Method and apparatus for adding detail to a 3D solid model using a secondary geometric representation

1. A system for detailing a graphical 3D solid model of an article displayed to a user, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface device configured to receive input from a user and transmit the input to a computer, the computer comprising a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and/or a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU);

a memory for use with the computer, the memory comprising computer software configured to:

(a) identify a region of the 3D solid model of the article where detail is to be added, according to user input;

(b) create a secondary geometric representation based on the identified region in (a), wherein the secondary geometric representation is a voxel-based representation;

(c) add detail to the secondary geometric representation according to user input, wherein the addition of detail comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of embossing, debossing, carving, acquiring, and/or adding 3D data, and texture mapping;

(d) create a new surface by sampling the detailed secondary geometric representation at a sub-voxel resolution, wherein creation of the new surface is controlled with one or more of the following: (i) a level of smoothing of the secondary geometry; (ii) a number of split tiles for a trimmed region; and/or (iii) an amount of voxel oversampling within each of the split tiles; and

(e) integrate the new surface in (d) into the 3D solid model using the region identified in (a), thereby producing a detailed 3D solid model; and

a video display configured to graphically display the detailed 3D solid model to the user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the region where detail is to be added comprises a surface face.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a curve defines at least one of the secondary geometric representation, the detail to be added to the region, and a boundary of the region where detail is to be added.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the new surface created by sampling the geometric representation comprises a NURBS surface.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the memory comprises computer software to derive a location and surface normal at a sub-voxel resolutions for the NURBS surface.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises computer software to oversample and smooth the secondary representation, thereby minimizing ripple patterns.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises computer software to create the new surface through the use of a convolution algorithm.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises computer software to simulate the new surface with a mirrored surface, thereby highlighting small variations and ripples.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises computer software to transfer the detail to the article, wherein the article is a manufacturing article.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the manufacturing article is a mold.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is at least one of a joystick, a keyboard, a stylus, a roller ball, a touch screen, and/or a tablet.