Xerox Corporation

Matt Patterson

Robert Roy Price

Morad Behandish

Christoforos Somarakis

Svyatoslav Korneev

Adrian Lew

Eli Wilson

Brendan Mcnamara

Amirmassoud Mirzendehdel

Qian Ye

Jiangce Chen

This disclosure teaches techniques, devices, and systems for automatically modifying a 3-Dimensional (3D) object model. The apparatus comprising a memory and a processing device coupled to the memory. The processor and the memory are configured to obtain an input 3D object model comprising an input 3D mesh, analyze the input 3D mesh to identify unprintable overhangs that have an angle over an overhang angle limit and identify vertices associated with the unprintable overhangs as active vertices, and perform an optimization process to move the active vertices to eliminate the unprintable overhangs and generate a modified 3D mesh. The optimization process includes a gradient descent search algorithm performed on an objective function comprising a cost function configured to minimize a difference between the input 3D mesh and the modified 3D mesh subject to an overhang constraint related to the overhang angle limit.

Shape modification for self-supporting structures in additive manufacturing

Image processing techniques for determining print quality for a 3D printer are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining an image of material jetted from a nozzle of the 3D printer. The method also includes binarizing the image to distinguish background features from foreground features contained in the image. The method also includes determining, by a processing device, a jetting quality based on the binarized image.

Techniques for binarizing images to determine jetting quality in additive manufacturing

Techniques for determining print quality for a 3D printer are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining an image of a stream of material jetted from a nozzle of the 3D printer, and binarizing the image to distinguish background features from foreground features contained in the image. The method also includes identifying elements of jetted material in the foreground features, and computing statistical data characterizing the identified elements. The method also includes generating a quality score of jetting quality based on the statistical data and controlling the 3D printer based on the quality score. The quality score indicates a degree to which the elements of jetted material form droplets of a same size, shape, alignment, and jetting frequency.

Image processing techniques for jetting quality classification in additive manufacturing

The present disclosure provides techniques for automatically modifying shape features related to overhangs such that support structures can be reduced or avoided. In an example, a shape modification processing device may obtain an initial shape and relevant production information (e.g., overhang angle threshold). The shape modification processing device may modify the shape to improve various aspects of production, including reduction or removal of the need for support materials or structures during additive manufacturing, with considerations that allow the modified portion (e.g., added features) be accessible for removal by subtractive manufacturing. For example, the shape modification processing device may modify a model to reduce or remove support structures needed during production. The added features may later be removed by subtractive manufacturing to restore any functional or desired shape.

Modifying shape based on level set representation to reduce support in additive manufacturing

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Matt Patterson