3D Printing Voxel Control for Internal Structure Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of three-dimensional object forming apparatuses face a high load in determining the internal structure of objects due to varying requirements such as strength and liquid amount, which changes the internal structure even for identical external shapes, necessitating manual adjustment of both shape and structure.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional object forming apparatus that uses a head unit to discharge liquid, a curing unit to form dots, and a forming control unit to control the formation of three-dimensional objects as aggregates of dots, where the internal structure is determined by comparing a forming index value with thresholds of a dither mask, allowing for automatic adjustment of internal structure based on changing requirements without increasing the user's load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the internal structure is manually determined based on varying requirements, then the strength and liquid amount can be optimized, but the user's operation load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit automatically determines the internal structure by comparing the forming index value with dither mask thresholds, enabling the system to self-adjust the internal structure based on requirements without user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system perform the complex determination task autonomously while maintaining optimized strength and liquid amount control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the internal structure is changed to meet varying requirements, then the strength and liquid amount can be optimized, but the complexity of determining internal structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit uses parameter comparison (forming index value versus dither mask thresholds) to automatically adapt the internal structure to varying requirements. By changing the forming index value based on different requirements, the system achieves high adaptability through a simple parameter-based mechanism rather than complex structural design, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and determination complexity.
3Strength
If more dots are formed to increase strength, then the strength of the three-dimensional object improves, but the liquid amount and formation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit applies local quality by selectively forming dots only in specific voxels where the forming index value exceeds the dither mask threshold, rather than uniformly distributing dots throughout the object. This localized dot formation achieves the necessary strength at critical locations while minimizing the total liquid amount and formation time, resolving the contradiction between strength and quantity of substance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the automatic determination of internal structure based on forming index values, reducing the user's load and enabling flexible adjustment of internal structure to meet changing requirements without manual intervention, while also reducing the liquid amount and time needed for object formation.
Implementation Method 1
a curing unit that cures the liquid discharged from the head unit, and forms a dot
Data Source
AI summary
A three-dimensional object forming apparatus includes: a head unit; a curing unit that cures the liquid discharged from the head unit, and forms a dot; and a forming control unit that controls an operation of the head unit such that a three-dimensional object is formed as an aggregate of dots by representing a shape of the three-dimensional object to be formed as a voxel-set and forming a dot in a voxel of the voxel-set which is determined as a target in which the dot is formed by a determination unit. The determination unit determines a target voxel in which a dot is formed depending on a result of comparing a forming index value which is a value depending on a dot forming rate in a voxel of the voxel-set which is positioned on an inside of the three-dimensional object with a threshold of a dither mask.