3D Printing Virtual Game Characters with Thickness Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Videogames lack a physical component for players to interact with virtual objects, and custom virtual objects cannot be easily brought into the real world, with pre-packaged toys not allowing for easy modification to reflect in-game customizations.
Innovation Solution
A method using a processor to create a physical substantiation of a videogame character by receiving visual appearance selections, generating a virtual model, determining and increasing the thickness of model portions below a minimum width, and using a 3-D printer to create a physical representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a virtual model is created with high visual fidelity to match in-game customizations, then the visual appearance accuracy is improved, but the manufacturability of the physical object deteriorates due to thin portions that cannot be properly 3-D printed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the virtual model to identify thin portions before manufacturing, and pre-adjusts their thickness to meet minimum manufacturable dimensions. This prevents manufacturing failures before they occur by proactively modifying the design to ensure compatibility with 3-D printing constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically modifies geometric parameters of thin portions by increasing their thickness to meet minimum manufacturable dimensions. This parameter adjustment maintains the overall design intent while ensuring the model can be successfully manufactured through 3-D printing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If players are allowed to create highly customized virtual objects with complex features, then the adaptability and customization options are improved, but the ability to physically realize these objects deteriorates due to features that are difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The system analyzes custom virtual models before manufacturing to identify portions with thickness below minimum requirements, and automatically adjusts these portions to meet manufacturable dimensions. This preliminary intervention preserves player customization while ensuring physical realizability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies thickness adjustments only to specific portions of the model that are too thin, rather than uniformly scaling the entire object. This localized modification preserves the overall customization and design intent while addressing only the specific manufacturability issues.
3Measurement precision
If the virtual model maintains exact geometric fidelity to player selections, then the representation accuracy is improved, but the 3-D printing success rate deteriorates due to insufficient wall thickness in certain areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a pre-manufacturing analysis to identify thin portions that would cause printing failures, and adjusts their thickness before the 3-D printing process. This preliminary correction maintains high representation accuracy for visible features while ensuring structural integrity for manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A user may create a customized virtual game character and the customized virtual game character may be physically substantiated. In some embodiments the virtual game character is physically substantiated by making a toy in the form of the virtual game character, which in some embodiments has computer readable information regarding the virtual game character. In some embodiments the toy is made by way of 3-D printing. In various embodiments portions of the toy which may be considered too thin for 3-D printing are expanded. In some embodiments internal ambient occlusion information is used in determining if a portion is too thin.