18032289. GENERATING CONFORMAL STRUCTURES FOR 3D OBJECT MODELS simplified abstract (Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.)
GENERATING CONFORMAL STRUCTURES FOR 3D OBJECT MODELS
Organization Name
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Inventor(s)
Nicholas Saunders of Vancouver WA (US)
David Woodlock of Vancouver WA (US)
James Mccutcheon of Vancouver WA (US)
GENERATING CONFORMAL STRUCTURES FOR 3D OBJECT MODELS - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18032289 titled 'GENERATING CONFORMAL STRUCTURES FOR 3D OBJECT MODELS
Simplified Explanation
The patent application describes a method for generating a conformal structure using seed points and spherical cells. The method involves creating a bottom and top surface for the structure, placing seed points on either surface, and expanding these points into spherical cells. The cell boundaries form walls that are perpendicular to the surfaces and intersect with neighboring cells. The walls are then intersected with the top and bottom surfaces as the cells expand vertically. The resulting conformal structure can be applied to a 3D object model for fabrication using additive manufacturing.
- Method involves generating a conformal structure using seed points and spherical cells.
- Seed points are positioned on a seed surface (bottom or top surface).
- Seed points expand into spherical cells with walls perpendicular to the surfaces.
- Walls intersect with neighboring cell boundaries.
- Walls are intersected with the top and bottom surfaces as cells expand vertically.
- Conformal structure can be applied to a 3D object model for fabrication using additive manufacturing.
Potential Applications
- Additive manufacturing
- Fabrication of complex structures
- Customized product design
Problems Solved
- Generating conformal structures efficiently
- Creating complex structures with additive manufacturing
- Customizing product design for individual needs
Benefits
- Efficient and precise generation of conformal structures
- Ability to fabricate complex structures using additive manufacturing
- Customization of product design for specific requirements
Original Abstract Submitted
In an example implementation, a method of generating a conformal structure, includes generating a bottom surface and a top surface of a conformal structure, positioning seed points on a seed surface, where the seed surface comprises the bottom surface or the top surface, and expanding the seed points as spherical cells whose cell boundaries form walls perpendicular to the surfaces as the cell boundaries intersect with cell boundaries of neighboring spherical cells. The method includes intersecting the walls with the top surface as the cells expand vertically upward from the seed surface and intersecting the walls with the bottom surface as the cells expand vertically downward from the seed surface, and applying the conformal structure to a 3D object model for fabrication in an additive manufacturing device.