3D Model Displacement Maps for Feature-Rich Fabrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modifying digital 3D models to include representations of features results in significantly increased file sizes, leading to higher storage and processing resource usage.
Innovation Solution
Creating a separate displacement map that encodes the locations and displacements of features to be added to the object, allowing the digital 3D model to remain unmodified, thereby reducing file size and resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the digital 3D model is modified to include representations of features, then the feature information is integrated into the model, but the file size increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the feature representation from the base 3D model by creating a distinct displacement map file. Instead of modifying the model mesh to include features, the displacement map encodes feature information separately, allowing the base model to remain unchanged and compact while feature data is stored in a dedicated auxiliary file.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the feature representation data from the base 3D model structure and stores it separately in a displacement map. This extraction allows the base model to maintain its original compact form while feature information is preserved in a separate, efficiently encoded displacement map file that only stores necessary modification data.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional data points are added to the 3D model to represent features, then the model accuracy is improved, but the processing resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data structure into two separate components: the base 3D model with its original data points and the displacement map with feature-related data points. This segmentation allows processing systems to load only the base model when feature details are not needed, reducing memory usage and processing requirements while maintaining the option to add feature precision when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement map stores only the necessary displacement information for feature representation rather than creating complete geometric representations of all features. This partial action approach provides sufficient manufacturing precision for feature fabrication while avoiding the excessive computational burden of full geometric modeling.
3Loss of information
If the 3D model includes all feature details, then the complete object information is available, but the storage space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts feature detail information from the base model structure and stores it separately in a displacement map file. This extraction enables complete object information to be preserved across two files: the base model containing overall geometry and the displacement map containing feature-specific modifications, thereby maintaining information completeness while optimizing storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing complete feature geometries directly in the model, the patent inverts the approach by storing only the displacement differences needed to create features. This inversion stores minimal data (displacement values) rather than maximal data (complete feature geometries), significantly reducing storage requirements while preserving all necessary information for feature fabrication.
Data Source
AI summary
According to examples, a processor may identify locations on a digital 3D model of an object corresponding to positions at which features are to be added to the object. For each of a plurality of locations of the identified locations, the processor may identify displacements of each of a plurality of patch points around the location from the surface of the digital 3D model. The processor may also create a map of the digital 3D model that encodes the identified displacements of the patch points around the locations, in which a 3D fabrication system is to fabricate the object to include the plurality of features based on the digital 3D model and the created map.