3D Voxel Representation With Nested Resolution and Material Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D printing technologies face limitations in resolution due to the voxel-based representation, which discards details smaller than the voxel size and requires significant computing resources, whereas representing 3D objects using boundary meshes preserves sharp features but is resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves creating a voxel representation of 3D objects by assigning multiple data types and material types to each voxel, allowing for higher resolution features and material variations, with a computing device comprising modules for specification, merging, assignment, and evaluation to optimize material distribution and meet objectives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a voxel-based representation is used to represent 3D objects, then the resolution is limited by the voxel size and details smaller than the voxel size are discarded, but the computing resources required are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hierarchical voxel structure where each voxel can contain nested sub-voxels or finer detail representations. This allows the model to preserve fine details within the context of a coarser voxel grid, effectively nesting multiple levels of resolution within a single voxel container to overcome the resolution limitation while maintaining computational efficiency at the parent voxel level.
2Ease of manufacture
If a voxel-based representation is used to represent 3D objects, then material distribution can be simplified, but the resolution and detail preservation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different material properties and resolutions to be assigned to different regions of the 3D object. Each voxel can have its own material type and can contain nested structures with varying levels of detail, enabling high-resolution material distribution in critical areas while maintaining lower resolution in less critical areas, thus optimizing both manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture.
3Manufacturing precision
If boundary meshes are used to represent 3D objects, then sharp features are preserved, but the computing resources required are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 3D object into a hierarchical voxel structure where the object is divided into parent voxels that are further divided into child voxels. This segmentation allows sharp features to be preserved by creating finer voxel divisions only in regions where detail is needed, while larger voxels are used in regions with simpler geometry, thus reducing overall computing resources compared to a uniform fine mesh while maintaining sharp feature preservation.
Data Source
AI summary
An example technique for creating a voxel representation of a three dimensional (3-D) object can include obtaining a shape specification of a 3-D object and a number of 3-D objectives. The example technique for creating a voxel representation of the 3-D object can also include creating a voxel representation of the 3-D object by assigning a material type from a number of material types to each voxel of the voxel representation that defines the 3-D object. The example technique creating a voxel representation of a 3-D object can also include evaluating the voxel representation to determine whether the number of objectives are met.