3D Font Character Connections for Durable Custom 3D Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3D-printing technologies face challenges in creating structurally stable and durable customized products with custom text or symbols, as designing and verifying each customized design is costly and time-consuming, and there is a need for automatic creation of reliable connections between characters.

Innovation Solution

The development of 3D-fonts that determine the minimum threshold of material needed for connections between characters based on mechanical characteristics, allowing for the generation of 3D-representations that can be printed directly, enabling the creation of customizable, on-demand products that are structurally stable and durable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If 3D-printing is used to create customized products with custom text or symbols, then product customization and versatility are improved, but structural stability and durability of connections between characters deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct customizationVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining material thresholds and connection parameters specifically for different regions between characters. The system calculates minimum material thresholds for connections based on local mechanical requirements, ensuring each connection has adequate structural stability while maintaining overall customization capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by dynamically adjusting material thresholds, connection geometries, and structural parameters based on the specific customization requirements. The system modifies connection parameters automatically to ensure structural stability while accommodating various custom text and symbol designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If manual design and verification of each customized design is performed, then structural stability is improved, but production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically determine material thresholds, calculate connection parameters, and generate structurally stable designs without manual intervention. The automated system performs verification and optimization of connections between characters, eliminating the need for manual design and verification while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical design processes with automated computational methods. The system uses algorithms to calculate minimum material thresholds and optimize connection structures, substituting manual engineering judgment with automated mechanical computations that ensure structural stability while dramatically reducing production time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If material amount for connections is increased, then structural stability is improved, but material usage and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by determining the minimum necessary material threshold for each connection rather than using excessive material throughout. The system calculates precise material requirements for connections between characters, applying just enough material to achieve structural stability without waste, optimizing the balance between reliability and material usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3113011B13D fonts for automation of design for manufacturing
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 DASSAULT SYSTEMES SA
  • EP3113011B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3113011B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3113011B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Customized 3D-printing can provide users with customized products, but need to be verified for quality and durability. In an embodiment, a method for three-dimensional (3D)-printing a customized product includes loading a 3D-font from a database. The 3D font includes multiple character relations. Each character relation connects any two given characters of the 3D font. The method also includes generating a 3D-representation of a customized product based on the 3D-font. The customized product is based on a plurality of characters received from a user. A 3D-font as described herein can provide customized, on-demand, 3D-printed products of a particular threshold of quality and durability.