3D Printing Property Mapping for Sub-Volume Material Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current additive manufacturing techniques lack the ability to precisely control and set various properties of three-dimensional objects, such as color, transparency, strength, and conductivity, across different sub-volumes of a 3D object, limiting the complexity and accuracy of generated objects.

Innovation Solution

The method involves processing data to define material volume coverage and using halftoning techniques to determine the application of print materials, allowing for the precise control of properties like color, transparency, and mechanical properties by specifying the percentage of regions to apply agents, and using a processor to set property data for individual sub-volumes, enabling the production of objects with specified characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional additive manufacturing techniques are used to generate three-dimensional objects, then objects can be produced with basic structural properties, but the ability to precisely control and set various properties (color, transparency, strength, conductivity) across different sub-volumes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproperty control precisionVSAvoidproperty variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The three-dimensional object is divided into multiple sub-volumes, with each sub-volume assigned specific property data. This segmentation allows different regions to have different material properties (color, transparency, strength, conductivity) independently controlled, resolving the contradiction between precision control and property variety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning specific material properties to individual sub-volumes based on their spatial location. Each sub-volume can have customized properties such as color, transparency, strength, or conductivity, enabling precise local control while maintaining overall object integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If halftoning techniques are used to determine print material application, then precise control of properties like color and transparency is achieved, but the complexity of the printing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproperty specification accuracyVSAvoidprinting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating the halftoning patterns and determining exactly which sub-volumes require specific print materials before the actual printing process. This pre-planning reduces real-time decision complexity during printing while maintaining high property specification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that converts desired property specifications into concrete print material instructions. This intermediary layer (the property data setting module) mediates between the high-level property requirements and the low-level printing operations, managing complexity systematically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If property data is set for individual sub-volumes to achieve arbitrary object properties, then object versatility and precision are enhanced, but the data processing and material determination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject property arbitrarinessVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent manages data processing complexity by systematically varying parameters (property types, sub-volume locations, material selections) in a structured manner. The system handles arbitrary property combinations through standardized parameter management rather than ad-hoc processing, reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11320802B2Method for setting printing properties of a three-dimensional object for additive manufacturing process

Publication Date: 2022.05.03 PERIDOT PRINT LLC

AI summary

A method is described in which data representing a three-dimensional object to be printed is obtained. The data comprises sub-volumes representing the three-dimensional object. A characteristic for the three-dimensional object to be printed is identified. Based on the identified characteristic, property data is set for individual sub-volumes to be used in printing the three-dimensional object. The identified characteristic is a function of the property data. The property data comprises material property data, structural property data and printing property data.