Three-dimensional shape data generating device and method, three-dimensional shaping device and storage medium

Abstract

A device for generating three-dimensional shape data, a three-dimensional molding device, a storage medium, and a method for generating three-dimensional shape data. The device for generating three-dimensional shape data includes a processor, which obtains three-dimensional shape data in which a three-dimensional shape is represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements and attributes are assigned to each of the plurality of three-dimensional elements, and divides the three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes according to the attributes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a three-dimensional shape data generation device, a three-dimensional forming device, a storage medium, and a method for generating three-dimensional shape data. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for generating data for stereolithography, characterized by comprising: a step of acquiring three-dimensional shape data of a molded object whose three-dimensional shape is represented by a plurality of polygons; a step of processing the three-dimensional shape data of the molded object into three-dimensional shape data of each of the molded objects in order to divide the molded object into a plurality of parts; and a step of generating stereolithography data by the computer that establishes a correspondence between the three-dimensional shape data of each of the parts and data on the type of a specified molding material.

[0003] Patent document 2 discloses a three-dimensional model segmentation method, characterized in that the three-dimensional model segmentation device performs: a plane detection step, which detects a plane consisting of triangles in a three-dimensional model presented as an input triangular mesh that are connected to each other and whose normal directions are the same or opposite; a contour graphic extraction step, which extracts the contour of the three-dimensional model, i.e., the contour graphic, from the boundary edges of each triangle connecting the plane detected by the plane detection step, where only one triangle belongs to each other; a contour graphic segmentation step, which segments the contour graphic extracted by the contour graphic extraction step into a plurality of non-overlapping sub-graphics; and a three-dimensional entity reconstruction step, which reconstructs three-dimensional entities presented as triangular meshes according to the sub-graphics segmented by the contour graphic segmentation step.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-159588

[0005] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-186479 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus, a three-dimensional forming apparatus, a storage medium, and a method for generating three-dimensional shape data that can divide a three-dimensional shape represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements into an arbitrary plurality of partial shapes.

[0007] The apparatus for generating three-dimensional shape data in the first method includes a processor that acquires three-dimensional shape data in which a three-dimensional shape is represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements and each of the plurality of three-dimensional elements is assigned an attribute, and divides the three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes according to the attribute, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data.

[0008] In the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the second method, when the third-dimensional shape data of the partial shape is converted into mesh data using a predetermined method, the processor sets a second face representing the shape before segmentation for the three-dimensional elements that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation, instead of the first face set by the predetermined method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

[0009] In the third method, the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus is in the same as that in the second method. The processor sets the first face of the three-dimensional elements located inside the three-dimensional shape before segmentation by the predetermined method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

[0010] In the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the fourth method, in any of the methods 1 to 3, the processor accepts a threshold and divides the three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes according to the comparison result of the attribute value of the attribute and the threshold, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data.

[0011] In the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the fifth method, the processor accepts a plurality of the thresholds in the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the fourth method.

[0012] In the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the sixth method, in any of the methods 1 to 5, the processor displays a histogram of the attribute values ​​of the attribute on a display unit.

[0013] In the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the seventh method, the processor accepts a threshold on the histogram in the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the sixth method.

[0014] In the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the eighth method, in the third-dimensional shape data generation apparatus of the seventh method, the processor displays the threshold on the display unit on the histogram.

[0015] The 3D forming apparatus according to the 9th method includes a forming unit that forms a 3D shape based on 3D shape data generated by a 3D shape data generating device according to any one of the 1st to 8th methods.

[0016] The storage medium involved in the 10th method records a program for generating three-dimensional shape data, which enables a computer to perform the functions of various parts of the three-dimensional shape data generation device involved in any of the 1st to 8th methods.

[0017] The method for generating three-dimensional shape data involved in Method 11 includes the following steps: obtaining three-dimensional shape data in which a plurality of three-dimensional elements represent a three-dimensional shape and each of the plurality of three-dimensional elements is assigned an attribute; dividing the three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes according to the attribute, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data.

[0018] Effects of the Invention

[0019] According to methods 1, 9, 10 and 11, the following effect is achieved: a three-dimensional shape represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements can be divided into an arbitrary plurality of partial shapes.

[0020] According to the second method, the following effect is achieved: compared with the case where the first face is set by a predetermined method for a 3D element that is not an edge before segmentation but becomes an edge after segmentation, it is possible to suppress changes from the original shape.

[0021] According to the third method, the following effect is achieved: only the second face needs to be set for 3D elements that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation.

[0022] According to the fourth method, the following effect is achieved: compared with the case where the threshold is fixed, the three-dimensional shape can be more arbitrarily divided into multiple partial shapes.

[0023] According to method 5, the following effect is achieved: compared with the case of accepting only one threshold, it is possible to divide the three-dimensional shape into more than 3 parts.

[0024] According to method 6, the following effect is achieved: it makes it easy to identify trends in the attribute values ​​of three-dimensional elements.

[0025] According to method 7, the following effect is achieved: it is easy to set the threshold.

[0026] According to method 8, the following effect is achieved: the set threshold can be easily identified. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a three-dimensional molding system;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a device for generating three-dimensional shape data;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a block diagram representing the functional structure of a device for generating three-dimensional shape data;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a diagram representing an example of a three-dimensional shape represented by voxel data;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of a three-dimensional molding device;

[0033] Figure 6 It is a flowchart representing the processing flow of the generation procedure based on three-dimensional shape data;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing an example of a three-dimensional shape;

[0035] Figure 8 This is an example of a threshold setting screen;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating an example of using color to distinguish and display three-dimensional shapes based on a threshold.

[0037] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing an example of a partial shape;

[0038] Figure 11 This is a diagram showing an example of a partial shape;

[0039] Figure 12 This is a diagram used to illustrate the passivation of the edge portion;

[0040] Figure 13 This is a diagram used to illustrate the passivation of the edge portion;

[0041] Figure 14 It is a diagram used to illustrate the slots that are generated when a portion of the shape is converted into mesh data;

[0042] Figure 15 This is a diagram used to illustrate the first face defined by the moving cube method;

[0043] Figure 16 This is a diagram illustrating the second side, which shows the shape before the division.

[0044] Symbol Explanation

[0045] 1-Three-dimensional molding system, 10-Three-dimensional shape data generation device, 12-Controller, 50-Acquisition unit, 52-Generation unit, 54-Conversion unit, 56-Acceptance unit, 58-Control unit, 60-Three-dimensional shape, 60A, 60B-Partial shape, 100-Three-dimensional molding device. Detailed Implementation

[0046] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the three-dimensional molding system 1 involved in this embodiment. (As shown...) Figure 1As shown, the three-dimensional molding system 1 includes a three-dimensional shape data generation device 10 and a three-dimensional molding device 100.

[0048] Next, refer to Figure 2 The structure of the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0049] The three-dimensional shape data generation device 10 is configured, for example, as a personal computer, and includes a controller 12. The controller 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12C, a non-volatile memory 12D, and an input / output interface (I / O) 12E. Furthermore, the CPU 12A, ROM 12B, RAM 12C, non-volatile memory 12D, and I / O 12E are interconnected via a bus 12F. The CPU 12A is an example of a processor.

[0050] Furthermore, the I / O12E is connected to an operation unit 14, a display unit 16, a communication unit 18, and a storage unit 20.

[0051] The operation unit 14 may be configured to include a mouse and a keyboard, for example.

[0052] The display unit 16 is, for example, composed of a liquid crystal display or the like.

[0053] The communication unit 18 is an interface for data communication with external devices such as the 3D molding apparatus 100.

[0054] The storage unit 20 is composed of a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk, and stores the generation program for the three-dimensional shape data, which will be described later, as well as the three-dimensional shape data itself. The CPU 12A reads and executes the generation program for the three-dimensional shape data stored in the storage unit 20.

[0055] Next, the functional structure of CPU12A will be explained.

[0056] like Figure 3 As shown, the CPU12A functionally includes an acquisition unit 50, a generation unit 52, a conversion unit 54, a receiving unit 56, and a control unit 58.

[0057] The acquisition unit 50 acquires three-dimensional shape data, i.e., voxel data, which represents a three-dimensional shape by a plurality of voxels and assigns attributes to each of the plurality of voxels. Furthermore, a voxel is an example of a three-dimensional element. The attributes include at least one attribute representing the properties of the voxel (such as the presence or absence of the voxel, color, intensity, and material ratio), but the types of attributes are not limited to these.

[0058] The generation unit 52 divides the three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes according to the attributes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data.

[0059] The conversion unit 54 converts the three-dimensional shape data of a portion of the shape into mesh data using a predetermined method. Here, the predetermined method refers to a method for converting voxel data into mesh data. Furthermore, mesh data refers to data representing a three-dimensional shape using a plurality of meshes represented by polygons such as triangles. In this embodiment, the moving cube method is described as an example of a predetermined method, but it is not limited to this. The moving cube method refers to a method that converts data into mesh data by setting predetermined faces based on the pattern of the presence or absence of voxels in a set of eight adjacent voxels of a 2×2×2 grid.

[0060] When converting the three-dimensional shape data of a part of the shape into mesh data using the moving cube method, the conversion unit 54 sets a second face representing the shape before the division to replace the first face set by the moving cube method for the three-dimensional elements that were not edges before the division but became edges after the division, thereby converting them into mesh data.

[0061] Furthermore, the conversion unit 54 sets the first face of the three-dimensional elements located inside the three-dimensional shape before segmentation using the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

[0062] The receiving unit 56 receives thresholds for dividing a three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes based on attributes assigned to the three-dimensional elements. The generation unit 52 divides the three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes based on the comparison result between the attributes and the thresholds received by the receiving unit 56, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data. Furthermore, the receiving unit 56 receives a plurality of thresholds.

[0063] The control unit 58 displays a histogram of attribute values ​​representing the properties of a complex number of voxels of a three-dimensional shape on the display unit 16. At this time, the receiving unit 56 can also receive a threshold value on the histogram. Furthermore, the control unit 58 can also display the threshold value on the histogram on the display unit 16.

[0064] exist Figure 4 The image shows a three-dimensional shape 32 represented by three-dimensional shape data (voxel data), where the three-dimensional shape is represented by a set of voxels. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the three-dimensional shape 32 is composed of a complex number of voxels 34.

[0065] Here, voxels 34 are the basic elements of the three-dimensional shape 32, such as cuboids, but not limited to cuboids; spheres or cylinders can also be used. The desired three-dimensional shape is represented by stacking voxels 34.

[0066] Examples of three-dimensional molding methods for forming three-dimensional shapes include fused deposition modeling (FDM), which forms three-dimensional shapes by melting and depositing thermoplastic resin, and selective laser sintering (SLS), which forms three-dimensional shapes by sintering powdered metal material with a laser beam. However, other three-dimensional molding methods can also be used. In this embodiment, the case of forming a three-dimensional shape using fused deposition modeling will be described.

[0067] Next, a three-dimensional forming apparatus that uses three-dimensional shape data generated by the three-dimensional shape data generation device 10 to form a three-dimensional shape will be described.

[0068] exist Figure 5 The structure of the three-dimensional forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is shown in the figure. The three-dimensional forming apparatus 100 is an apparatus for forming three-dimensional shapes by fused deposition modeling.

[0069] like Figure 5 As shown, the three-dimensional molding apparatus 100 includes a spray head 102, a spray head drive unit 104, a molding stage 106, a molding stage drive unit 108, an acquisition unit 110, and a control unit 112. The spray head 102, spray head drive unit 104, molding stage 106, and molding stage drive unit 108 are examples of the molding unit.

[0070] The nozzle 102 includes a molding material nozzle that ejects molding material for forming a three-dimensional shape 40 and a support material nozzle that ejects support material. The support material is used to support the protruding portions (also referred to as "protrusions") of the three-dimensional shape until molding is complete, and is removed after molding is complete.

[0071] The injection head 102 is driven by the injection head drive unit 104 and performs two-dimensional scanning on the XY plane. Furthermore, the molding material injection head sometimes has a plurality of injection heads corresponding to molding materials with a plurality of properties (e.g., color).

[0072] The forming table 106 is driven by the forming table drive unit 108 and moves up and down in the Z-axis direction.

[0073] The acquisition unit 110 acquires the three-dimensional shape data and support material data generated by the three-dimensional shape data generation device 10.

[0074] The control unit 112 drives the spray head drive unit 104 to perform two-dimensional scanning by spraying out molding material according to the three-dimensional shape data acquired by the acquisition unit 110 and spraying out support material according to the support material data, and controls the spraying out of molding material and support material based on the spray head 102.

[0075] Furthermore, at the end of each layer's molding process, the control unit 112 drives the molding stage drive unit 108 to lower the molding stage 106 by a predetermined deposition interval. This forms a three-dimensional shape based on three-dimensional shape data.

[0076] Next, refer to Figure 6 The operation of the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be explained. The three-dimensional shape data generation program is executed by the CPU 12A. Figure 6 The generation process is shown below. Additionally... Figure 6 The generation process shown is performed, for example, when the generation program is executed by user instruction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the description of the generation process for the support material data is omitted.

[0077] In step S100, the CPU 12A receives voxel data corresponding to the three-dimensional shape of the object being molded. For example, a voxel data receiving screen is displayed on the display unit 16 through user operation, receiving voxel data specified by the user.

[0078] In step S102, the CPU 12A acquires the voxel data, for example, by reading it from the storage unit 20, which was received in step S100. Alternatively, the voxel data can be acquired from an external device via communication through the communication unit 18. Furthermore, the grid data can be received in step S100, and then converted into voxel data in step S102 to acquire the voxel data.

[0079] In step S104, CPU 12A generates display data for a three-dimensional shape from the voxel data acquired in step S102 and displays it on display unit 16. At this time, as... Figure 7 As shown, the values ​​of the attributes set on each voxel 62 constituting the three-dimensional shape 60 are displayed in a way that allows for visual recognition. Figure 7 In the example, the darker the color of a voxel, the higher the attribute value; the lighter the color, the lower the attribute value. For instance, when the attribute is intensity, a darker voxel color indicates higher intensity, and a lighter color indicates lower intensity. This makes it easy to determine the attribute value set for each voxel.

[0080] In step S106, CPU12A determines whether the three-dimensional shape 60 is segmented according to the user's operation instruction. If segmentation is instructed, the process proceeds to step S108; otherwise, it proceeds to step S120.

[0081] In step S108, a threshold setting process is performed to accept and set a threshold for segmenting the three-dimensional shape 60 from the user. Specifically, firstly, the threshold is set as follows: Figure 8The threshold setting screen 64 shown is displayed on the display unit 16.

[0082] like Figure 8 As shown, the threshold setting screen 64 is configured to include an attribute selection bar 66 for setting attributes, a threshold setting bar 68 for setting thresholds, a histogram display area 70 for displaying histograms of attribute values, an execution button 72 for indicating the execution of segmentation of the three-dimensional shape 60, and a cancel button 74 for canceling the execution of segmentation.

[0083] The selection bar 66 displays, for example, the attributes selected by the user from a list of attributes displayed via drop-down menus, etc. In Figure 8 The example shown illustrates the case where intensity is set as an attribute. The following explains the case where intensity is set as an attribute.

[0084] The threshold setting field 68 includes a lower limit input field 68A for inputting the lower limit of the threshold, an upper limit input field 68B for inputting the upper limit of the threshold, and an identification name input field 68C for inputting the identification name of the partial shape obtained by segmenting the three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, multiple lower limit input fields 68A, upper limit input fields 68B, and identification name input fields 68C are provided. That is, in the threshold setting screen 64, it is also possible to set multiple thresholds and divide the three-dimensional shape 60 into three or more parts.

[0085] exist Figure 8 In the example, it is shown that the selected intensity can be a value ranging from "0" to "255" that can be represented in 8 bits. Furthermore, the partial shape represented by the set of voxels with intensities above the lower threshold value "0" and below the upper threshold value "100" is assigned the identification name "AAA". The partial shape represented by the set of voxels with intensities above the lower threshold value "100" and below the upper threshold value "200" is assigned the identification name "BBB". The partial shape represented by the set of voxels with intensities above the lower threshold value "200" and below the upper threshold value "255" is assigned the identification name "CCC". That is, in this example, two thresholds "100" and "200" are set to divide the three-dimensional shape 60 into three partial shapes: AAA, BBB, and CCC.

[0086] The histogram display area 70 shows a histogram 70A displaying the attribute values, i.e., intensity values, of the set attributes. In histogram 70A, the horizontal axis represents the intensity value, and the vertical axis represents the number of voxels. At this time, the threshold values ​​"100" and "200" are displayed on histogram 70A. Alternatively, the user can specify a position on the horizontal axis of histogram 70A as the threshold value, instead of directly inputting the threshold value into the lower limit input field 68A and the upper limit input field 68B. For example, if the user specifies the attribute value "100" and "200" on the horizontal axis of histogram 70A, this value can be automatically input into the lower limit input field 68A and the upper limit input field 68B. Furthermore, for example, if the user moves the markers 76A and 76B, representing the positions of the threshold values ​​"100" and "200," left and right along the horizontal axis, the threshold value can also be automatically input into the lower limit input field 68A and the upper limit input field 68B in conjunction with this operation.

[0087] In addition, Figure 8 In the threshold setting screen 64 shown, only one attribute can be processed, but multiple attributes can also be processed. At this time, the threshold can be set and the histogram can be displayed according to the attribute.

[0088] In step S110, CPU12A determines whether to select the execution button 72. If the execution button 72 is selected, the process proceeds to step S112; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S116.

[0089] In step S112, the three-dimensional shape 60 is divided into a plurality of partial shapes based on the comparison results of the attribute values ​​of each voxel with the threshold set in step S108, thereby generating a plurality of voxel data. For example, as Figure 8 As shown, when thresholds "100" and "200" are set, voxel data with the identification name "AAA" is generated for a portion of the shape represented by a set of voxels with an intensity value of "0" or higher and less than "100". Furthermore, voxel data with the identification name "BBB" is generated for a portion of the shape represented by a set of voxels with an intensity value of "100" or higher and less than the upper limit value "200". And, voxel data with the identification name "CCC" is generated for a portion of the shape represented by a set of voxels with an intensity value of "200" or higher and less than "255". The generated voxel data is stored in the storage unit 20.

[0090] Furthermore, as an example, in Figure 9 In the case where the intensity value is set to the midpoint "127" within the range of "0" to "255", the set of voxels with intensity values ​​above the threshold (i.e., partial shape 60A) and the set of voxels with intensity values ​​below the threshold (i.e., partial shape 60B) are distinguished by color. Furthermore, in Figure 10Only a portion of shape 60A is shown in the image. Figure 11 Only a portion of shape 60B is shown in the image.

[0091] In step S113, CPU 12A displays a screen on display unit 16 indicating whether the user should convert the segmented complex voxel data into grid data, and determines whether the user should instruct the user to convert the segmented complex voxel data into grid data. If the user instructs to convert, the process proceeds to step S114; otherwise, it proceeds to step S120.

[0092] In step S114, CPU12A uses the moving cube method to convert the voxel data of each part of the shape generated in step S112 into mesh data. At this time, for voxels that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation, a second face representing the shape before segmentation is set to replace the first face set by the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data. Here, an edge refers to an edge in which the angle (0 to 360°) formed by two faces that share the edge of the three-dimensional shape represented by the mesh data is outside a predetermined range (e.g., 0 to 90° and 270 to 360°).

[0093] Typically, for example, if the moving cube method is used, it will be represented by complex voxels 82, such as Figure 12 The voxel data of the three-dimensional shape 80 of the cuboid shown is converted into mesh data. Then, the pre-defined faces 84 are set in the voxels 82 of the cuboid's edge using the moving cube method. Therefore, the corners are removed, resulting in a slanted shape when viewed from the side. That is, the edges become blunt. Incidentally, as... Figure 13 As shown, assuming that Figure 12 The three-dimensional shape 80 shown is divided into an inner cuboid portion 80A and an outer portion 80B including portion 80A. At this time, the boundary between portion 80A and portion 80B is originally located inside the three-dimensional shape 80. Therefore, when portion 80A is converted into mesh data, even if edge blunting occurs at corner 82A, edge blunting also occurs on the inner surface of portion 80B. Thus, no gap is generated at the boundary between portion 80A and portion 80B, and there is no particular problem.

[0094] Thus, if the moving cube method is used, the voxels that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation will have their edges blunted. Therefore, a second face representing the shape before segmentation is set instead of the first face set by the moving cube method.

[0095] exist Figure 14 The image shows a magnified view. Figure 9The image shown is a portion of the bottom surface of the three-dimensional shape 60, which is divided into partial shapes 60A and 60B and converted into mesh data. (See image below.) Figure 14 As shown, after being converted to mesh data, grooves 61 are generated at the boundary between partial shapes 60A and 60B. Figure 15 The image shows a side view of the three-dimensional shape 60. Figure 14 The diagram is obtained from groove 61.

[0096] like Figure 15 As shown, voxel 62A of partial shape 60A is a voxel that was not an edge before segmentation but became an edge after segmentation. Similarly, voxel 62B of partial shape 60B is also a voxel that was not an edge before segmentation but became an edge after segmentation. That is, voxels 62A and 62B are voxels whose shapes changed before and after segmentation.

[0097] Therefore, when converting the voxel data of partial shapes 60A and 60B into mesh data, if the first faces 63A and 63B of voxels 62A and 62B are predetermined using the moving cube method, edge blunting will occur, resulting in a change from the original shape. Therefore, as... Figure 16 As shown, for voxels 62A and 62B, the second faces 67A and 67B, representing the shapes before segmentation, are respectively set in voxels 62A and 62B. Thus, when the voxel data of the segmented partial shapes 60A and 60B are converted into mesh data, edge passivation can be suppressed, and gaps between partial shapes 60A and 60B can be suppressed.

[0098] On the other hand, the voxels located inside the 3D shape 60 before segmentation are defined using the moving cube method as the first face, thereby converting it into mesh data. In other words, the voxels located inside the 3D shape 60 before segmentation are not defined with a second face representing the shape before segmentation. For example, Figure 15 Voxels 65A and 65B are voxels located inside the three-dimensional shape 60 before segmentation. Therefore, the first face is set by the moving cube method, and the second face is not set.

[0099] In step S116, CPU12A determines whether the cancel button 74 is selected. If the cancel button 74 is selected, the process proceeds to step S118; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S120.

[0100] In step S118, CPU12A resets the information input to the threshold setting screen 64.

[0101] In step S120, CPU 12A determines whether to terminate the current routine. For example, it determines whether to terminate the current routine by determining whether to perform an operation to close the screen. If it is determined that the current routine should be terminated, the current routine is terminated; if it is not determined that the current routine should be terminated, the process proceeds to step S106 and repeats the above process.

[0102] Thus, in this embodiment, a three-dimensional shape is divided into a plurality of partial shapes according to attributes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data. Furthermore, when converting the three-dimensional shape data of the partial shapes into mesh data using the moving cube method, a second face representing the shape before division is set for voxels that were not edges before division but become edges after division, instead of the first face set by the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data. Therefore, changes in shape before and after division can be suppressed.

[0103] Next, the case of forming a three-dimensional shape based on the three-dimensional shape data generated by the three-dimensional shape data generation device 10 will be described.

[0104] The acquisition unit 110 of the 3D molding apparatus 100 acquires voxel data or mesh data sent from the 3D shape data generation apparatus 10. Furthermore, the control unit 112 drives the ejector head drive unit 104 to perform a 2D scan of the ejector head 102 in a manner that ejects molding material based on the voxel data or mesh data acquired by the acquisition unit 110, and controls the ejection of molding material based on the ejector head 102. Thus, a 3D shape is formed.

[0105] The present invention has been described above using various embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the scope described in each embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be made to each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and such modifications or improvements are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0106] For example, in this embodiment, the structure of the three-dimensional shape data generation device 10 and the three-dimensional molding device 100 that form a three-dimensional shape based on the three-dimensional shape data are described separately, but it is also possible to have a structure in which the three-dimensional molding device 100 has the function of the three-dimensional shape data generation device 10.

[0107] That is, voxel data can also be acquired by the acquisition unit 110 of the 3D modeling apparatus 100 and executed by the control unit 112. Figure 6 The generation process is used to generate three-dimensional shape data.

[0108] In addition, in this embodiment, processor refers to processor in a broad sense, such as general-purpose processors such as CPU (Central Processing Unit) or dedicated processors such as GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and programmable logic devices.

[0109] Furthermore, the operation of the processor in the above embodiments can be completed collaboratively by a plurality of processors located at physically separated positions, rather than by a single processor. Also, the order in which the processors operate is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments and can be appropriately modified.

[0110] Furthermore, while this embodiment describes the method of installing the three-dimensional shape data generation program in the storage unit 20, it is not limited to this. It may also be provided by recording the three-dimensional shape data generation program according to this embodiment on a computer-readable storage medium. For example, it may be provided by recording the three-dimensional shape data generation program according to the present invention on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or on a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. Furthermore, the three-dimensional shape data generation program according to this embodiment may also be obtained from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication unit 18.

[0111] The embodiments of the present invention described above are provided for illustrative and explanatory purposes. Furthermore, these embodiments do not encompass the entirety of the invention, nor do they limit the invention to the disclosed methods. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations will be readily understood. These embodiments were chosen and described to most readily explain the principles and applications of the invention. Thus, those skilled in the art can understand the invention through various modifications that optimize the determination of the various assumed embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the foregoing claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A device for generating three-dimensional shape data, comprising a processor, The processor acquires three-dimensional shape data, which is represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements and assigns attributes to each of the plurality of three-dimensional elements. The three-dimensional shape is divided into a plurality of partial shapes according to the attributes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data, wherein... When converting the three-dimensional shape data of the partial shape into mesh data using the moving cube method, the processor sets a second face representing the shape before segmentation for the three-dimensional elements that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation, instead of the first face set by the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

2. The apparatus for generating three-dimensional shape data according to claim 1, wherein, The processor sets the first face of the three-dimensional elements located inside the three-dimensional shape before segmentation using the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

3. The apparatus for generating three-dimensional shape data according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The processor accepts a threshold and, based on the comparison between the attribute value of the attribute and the threshold, divides the three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial shapes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data.

4. The apparatus for generating three-dimensional shape data according to claim 3, wherein, The processor accepts a plurality of the thresholds.

5. The apparatus for generating three-dimensional shape data according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The processor displays a histogram of the attribute values ​​of the attribute on the display unit.

6. The apparatus for generating three-dimensional shape data according to claim 5, wherein, The processor accepts a threshold on the histogram.

7. The apparatus for generating three-dimensional shape data according to claim 6, wherein, The processor displays the threshold on the display unit in the histogram.

8. A three-dimensional forming apparatus comprising: a forming section for forming a three-dimensional shape based on three-dimensional shape data generated by the three-dimensional shape data generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A storage medium having a program recording a three-dimensional shape data generation program for causing a computer to perform the following processing: Obtain three-dimensional shape data, which is represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements and for which attributes are assigned to each of the plurality of three-dimensional elements. The three-dimensional shape is divided into a plurality of partial shapes based on the attributes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data. When converting the three-dimensional shape data of the partial shape into mesh data using the moving cube method, a second face representing the shape before segmentation is set for the three-dimensional elements that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation, replacing the first face set by the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

10. A method for generating three-dimensional shape data, comprising the following steps: Obtain three-dimensional shape data, which is represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements and for which attributes are assigned to each of the plurality of three-dimensional elements. The three-dimensional shape is divided into a plurality of partial shapes based on the attributes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data. When converting the three-dimensional shape data of the partial shape into mesh data using the moving cube method, a second face representing the shape before segmentation is set for the three-dimensional elements that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation, replacing the first face set by the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

11. A computer program product, characterized in that, Includes a program for generating three-dimensional shape data that enables a computer to perform the following processes: Obtain three-dimensional shape data, which is represented by a plurality of three-dimensional elements and for which attributes are assigned to each of the plurality of three-dimensional elements. The three-dimensional shape is divided into a plurality of partial shapes based on the attributes, thereby generating a plurality of three-dimensional shape data. When converting the three-dimensional shape data of the partial shape into mesh data using the moving cube method, a second face representing the shape before segmentation is set for the three-dimensional elements that were not edges before segmentation but become edges after segmentation, replacing the first face set by the moving cube method, thereby converting them into mesh data.

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