-dimensional object 140, the mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130 is an engaging portion that engages with the end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120 in the positioning state, and constitutes the object side engaging portion of the present invention. The mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130 engages with the end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120, thereby positioning the position of the two-dimensional printed object 120 relative to the three-dimensional object 130 in two directions, the planar direction and the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the planar direction. Here, the planar direction refers to the extending direction of the two-dimensional printed object 120.

[0093] The mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130 is shaped along the entire periphery of the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object 120, and is formed as follows: Fig.12 In the case where the three-dimensional object 140 is visually observed from a direction perpendicular to the plane direction as shown in (a), the entire periphery of the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object 120 is hidden inside the mounting groove 131.

[0094] As described above, in the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention, the two-dimensional printed object 120 is generated by printing the image 111 displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object 110 on the medium 70 using the two-dimensional printer 30, and the three-dimensional object 130 is generated by the three-dimensional printer 50. The three-dimensional object 130 includes a mounting groove 131 for mounting the two-dimensional printed object 120 inside. The three-dimensional object 140 is generated by mounting the two-dimensional printed object 120 inside the mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130. Therefore, compared with the case where the three-dimensional object 110 is generated as a whole using the three-dimensional printer 50, the image quality of the image 111 displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object 140 can be improved. That is, the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention can obtain the three-dimensional object 140 in which the image 111 is printed with the number of colors and resolution that cannot be displayed when the three-dimensional object 110 is formed in full color using the three-dimensional printer 50.

[0095] Furthermore, the two-dimensional printed material 120 may not be formed by printing the entire image 111 that appears on the surface of the three-dimensional object 110 on the medium 70. That is, the two-dimensional printed material 120 may be formed by printing a portion of the image 111 that appears on the surface of the three-dimensional object 110 on the medium 70. The image included in the two-dimensional printed material 120 in the image 111 that appears on the surface of the three-dimensional object 110 may be an image that appears on a flat surface of the three-dimensional object 110 or an image that appears on a curved surface of the three-dimensional object 110.

[0096] The three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention can use the positioning portion 132 of the three-dimensional object 130 to position the two-dimensional printed object 120 relative to the mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130, so the two-dimensional printed object 120 can be easily positioned relative to the mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130. In addition, the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention may also be that the three-dimensional object 130 does not include the positioning portion 132.

[0097] The three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention uses the end cover 133 of the three-dimensional object 130 to cover the end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120, that is, the entire periphery of the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object 120 is hidden inside the mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130, so that the deterioration of the appearance of the three-dimensional object 140 caused by visually seeing the end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120 can be suppressed. In addition, the end cover 133 of the three-dimensional object 130 may not cover the entire end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120. That is, the end cover 133 of the three-dimensional object 130 may cover a part of the end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120. In addition, the three-dimensional object manufacturing method of the present invention may also be that the three-dimensional object 130 does not include the end cover 133.

[0098] In addition, the shape of the two-dimensional printed material 120 and the shape of the mounting groove 131 may also be Fig.12 For example, the shape of the two-dimensional printed object 120 and the shape of the mounting groove 131 can be Fig.13 Shape shown.

[0099] Fig.13 The three-dimensional object 140 is generated by installing the two-dimensional printed object 120 inside the installation groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130. Fig.12 The example shown is a front cross-sectional view of a different example.

[0100] Fig.13The mounting groove 131 of the three-dimensional object 130 shown in the figure has grooves 131a at both ends for inserting the end 120a of the two-dimensional printed object 120. Therefore, the two-dimensional printed object 120 is mounted inside the mounting groove 131 by bending the portion on the end 120a side of the two-dimensional printed object 120 and inserting it into the groove 131a.

[0101] The object side engaging portion of the present invention is the mounting groove 131 in this embodiment, but it may not be a groove as long as it is an engaging portion that engages with the printed object side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object 120 in the positioned state.

[0102] In addition, the three-dimensional object 130 can be reused by installing a two-dimensional printed object other than the two-dimensional printed object 120 in the installation groove 131 after the two-dimensional printed object 120 is removed.

[0103] In this embodiment, the two-dimensional data used for the two-dimensional printed object and the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object formed by installing the two-dimensional printed object are generated based on the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object. However, the two-dimensional data used for the two-dimensional printed object and the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object formed by installing the two-dimensional printed object can also be generated in a state where the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object does not exist.

[0104] In this embodiment, the two-dimensional printer 30 moves the medium 70 in the front-to-back direction relative to the inkjet head 34 by conveying the medium 70 in the front-to-back direction relative to the platen 31. However, the two-dimensional printer 30 may also use a platen 31. Figure 3 The structure shown is a so-called flatbed printer elongated in the front-to-rear direction, and includes a mechanism for moving the guide rail 32 and the carriage 33 relative to the platen 31 in the front-to-rear direction, thereby moving the inkjet head 34 relative to the medium 70 in the front-to-rear direction.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, characterized in that: The three-dimensional object manufacturing method comprises: A data generation step, based on the three-dimensional data of the three-dimensional object, generating two-dimensional data for a two-dimensional printed object and three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional sculpture, wherein the two-dimensional printed object is formed by printing at least a portion of an image of a portion that needs to be two-dimensionally expressed and is to be displayed on the surface of the three-dimensional object on a medium, and the three-dimensional sculpture constitutes the three-dimensional object; a two-dimensional printed matter generating step, using a two-dimensional printer to generate the two-dimensional printed matter based on the two-dimensional data generated in the data generating step, wherein the two-dimensional printed matter includes a printed matter side engaging portion; a three-dimensional object generating step, generating the three-dimensional object using a three-dimensional printer based on the three-dimensional data generated in the data generating step, wherein the three-dimensional object includes an object side engaging portion engaged with the printed object side engaging portion in a positioned state; and The three-dimensional object generating step generates the three-dimensional object by engaging the object side engaging portion of the three-dimensional object generated by the three-dimensional object generating step with the printed object side engaging portion of the two-dimensional printed object generated by the two-dimensional printed object generating step.

2. The three-dimensional object manufacturing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The object-side engaging portion engages with the printed object-side engaging portion to position the two-dimensional printed object relative to the three-dimensional object in at least one of a planar direction and a direction orthogonal to the planar direction.

3. The three-dimensional object manufacturing method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The object-side engaging portion is a groove extending parallel to the plane direction, and is engaged with the printed object-side engaging portion in the groove.

4. The three-dimensional object manufacturing method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The groove is shaped along the entire circumference of the outer contour of the two-dimensional printed object, and is formed in a shape such that the entire circumference of the outer contour is hidden inside the groove when the three-dimensional object is visually observed from the orthogonal direction.

5. The method for producing a three-dimensional object according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The three-dimensional object includes a positioning portion having a shape corresponding to at least a partial shape of the two-dimensional printed object so as to position the printed object side engaging portion relative to the object side engaging portion.

6. The method for producing a three-dimensional object according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The three-dimensional object includes an end cover portion that covers at least a portion of an end portion of the two-dimensional printed object where the printed object side engaging portion is engaged with the object side engaging portion.

7. The three-dimensional object manufacturing method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The three-dimensional object includes an end cover portion that covers at least a portion of an end portion of the two-dimensional printed object where the printed object side engaging portion is engaged with the object side engaging portion.

8. A three-dimensional object, The three-dimensional object comprises: A two-dimensional printed article is formed by printing at least a portion of an image of a part that needs to be two-dimensionally represented to be displayed on the surface of a three-dimensional object on a medium; as well as a three-dimensional object, which constitutes the three-dimensional object, It is characterized in that The two-dimensional printed object is generated by a two-dimensional printer based on two-dimensional data, and the two-dimensional printed object includes a printed object side engaging portion, The three-dimensional object is generated based on three-dimensional data using a three-dimensional printer, and the three-dimensional object includes an object side engaging portion engaged with the printed object side engaging portion in a positioned state. The two-dimensional data and the three-dimensional data are generated based on the three-dimensional data of the solid object. The printed object side engaging portion is engaged with the object side engaging portion. The three-dimensional object includes a positioning portion having a shape corresponding to at least a partial shape of the two-dimensional printed object so as to position the printed object side engaging portion relative to the object side engaging portion.

Images