Autodesk, Inc.

Holo Limited

Ryan Michael Schmidt

George William Fitzmaurice

Tovi Samuel Grossman

Nobuyuki Umetani

Azam Khan

Maneesh Agrawala

Bjoern Hartmann

Wei Li-Yi

Hsiang-Ting Chen

Justin Frank Matejka

Igor Mordatch

Ramtin Attar

Karl Willis

Jos Stam

Tyson Brochu

Baoxuan Xu

Gordon P Kurtenbach

Fraser Anderson

Richard Martin Greene

Patricio Simari

Andrew O'Shea Sageman-Furnas

Rubaiat Habib

Valkyrie Savage

Anirban Ghosh

Björn Hartmann

Cory Mogk

Daniel Matthew Taub

Saul Greenberg

David Ledo Maira

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for designing and generating a smart object. The technique includes receiving a first input indicating a smart object behavior of a smart object that includes a smart device embedded in a three-dimensional (3D) object; in response to the input, generating computer instructions for the smart device, wherein the computer instructions, when executed by the smart device, cause the smart object to implement the smart object behavior; and transmitting the computer instructions to the smart device.

Techniques for designing interactive objects with integrated smart devices

In one embodiment of the present invention, an escape hole generator creates escapes holes designed to facilitate removal of support and/or unprinted material generated inside enclosed hollows of three-dimensional (3D) digital models during 3D printing. In operation, the escape hole generator identifies a hollow included in the three-dimensional model and then selects optimized locations for escape holes. Notably, the escape hole generator selects the locations to optimize placement heuristics, such as favoring locations closer to the bottom of the 3D model, while satisfying escape hole constraints (e.g., hole size and spacing requirements). The escape hole generator then perforates the hollow at the selected locations with geometries that provide channels from the outer surface of the hollow to the outer surface of the hollow. Advantageously, automating escape hole generation enables efficient creation of hollowed 3D models that reduce 3D printing time and material usage compared to solid 3D model counterparts.

Techniques for automatically placing escape holes during three-dimensional printing

In one embodiment of the present invention, a position-based dynamics (PBD) framework provides realistic modeling and simulation for elastic rods. In particular, the twisting and bending physics of elastic rods is incorporated into the PBD framework. In operation, an elastic rod model generator represents the center line of an elastic rod as a polyline of points connected via edges. For each edge, the elastic rod model generator adds a ghost point to define the orientation of a material frame that encodes the twist of the edge. Subsequently, a PBD simulator solves for positions of both points and ghost points that, together, represent the evolving position and torsion of the elastic rod. Advantageously, the ghost points enable more realistic animation of deformable objects (e.g., curly hair) than conventional PBD frameworks. Further, unlike force based methods, elastic rod simulation in the PBD framework performs acceptably in environments where speed is critical.

Techniques for modeling elastic rods in position-based dynamics frameworks

In one embodiment of the present invention, a print orientation tool efficiently determines an orientation of a three-dimensional (3D) model such that, when 3D printed, the structural integrity of the resulting 3D object is optimized. In operation, the print orientation tool configures a stress analysis engine to slice the 3D model into two-dimensional (2D) cross-sections. The stress analysis engine then compute structural stresses associated with the 2D cross-sections. The print orientation tool translates the structural stresses to weakness metrics. Subsequently, the print orientation tool evaluates the orientations of the cross-sections in conjunction with the corresponding weakness metrics to select a printing orientation that minimizes weaknesses in the 3D model. Advantageously, by aligning the 3D model to the print bed based on the optimized printing orientation, the user mitigates weaknesses in the corresponding 3D object attributable to the 3D printing manufacturing process.

Techniques for optimizing orientation of models for three-dimensional printing

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for creating one or more gradients of different materials for a three dimensional (3D) surface model include, in one aspect, a system including: an additive manufacturing machine designed to use different materials in combination with each other when manufacturing objects; and means for creating a discretized gradient for a 3D surface model of an object, to be manufactured using the additive manufacturing machine, by inserting one or more 3D surfaces into the 3D surface model at specified locations, thereby creating a non-manifold version of the 3D surface model having multiple discrete volumetric regions, and assigning a material specification to each of the discrete volumetric regions, each of the material specifications being either a single one of the different materials or a specified combination of the different materials, which are usable by the additive manufacturing machine to manufacture the object.

Creating gradients of different materials for three-dimensional models in computer aided design applications

A three-dimensional (3D) modeling application is configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) that notifies a user whether a 3D model represents a stable, marginally stable, or unstable object. The 3D modeling application includes a stability module that determines the stability of the object based upon the 3D model. Advantageously, the user may ensure that an object will be stable, before printing the object with a 3D printer.

Evaluating the stability of three-dimensional models

In one embodiment of the present invention, a motion effect generator enables the creation of tangible representations of the motion of three-dimensional (3D) animated models for 3D printing. In operation, the motion effect generator receives a 3D animated model and animates the model through a configurable interval of time. As the motion effect generator animates the model, the motion effect generator applies a motion depiction technique to one or more selected components included in the model&#x2014;explicitly portraying the motion of the 3D animated model as static motion effect geometries. Subsequently, based on the motion effect geometries, the motion effect generator creates a 3D motion sculpture model that is amenable to 3D printing. By automating the design of motion sculpture models, the motion effect generator reduces the time, sculpting expertise, and familiarity with 3D printer fabrication constraints typically required to create motion sculpture models using conventional, primarily manual design techniques.

Techniques for generating motion sculpture models for three-dimensional printing

Techniques for improving flexural strength in 3D-printed object. The techniques generally include identifying a portion of a 3D model corresponding to the 3D-printed object to which one or more support posts should be added and adding support post descriptors to the 3D model within such a portion. The support post descriptor defines a position and at least one dimension of a support post cavity and a position and at least one dimension of a support post, both having a height corresponding to at least two layers of 3D-printable material. The model, including the support post descriptors are transmitted to a 3D printer to print the 3D model, which includes a support post cavity and a support post having a height of at least two layers.

Support posts for improved flexural strength in 3D-printed objects

A system and method are disclosed for manipulating objects within a virtual environment using a software widget. The software widget includes one or more controls for performing surface constrained manipulation operations. A graphical representation of the software widget is superimposed over the object and enables a user to use simple mouse operations to perform the various manipulation operations. The position operation determines an intersection point between the mouse cursor and a surface of a different object and moves the object to the intersection point. The scale operation adjusts the size of the object. The rotate operation adjusts the rotation of the object around a normal vector on the surface of the different object. The twist operation deforms the object along a local z-axis. The orientation operation adjusts the orientation of the object with respect to the normal vector.

Systems and methods for manipulating a 3D object in a 3D model using a software widget and surface constraints

A single model engine for receiving and processing a 3D surface model representing the surface of a 3D object, the 3D surface model comprising at least two distinct surface regions associated with at least two different materials. The single model engine automatically produce a set of interior sheets inside the 3D surface model, the set of interior sheets defining interior boundaries and interior volumes of the different materials for the 3D object. The single model engine combines the 3D surface model with the set of interior sheets to produce a single unified model that represents the surface and interior volumes of the 3D object that comprise a single solid object having at least two different materials. At print time, the single model engine performs an export technique to produce an exportable form of the single unified model that can be received and printed by a 3D printer.

Modeling a three-dimensional object having multiple materials

In one embodiment of the present invention, a stress analysis engine efficiently computes stresses for an arbitrarily shaped three-dimension (3D) model. In operation, the stress analysis engine slices the 3D model into layers of cross-sections. The stress analysis engine then groups the cross-sections into virtual cross-sections. For each virtual cross-section, the stress analysis engine applies bending moment equilibrium-based equations to determine a corresponding structural stress for the 3D model. The efficiency of this stress analysis process enables real-time feedback of stresses to an interactive design tool that facilitates a trial-and-error design process. Using this trial-and-error process reduces the guesswork and/or over-engineering associated with conventional approaches based on finite element methods that are typically too slow for interactive feedback. Consequently, the disclosed cross-sectional stress analysis techniques enable efficient design of 3D models that produce structural robust 3D objects when manufactured by a 3D printer.

Techniques for performing cross-sectional stress analysis for three-dimensional objects

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for smoothing boundaries associated with meshes of primitives. The technique involves receiving a mesh of primitives that has a mesh boundary and an initial surface, identifying a first vertex associated with the mesh boundary and having a first location, and identifying a second vertex having a second location and a third vertex having a third location. Both the second vertex and third vertex are proximate to the first vertex. The technique further involves determining a fourth location based on the second location and the third location, projecting the fourth location onto the initial surface to determine a fifth location, and moving the first vertex to the fifth location.

Mesh boundary smoothing

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating a tube within a three-dimensional (3D) model. The technique involves receiving a first location on a surface of the 3D model. The technique further involves receiving a second location on the surface of the 3D model. The technique further involves receiving at least one constraint associated with a first tube to be generated within the 3D model. The technique further involves generating, based on the at least one constraint, the first tube, where the first tube connects a first opening at the first location with to a second opening at the second location.

Generating tubes within three-dimensional models

Techniques and systems for sub-pixel grayscale three-dimensional (3D) printing are described. A technique includes mapping a 3D digital model onto a 3D grid of voxels associated with a 3D printer; assigning a first intensity level to first voxels that are fully contained within the model, the first intensity level being sufficient to cure photoactive resin during a curing time; determining, based on geometric information provided by the model, containment degrees for second voxels that are partially contained within the model; assigning second intensity levels to the second voxels based respectively on the containment degrees, the second intensity levels being greater than a third intensity level and lesser than the first intensity level; assigning the third intensity level to third voxels that are outside of the model; and generating one or more graphic files based on the first, second, third voxels, and respectively assigned intensity levels.

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Ryan Michael Schmidt