Design support device, design support method, and program

Abstract

To provide a design support device, a design support method, and a program capable of outputting design data that a designed, three-dimensional molding object can be manufactured in a manufacturing apparatus which manufactures a three-dimension molding object.SOLUTION: A design support device 1 for supporting the generation of design data inputted into a manufacturing apparatus 2 which manufactures a three-dimensional molding object, comprises: an input part which accepts shape data 200 of the molding object and device information 100 about the manufacturing apparatus 2; an arithmetic part which identifies a first area where the molding object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 2 from the shape data 200 based on the device information 100, and generates the design data modifying a shape pattern in the first area, a storage part to store a manufacturable modified pattern, and an output part to output the design data modified by the arithmetic part. The arithmetic part changes the shape pattern in the first area to the modified pattern and generates the design data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a design support apparatus, a design support method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Manufacturing processes capable of small-lot, high-mix production according to customer (user) preferences have been developed. For example, JP 2022-083981 A (Patent Document 1) discloses an intuitive customization system that connects a server, a display device, and an interface unit to a factory or workshop for manufacturing products (for example, shoes) via the Internet, and produces and purchases products designed to suit the customer's preferences. In addition, manufacturing using molds is not suitable for small-lot, high-mix production, and it is preferable to use a manufacturing device that manufactures three-dimensional objects, such as a three-dimensional printer device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-083981 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there are shapes that cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing method of a manufacturing device that manufactures three-dimensional objects, and there is a risk of manufacturing defects even if the shape data designed for a product (three-dimensional object) according to the user's preferences is input as is into the manufacturing device. Also, in order to manufacture the designed shape data with the manufacturing device, a designer who is familiar with the molding method needs to revise the shape data in advance and modify it into the design data, which is a cumbersome task.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to provide a design support device, a design support method, and a program that are capable of outputting design data that enables a designed three-dimensional object to be manufactured by a manufacturing device that manufactures three-dimensional objects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A design support device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a design support device that supports creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object. The design support device includes an input unit that accepts shape data of the object and device information related to the manufacturing device, a calculation unit that identifies a first region in the shape data in which the object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing device based on the device information and creates design data in which the shape pattern of the first region is modified, a storage unit that stores the modified pattern that can be manufactured, and an output unit that outputs the design data modified by the calculation unit. The calculation unit creates the design data by changing the shape pattern of the first region to the modified pattern.

[0007] A design support method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a design support method for supporting creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object. The design support method includes the steps of receiving shape data of the object and device information related to the manufacturing device, identifying a first region in the shape data in which the object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing device based on the device information, changing the shape data of the identified first region into a modified pattern that can manufacture the object, and creating design data, and outputting the modified design data.

[0008] A program according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a program executed by a calculation unit of a design support device that supports creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object. The program includes the steps of: receiving shape data of the object and device information related to the manufacturing device by an input unit; identifying a first region in the shape data in which the object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing device based on the device information; creating design data by changing the shape data of the identified first region into a manufacturable modified pattern stored in a storage unit; and outputting the modified design data from an output unit. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture a designed three-dimensional object, without the need for a designer to revise the shape data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a design support device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a design support device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams for explaining examples of shapes that cannot be manufactured by a certain modeling method. [Figure 4] 11A to 11C are schematic diagrams for explaining examples of shapes that cannot be manufactured by another modeling method. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart for explaining a process in the design support apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in the design support device according to the first embodiment; FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a correction pattern. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in a design support apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process in a design support apparatus according to a modified example. FIG. [Figure 10]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining another method for identifying a shape that cannot be manufactured. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the design support device and the design support method will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are given the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. In the following description, an example of the design support device and the design support method for supporting the design of footwear, which is one of the accessories worn by a user, will be described. However, the object to be designed is not limited to footwear, and any three-dimensional object that can be manufactured by a manufacturing device may be used. For example, the design support can be applied to wear, gloves, helmets, sports equipment, and the like.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) [Configuration of the design support device] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a design support device 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the design support device 1 according to an embodiment. For example, custom-made footwear may be manufactured to fit the shape of an individual's foot at a store such as a shoe store or an event venue. In this case, it is possible to design footwear with a design that matches the user's preferences, and manufacture and provide the footwear using a manufacturing device 2 that manufactures three-dimensional objects such as a three-dimensional printer device. The design support device 1 shown in FIG. 1 receives device information 100 including information such as a modeling method of the manufacturing device 2 and shape data 200 of the footwear, and outputs design data to the manufacturing device 2 that allows the manufacturing device 2 to manufacture the footwear. Here, the shape data 200 is, for example, CAD (Computer Aided Design) data such as line data and mesh data. The design data may be data that can be input to the manufacturing device 2, for example, STL (Stereolithography) data that can be processed by the manufacturing device 2.

[0013] The design support device 1 has been described on the assumption that a separate design device designs shape data 200 of footwear having a design that matches the user's preferences, and receives the shape data 200 from that design device. However, a design program may be executed in the design support device 1 to design shape data 200 of footwear having a design that matches the user's preferences in the design support device 1. Also, instead of receiving device information 100 including information such as the modeling method of the manufacturing device 2, the design support device 1 may input a product name, product number, etc. of the manufacturing device 2, and read information such as the modeling method of the manufacturing device 2 from storage to receive the device information 100.

[0014] 2, the design support device 1 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, a storage 13, an interface 14, a media reader 15, and a communication interface 16. These components are connected via a processor bus 17.

[0015] The processor 11 is an example of a "calculation unit." The processor 11 is a computer that reads out programs (for example, an OS (Operating System) 130, a specific program 131, and a correction program 132) stored in the storage 13, and deploys and executes the read out programs in the memory 12. The processor 11 is configured, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or an MPU (Multi Processing Unit). The processor 11 may be configured by a processing circuitry.

[0016] The memory 12 is composed of a volatile memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or a static random access memory (SRAM), or a non-volatile memory such as a read only memory (ROM) or a flash memory.

[0017] The storage 13 is configured by a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). In addition to programs such as an OS 130, a specific program 131, and a correction program 132, the storage 13 stores data such as a manufacturing evaluation database 133 and a correction pattern database 134.

[0018] The identification program 131 is a program for identifying areas in the footwear shape data 200 that cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 2. In the present disclosure, the areas that cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 2 include areas that are difficult to manufacture at a predetermined level or higher. The correction program 132 is a program for creating design data by changing the areas that cannot be manufactured identified by the identification program 131 to corrected patterns that can be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 2. Footwear is an example of a "shaped object" in the claims.

[0019] The interface 14 is an example of an “input unit” or an “output unit.” The interface 14 is configured to receive input to the design support device 1 from a keyboard, a mouse, a touch device, or the like as an “input unit,” and to output corrected design data to a display or the like as an “output unit.”

[0020] The media reader 15 accepts a storage medium such as a removable disk 18, and obtains programs and data stored in the removable disk 18. Programs such as a specific program 131 and a correction program 132 may be stored in the storage medium such as the removable disk 18.

[0021] The communication interface 16 is an example of an "input unit" or an "output unit." The communication interface 16 transmits and receives data to and from other devices by performing wired or wireless communication. The communication interface 16, for example, serves as an "input unit" to receive input of shape data 200 from another design device, and serves as an "output unit" to output design data to the manufacturing device 2. The communication interface 16 may also be used to download the specific program 131 and the correction program 132 to the storage 13.

[0022] In the design support device 1 described below, the specific program 131 and the correction program 132 are executed to create design data that can be manufactured by the manufacturing device 2 from the shape data 200. However, the design support device 1 may read the shape data 200 stored in the removable disk 18 by the media reading device 15.

[0023] [Manufacturing conditions for manufacturing equipment] Next, the manufacturing conditions of the manufacturing device 2 will be described. The manufacturing device 2 is a device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, and examples thereof include a three-dimensional printer device, an NC (Numerically Control) machine tool, and a machining center. Since each of these devices has a different modeling method, the manufacturing conditions, such as shapes that are easy to manufacture and shapes that cannot be manufactured, differ depending on the modeling method. Specifically, the manufacturing conditions that cannot be manufactured for each modeling method will be described in detail. In this disclosure, the term "shape that cannot be manufactured" broadly includes not only shapes that the manufacturing device 2 cannot manufacture due to the constraints of the modeling method, but also shapes that cannot be provided to users, such as shapes that can be manufactured by the manufacturing device 2 but have reduced functionality, and shapes that can be manufactured by the manufacturing device 2 but require additional work and therefore increase manufacturing costs.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a shape that cannot be manufactured by a certain modeling method. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a shape that cannot be manufactured by a manufacturing apparatus 2 using a fused deposition modeling (FDM) method is explained. The FDM manufacturing apparatus 2 is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by melting ABS resin, PLA resin, etc. at high temperature and stacking the resin while outputting it from a nozzle. Therefore, if the shape is tilted at 45 degrees with respect to the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, as in the case of the model 250 in FIG. 3(a), the FDM manufacturing apparatus 2 can manufacture the model 250 by stacking resin 250a in the stacking direction.

[0025] However, if the shape of the object is tilted at 0 degrees with respect to the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction as in the case of the object 251 in Fig. 3(b), the FDM manufacturing apparatus 2 cannot manufacture the portion 251b protruding to the right side in the figure even if the resin 251a is stacked in the stacking direction. Furthermore, if the shape of the object is tilted at -30 degrees with respect to the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction as in the case of the object 252 in Fig. 3(c), the FDM manufacturing apparatus 2 cannot manufacture the portion 252b with the tilted shape even if the resin 252a is stacked in the stacking direction. In order to manufacture the portion 252b with the tilted shape, it is necessary to prepare a separate support member 252c and stack the resin 252a on the support member 252c in the stacking direction to form the portion.

[0026] Next, Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a shape that cannot be manufactured by another modeling method. In the example shown in Fig. 4, a shape that cannot be manufactured by a manufacturing apparatus 2 using a photolithography method (particularly, a DLP (Digital Light Processing) method) will be explained. A DLP-type manufacturing apparatus 2 is a method for forming a three-dimensional object by applying ultraviolet (UV) rays to liquid resin to harden it. Apart from the shape explained in Fig. 3, a DLP-type manufacturing apparatus 2 cannot manufacture a hollow structured object 253 shown in Fig. 4(a).

[0027] Furthermore, the DLP-type manufacturing apparatus 2 cannot manufacture a thin, long-walled shape such as the model 254 in FIG. 4(b) because a part 254a falls off during the process of lifting the platform 260 that forms the model 254 from the liquid resin. In addition, when the DLP-type manufacturing apparatus 2 manufactures the model 255 as shown in FIG. 4(c), it is necessary to provide a large number of support members 220 in the blank parts of the mesh structure. The DLP-type manufacturing apparatus 2 can manufacture the model 255 itself, but if the proportion of the support members 220 increases, unnecessary material is required, and if the support members 220 are provided inside the model and cannot be removed, the function of the model may be impaired. For example, if the support members 220 cannot be removed, the weight of the manufactured model 255 will be heavier than the weight at the time of design, and in addition, the functionality of the model 255 may be adversely affected by the support members 220 that cannot be removed. Therefore, if there is a supporting member 220 that cannot be removed and the functionality of the object 255 is reduced by a predetermined percentage (for example, 10%) due to the supporting member 220, the shape is deemed to be unmanufacturable. Even if the supporting member 220 can be removed from the object, the work of removing the supporting member 220 is required when manufacturing the object. For example, if the ratio of the supporting member 220 to be removed after manufacturing the object 255 to the object 255 exceeds a predetermined value (for example, 30%), the shape is deemed to be unmanufacturable. Note that the predetermined percentage and the predetermined value are standards for determining that the object 255 that requires the support member 220 cannot be manufactured.

[0028] In this way, the manufacturing conditions under which production cannot be performed are determined in advance according to the modeling method of the manufacturing apparatus 2, and information on the manufacturing conditions under which production cannot be performed is stored in the manufacturing evaluation database 133 for each modeling method of the manufacturing apparatus 2. When the design support device 1 accepts the device information 100 including information on the modeling method of the manufacturing apparatus 2, it reads out information on the manufacturing conditions under which production cannot be performed corresponding to the accepted modeling method of the manufacturing apparatus 2 from the manufacturing evaluation database 133. Note that if the manufacturing evaluation database 133 does not exist or if the manufacturing evaluation database 133 does not store information on the manufacturing conditions under which production cannot be performed corresponding to the modeling method of the manufacturing apparatus 2, the design support device 1 may accept the device information 100 including information on the modeling method of the manufacturing apparatus 2 and information on the manufacturing conditions under which production cannot be performed.

[0029] The information on the manufacturing conditions that cannot be manufactured is stored in the manufacturing evaluation database 133 as three-dimensional image information, for example, as a shape pattern, of the shape that cannot be manufactured as described in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Of course, the information on the manufacturing conditions that cannot be manufactured is not limited to three-dimensional image information, and may be information of a formula or a numerical value. By treating the information on the manufacturing conditions that cannot be manufactured as a shape pattern, it is possible to evaluate an area that is highly similar to the information on the manufacturing conditions that cannot be manufactured from the footwear shape data 200 as the similarity of the three-dimensional image information, as described later, and to easily identify it. In this way, the manufacturing evaluation database 133 stores a shape pattern (three-dimensional image information) as information on the manufacturing conditions that cannot be manufactured for each modeling method of the manufacturing device 2, thereby making it possible to identify shapes that cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing device 2 of various modeling methods. Although the manufacturing evaluation database 133 has been described as being stored in the storage 13 of the design support device 1, it may be stored in another server or ground.

[0030] [Design support device processing] Next, a process in which the design support device 1 executes the specific program 131 and the correction program 132 to create design data that can be manufactured by the manufacturing device 2 from the shape data 200 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the process in the design support device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process in the design support device 1 according to the first embodiment. First, the design support device 1 accepts device information 100 including information on the modeling method of the manufacturing device 2 (step S101). Next, the design support device 1 accepts footwear shape data 200 (step S102).

[0031] The design support device 1 identifies an unmanufacturable area in the shape data 200 (step S103). Specifically, the design support device 1 reads out an unmanufacturable shape pattern (information on manufacturing conditions) stored in the manufacturing evaluation database 133 from the device information 100 received in step S101. The design support device 1 compares the shape pattern of the footwear shape data 200 with the unmanufacturable shape pattern to evaluate the similarity. The design support device 1 can use a known algorithm for evaluating the difference or similarity of three-dimensional image information as an algorithm for evaluating the similarity with the shape pattern, and may also use a method using a neural network.

[0032] The design support device 1 executes the identification program 131 as shown in FIG. 6 to identify an area 201 (first area) that cannot be manufactured in the shape data 200 of the footwear. The area 201 that cannot be manufactured varies depending on the manufacturing parameters for manufacturing the footwear by the manufacturing device 2. For example, when the manufacturing direction of the footwear is considered as a manufacturing parameter, the area 201 that cannot be manufactured varies depending on whether the footwear is manufactured from the toe side or the heel side. Therefore, the design support device 1 determines whether there is a manufacturing parameter (shaping direction) to be changed (step S104). When manufacturing the footwear, the design support device 1 identifies the area 201 that cannot be manufactured assuming that the footwear is manufactured from the toe side, and then identifies the area 201 that cannot be manufactured again assuming that the footwear is manufactured from the heel side. In other words, if there is a manufacturing parameter (shaping direction) to be changed (YES in step S104), the design support device 1 returns the process to step S103 and identifies the area 201 that cannot be manufactured again.

[0033] On the other hand, if there is no manufacturing parameter (shaping direction) to be changed (NO in step S104), the design support device 1 sets the manufacturing parameter that minimizes the unmanufacturable area 201 (step S105). When manufacturing footwear, the size of the unmanufacturable area 201 identified as being manufactured from the toe side is compared with the size of the unmanufacturable area 201 identified as being manufactured from the heel side, and the manufacturing parameter that minimizes the unmanufacturable area 201 is set as the manufacturing parameter of the manufacturing device 2. The design support device 1 adds information about the set manufacturing parameter to the design data and outputs it to the manufacturing device 2.

[0034] In addition, for a symmetrical object, even if the modeling direction is changed, a model of the same shape will be manufactured, so it is determined in step S104 that there are no manufacturing parameters to be changed. Also, in the case where the modeling direction is fixed due to another constraint, it is determined in step S104 that there are no manufacturing parameters to be changed. Furthermore, although the modeling direction has been described as an example of a manufacturing parameter, the manufacturing time, material, etc. may also be set as a manufacturing parameter.

[0035] When the molded object is footwear, the material used is preferably a resin material or a rubber material so as to have appropriate flexibility, extensibility, durability, elasticity, etc. More specifically, when footwear is made of resin, for example, polyolefin resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyamide thermoplastic elastomer (TPA, TPAE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyester thermoplastic elastomer (TPEE) can be used as the material. In particular, the FDM type manufacturing apparatus 2 uses a thermoplastic resin, and the DLP type manufacturing apparatus 2 uses a thermosetting resin.

[0036] Next, the design support device 1 changes the identified unmanufacturable region 201 to a manufacturable correction pattern (step S106). The manufacturable correction pattern is stored in the correction pattern database 134 of the storage 13. The correction pattern database 134 stores a plurality of different types of correction patterns for each modeling method of the manufacturing device 2. The different types of correction patterns differ, for example, in at least one of the thickness, angle, distance between lines, and color of lines that constitute the pattern. Specifically, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the correction pattern. As shown in FIG. 7, the correction pattern database 134 stores a plurality of correction patterns that differ in the thickness W of the lines that constitute the pattern, the distance L between the two lines, and the angle A between the two lines. Although the correction pattern database 134 has been described as being stored in the storage 13 of the design support device 1, it may be stored in another server or ground. Furthermore, the correction pattern database 134 includes correction patterns that can be manufactured by laminating multiple materials, correction patterns in which different materials or different colors are arranged in each area, and the like, and can store correction patterns that include various information such as materials and colors in addition to line information.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6, the design support device 1 reads out a plurality of correction patterns 210, 211, and 212 that are suitable for the modeling method of the manufacturing device 2 from the correction pattern database 134. The design support device 1 executes the correction program 132 to change the shape pattern of the identified unmanufacturable region 201 to any one of the plurality of correction patterns 210, 211, and 212. Specifically, the design support device 1 selects a correction pattern that is most similar to the shape pattern of the identified unmanufacturable region 201 from the plurality of correction patterns 210, 211, and 212, and changes the shape pattern of the unmanufacturable region 201 to the selected correction pattern. The design support device 1 compares the shape pattern of the unmanufacturable region 201 with the plurality of correction patterns to evaluate the similarity. The design support device 1 can use a known algorithm that evaluates the difference or similarity of three-dimensional image information as an algorithm for evaluating the similarity with the shape pattern, and may further use a method using a neural network.

[0038] The design support device 1 changes the shape pattern of the unmanufacturable region 201 of the footwear shape data 200 to a modified pattern, creates the modified shape data 200 once, and then creates the design data 300. The design support device 1 outputs the created design data 300 to the manufacturing device 2 (step S107). Note that, although it has been described that the design support device 1 creates the modified shape data 200 once, and then creates the design data 300, the design data 300 may be created directly based on the shape data 200 and the modified pattern, without creating the modified shape data 200.

[0039] In this way, the design support device 1 identifies the area 201 that cannot be manufactured by the modeling method of the manufacturing device 2 from the shape data 200, and creates design data by changing the shape pattern of the identified unmanufacturable area 201 to a modified pattern that can be manufactured. Therefore, the design support device 1 can automatically create design data that can manufacture the designed three-dimensional object, without the designer having to revise the shape data.

[0040] (Embodiment 2) In the above embodiment, it has been described that the design support device 1 selects and modifies the modification pattern having the highest similarity to the shape pattern of the identified unmanufacturable region 201. However, the method of selecting the modification pattern to be modified is not limited to this. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the processing in the design support device 1 according to the second embodiment. The configuration of the design support device 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the design support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and detailed description will not be repeated.

[0041] When an unmanufacturable area is identified in the shape data 200 according to the modeling method of the manufacturing device 2, the design support device 1 sets a manufacturable area 202 (second area) around the unmanufacturable area 201. The manufacturable area 202 is an area of ​​a predetermined range adjacent to the unmanufacturable area 201. As the predetermined range, for example, a range of several centimeters or one unit of a repeating pattern of a design is set in advance.

[0042] 8, the design support device 1 identifies an unmanufacturable area 201 and sets a manufacturable area 202 around the unmanufacturable area 201. The design support device 1 reads out a correction pattern 202a that is most similar to the shape pattern of the set manufacturable area 202 from the correction pattern database 134, and changes the shape pattern of the unmanufacturable area 201 using the read correction pattern 202a. By using the correction pattern 202a that is most similar to the shape pattern of the manufacturable area 202 for the unmanufacturable area 201, the continuity of the shapes of the manufacturable area 202 and the correction pattern 202a is improved, and a natural design can be achieved.

[0043] Furthermore, the design support device 1 may change the area near the boundary between the unmanufacturable area 201 and the manufacturable area 202 to the correction pattern 202a that is most similar to the shape pattern of the manufacturable area 202, and change the other areas to the correction pattern that is most similar to the shape pattern of the unmanufacturable area 201. In this way, by gradually changing the correction pattern from the manufacturable area 202 to the unmanufacturable area 201, a more natural design can be achieved.

[0044] (Modification) Another method of selecting a correction pattern to be changed will be described. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the processing in the design support device 1 according to the modified example. The configuration of the design support device 1 according to the modified example is the same as the configuration of the design support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and detailed description will not be repeated.

[0045] The design support device 1 identifies an unmanufacturable region 201 as shown in FIG. 9, and sets a manufacturable region 202 around the unmanufacturable region 201. Next, the design support device 1 selects a shape pattern that is most similar to the shape pattern of the set manufacturable region 202 from among the manufacturable regions of the shape data 200, and sets the selected region as a similar region 203 (third region). The design support device 1 reads out a correction pattern 203b that is most similar to a region 203a corresponding to the size of the unmanufacturable region 201 from the correction pattern database 134 among the shape patterns of the similar regions 203, and changes the shape pattern of the unmanufacturable region 201 using the read correction pattern 203b. Another similar region 203 that is most similar to the shape pattern of the manufacturable region 202 is set, and the correction pattern 203b is selected from the part of the region 203a corresponding to the size of the unmanufacturable region 201, so that a more natural design can be achieved.

[0046] (Other variations) In the above embodiment, it has been described that the design support device 1 identifies the region 201 that cannot be manufactured by comparing the shape pattern of the footwear shape data 200 with a shape pattern that cannot be manufactured and evaluating the similarity. However, the method of identifying the region that cannot be manufactured is not limited to this. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining another method for identifying a shape that cannot be manufactured. The configuration of the design support device 1 according to the modified example is the same as the configuration of the design support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and detailed description will not be repeated.

[0047] 10(a) shows mesh data for forming a three-dimensional lattice structure model 256 on a platform 260. The downward direction in the figure is the modeling direction of the model 256. The model 256 has a portion where the lattice structure is not continuous, and this portion is an area 201 that cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 2. When identifying the area 201 that cannot be manufactured using mesh data, the design support device 1 compares a shape pattern obtained from the mesh data with an unmanufacturable shape pattern stored in the manufacturing evaluation database 133 to evaluate the similarity, and identifies the area 201 that cannot be manufactured.

[0048] 10(b), the mesh data is converted into data represented by a network structure of edges 256a and vertices 256b. The design support device 1 can find a portion where the lattice structure is not continuous from the network structure data based on the presence or absence of an edge 256a connecting two vertices 256b, and identify the unmanufacturable area 201. In this way, by using the network structure data, the design support device 1 can process less data than if mesh data was used, and can reduce the burden of the calculation process for identifying the unmanufacturable area 201.

[0049] [Aspects] (1) A design support device according to the present disclosure is a design support device that supports creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object, an input unit that receives shape data of a model and device information related to a manufacturing device; a calculation unit that identifies a first region in the shape data in which a model cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus based on the apparatus information, and creates design data in which a shape pattern of the first region is corrected; A storage unit that stores a repair pattern that can be manufactured; an output unit that outputs the design data corrected by the calculation unit, The calculation unit is The shape pattern of the first region is changed to a correction pattern to generate design data.

[0050] This enables the design support device to automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture a designed three-dimensional object, without the designer having to revise the shape data.

[0051] (2) The design support apparatus according to (1) above further comprises a storage unit that stores a plurality of different types of correction patterns; The calculation unit changes the correction pattern to one that has the highest similarity to the shape pattern of the first region, from among a plurality of correction patterns stored in the storage unit.

[0052] This enables the design support device to automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture a three-dimensional object without compromising the design quality of the shape data created by the designer.

[0053] (3) In the design support device described in (2), the storage unit stores a plurality of correction patterns that differ in at least one of the line thickness, angle, distance between the lines, and color of the lines that constitute the patterns.

[0054] This allows the computer aided design equipment to prepare a plurality of modified patterns that differ in at least one of the line thickness, angle, distance between lines, and color of the lines that constitute the patterns.

[0055] (4) In the design support device described in (2) or (3), the calculation unit sets a second region that can be manufactured around the first region, reads out from the memory unit a modification pattern that is most similar to the shape pattern of the second region, and changes the shape pattern of the first region using the read modification pattern.

[0056] This enables the design support device to automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture a three-dimensional object without compromising the design of the second area that is set around the first area.

[0057] (5) In the design support device described in (4), a calculation unit sets a third region that is most similar to the shape pattern of the second region from the shape data, reads out a modification pattern that is most similar to the shape pattern of the third region from a memory unit, and changes the shape pattern of the first region using the read modification pattern.

[0058] This enables the design support device to automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture a three-dimensional object without compromising the design of the second region.

[0059] (6) In the design support device according to any one of (1) to (5), the design data includes manufacturing parameters for manufacturing the object by a manufacturing device, The calculation unit changes the manufacturing parameters to identify the first region, and sets the manufacturing parameters that result in the smallest region.

[0060] This allows the computer aided design equipment to reduce the area to be corrected using the correction pattern.

[0061] (7) In the design support device according to any one of (1) to (6), the device information includes at least information on a modeling method of the manufacturing device and information on manufacturing conditions under which the modeling method cannot be used.

[0062] This allows the design support device to automatically create design data capable of manufacturing a three-dimensional object, without storing information on the modeling method of the manufacturing device or information on manufacturing conditions that cannot be used with that modeling method.

[0063] (8) The design support device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the storage unit stores information on manufacturing conditions that cannot be manufactured for each molding method of the manufacturing device, The device information received from the input unit includes at least information on a modeling method of the manufacturing device, The calculation unit reads out information on the manufacturing conditions from the storage unit based on the device information.

[0064] This allows the design support device to read out information on manufacturing conditions from the storage unit according to the modeling method of the manufacturing device.

[0065] In the design support device according to (9) (7) or (8), the information on the manufacturing conditions includes a criterion for determining that a structure that requires the provision of a support member cannot be manufactured.

[0066] This allows the design support device to automatically create modified design data using the modification pattern, even for a model that requires the provision of a support member.

[0067] (10) In the computer-aided design device according to any one of (1) to (9), the object is an accessory worn by a user.

[0068] This allows the design support device to automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture a designed three-dimensional object for an accessory worn by a user.

[0069] (11) A design support method according to the present disclosure is a design support method for supporting creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object, comprising: receiving shape data of an object and device information relating to a manufacturing device; Identifying a first region in the shape data in which the object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus based on the apparatus information; A step of changing the shape data of the identified first region into a modified pattern that can be manufactured, and creating design data; and outputting the modified design data.

[0070] As a result, the design support method can automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture a designed three-dimensional object, without the designer having to modify the shape data.

[0071] (12) A program according to the present disclosure is a program executed by a calculation unit of a design support device that supports creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object, The program includes: receiving shape data of an object and device information related to a manufacturing device by an input unit; Identifying a first region in the shape data in which the object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus based on the apparatus information; creating design data by changing the shape data of the identified first region into a manufacturable modified pattern stored in a storage unit; and outputting the corrected design data from an output unit.

[0072] This enables the program to automatically create design data that can be used to manufacture the designed three-dimensional object, without the designer having to revise the shape data.

[0073] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 design support device, 2 manufacturing device, 11 processor, 12 memory, 13 storage, 14 interface, 15 media reader, 16 communication interface, 17 processor bus, 18 removable disk, 100 device information, 131 specific program, 132 correction program, 133 manufacturing evaluation database, 134 correction pattern database, 200 shape data, 300 design data.

Claims

1. A design support device that supports creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object, comprising: an input unit that receives shape data of the object and apparatus information related to the manufacturing apparatus; a calculation unit that identifies a first region in the shape data in which the manufacturing apparatus cannot manufacture the object, based on the apparatus information, and creates the design data in which a shape pattern of the first region is corrected; A storage unit that stores a repair pattern that can be manufactured; an output unit that outputs the design data corrected by the calculation unit, The calculation unit is A design support device creates the design data by changing the shape pattern of the first region to the modified pattern.

2. the storage unit stores a plurality of different types of the correction patterns; 2 . The design support device according to claim 1 , wherein the calculation unit changes the correction pattern to the correction pattern having the highest similarity to the shape pattern of the first region, from among the plurality of correction patterns stored in the storage unit.

3. 3. The design support device according to claim 2, wherein the storage section stores a plurality of the correction patterns that are different in at least one of thickness, angle, distance between lines, and color of lines that constitute the patterns.

4. 3. The design support device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit sets a second region that can be manufactured around the first region, reads out from the storage unit the modification pattern that is most similar to the shape pattern of the second region, and changes the shape pattern of the first region using the read modification pattern.

5. 5. The design support device according to claim 4, wherein the calculation unit sets a third region having the highest similarity to the shape pattern of the second region from the shape data, reads out the correction pattern having the highest similarity to the shape pattern of the third region from the storage unit, and changes the shape pattern of the first region using the read correction pattern.

6. the design data includes manufacturing parameters for manufacturing the object by the manufacturing apparatus, 2 . The design support device according to claim 1 , wherein the calculation unit changes the manufacturing parameters to identify the first region, and sets the manufacturing parameters that result in the smallest region.

7. 7. The design support device according to claim 1, wherein the device information includes at least information on a modeling method of the manufacturing device and information on manufacturing conditions under which the modeling method cannot be used.

8. The storage unit stores information on manufacturing conditions under which the manufacturing apparatus cannot manufacture the product for each modeling method, The apparatus information received from the input unit includes at least information on a modeling method of the manufacturing apparatus, 7. The design support device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit reads out the information on the manufacturing conditions from the storage unit based on the device information.

9. The design support device according to claim 7 , wherein the information on the manufacturing conditions includes a criterion for determining that the object requiring the provision of a support member cannot be manufactured.

10. 7. The design support device according to claim 1, wherein the object is an accessory worn by a user.

11. A design support method for supporting creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of: receiving shape data of the object and apparatus information related to the manufacturing apparatus; identifying a first region in the shape data in which the object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus based on the apparatus information; creating the design data by modifying the shape data of the identified first region into a manufacturable modified pattern; and outputting the modified design data.

12. A program executed by a calculation unit of a design support device that supports creation of design data to be input to a manufacturing device that manufactures a three-dimensional object, The program is receiving shape data of the object and apparatus information related to the manufacturing apparatus by an input unit; identifying a first region in the shape data in which the object cannot be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus based on the apparatus information; creating the design data by changing the shape data of the identified first region into a manufacturable modified pattern stored in a storage unit; and outputting the modified design data from an output unit.

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