3D Printing Material Volume Coverage for Property Variation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3D printing technologies face challenges in producing objects with a wide variety of properties such as material properties, mechanical properties, color, detail, flexibility, roughness, conductivity, and magnetism, and lack the flexibility to efficiently vary these properties based on a common object model or modify production parameters for iterative improvements.

Innovation Solution

The approach decouples material composition and spatial structure by using a material volume coverage representation, allowing for independent specification of variations through probabilistic distribution of materials and applying different structure forming components to different parts of the object, generating control data for discrete material arrangement in three-dimensional space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional 3D printing methods are used to produce objects with diverse properties, then the variety of object properties (material, mechanical, color, etc.) is limited, but the process complexity and time required to modify production parameters for iterative improvements increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety of object propertiesVSAvoidtime for iterative improvements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the production process by decoupling material composition specification from spatial structure formation. Material composition is defined independently using material volume coverage vectors, while spatial structure is handled separately through structure forming components. This segmentation allows independent optimization and modification of each aspect without affecting the other, enabling rapid iterative improvements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic flexibility by allowing material composition and spatial structure to be independently specified and modified. The material volume coverage representation and structure forming components can be adjusted dynamically based on testing results, enabling adaptive optimization of object properties without restarting the entire production process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If material composition and spatial structure are coupled in traditional 3D printing, then the production process is simpler, but the flexibility to independently specify variations in material properties and spatial arrangements is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent specification of variationsVSAvoidproduction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the production process into two independent segments: material composition specification (using material volume coverage vectors) and spatial structure formation (using structure forming components). This decoupling allows each segment to be optimized and modified independently, increasing flexibility without requiring complex interactions between material and structure definitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary representation layer (material volume coverage vectors and structure forming components) that mediates between the object model and the physical production process. This intermediary layer allows independent specification of material properties and spatial arrangements, providing flexibility while maintaining a structured production workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If a fixed production process is used for 3D printing, then the manufacturing process is more efficient and consistent, but the ability to modify production parameters for iterative improvements is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidflexibility to modify production parameters

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic production system where material composition and spatial structure can be independently adjusted based on feedback from testing and examination. The material volume coverage vectors and structure forming components can be modified without changing the fundamental production process, allowing iterative improvements while maintaining production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables independent modification of material composition parameters (through material volume coverage vectors) and spatial structure parameters (through structure forming components). This parameter independence allows selective adjustment of specific properties without affecting the entire production process, maintaining efficiency while enabling flexibility for iterative improvements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10528033B2Structure forming for a three-dimensional object

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 PERIDOT PRINT LLC

AI summary

Certain examples described herein relate to structure forming for the production of a three-dimensional object. In these examples, different structure forming components or functions are applied to volumes of a three-dimensional object. These structure forming components or functions are arranged to differentially generate a halftone output. The halftone output is generated by processing a material volume coverage representation for the three-dimensional object. The halftone output is used to provide control data for instructing production of a three-dimensional object.