Digital Ellipsoid Packing for Curved Surface Feature Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer-aided design (CAD) tools face challenges in determining feature locations on curved surfaces, leading to distorted patterns and uneven spacing, which can result in features not functioning as intended.
Innovation Solution
A processor packs digital ellipsoids onto a digital model's surface, determining their spacing and diameters based on the surface's curvature to accurately place features such as holes or protrusions, ensuring even spacing and appropriate density for intended functions like fluid filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If CAD tools cut seams into an exterior surface or stretch a pattern over a curved surface, then features can be placed on the surface, but the pattern becomes distorted and spacing becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical geometry principles by projecting feature locations from a spherical pattern onto the target surface. Digital ellipsoids are used to represent feature locations on the curved surface, maintaining proper spacing by accounting for the surface curvature rather than treating it as a flat plane. This resolves the distortion issue by adapting the pattern placement method to the actual curved geometry of the surface.
2Productivity
If features are placed on curved surfaces using traditional methods, then some features can be formed, but spacing becomes uneven and features may not function as intended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pattern stretching methods with a computational geometry approach. Instead of physically stretching a 2D pattern over a 3D surface, the system uses digital ellipsoids and spherical projection algorithms to calculate precise feature locations that account for surface curvature. This substitution ensures both productivity and reliability by maintaining accurate spacing while enabling feature formation on complex curved surfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flat surface pattern is stretched over a curved surface, then the pattern can be applied, but distortions occur around curved areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of pattern placement by transitioning from 2D Cartesian coordinates to 3D spherical and ellipsoidal coordinates. This parameter transformation allows the pattern to adapt to curved surfaces while maintaining accurate spacing, as the calculation method inherently accounts for curvature effects that cause distortion in traditional flat-surface approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor that may access a digital model of an item to be fabricated to have a plurality of features, in which the digital model may include a surface. The processor may pack a plurality of digital ellipsoids to intersect the surface of the digital model of the item, in which the plurality of digital ellipsoids are arranged with respect to each other based on a curvature of the surface. The processor may also determine locations on the surface at which the plurality of digital ellipsoids intersect the surface and may set the determined locations as points on the surface at which the plurality of features are to be formed.