AUGMENTED THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
A variety of techniques are disclosed for visual and functional augmentation of a three-dimensional printer.
1 . A device comprising:
a three-dimensional printer having a working volume;
one or more spatial sensors configured to capture data from an object placed within the working volume;
a first processor configured to convert the data into a digital model of the object;
a second processor configured to operate the three-dimensional printer to fabricate a geometrically related object within the working volume based upon the digital model.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the first processor and the second processor are the same processor.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the geometrically related object is a three-dimensional copy of the object.
4 . The device of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional copy of the object is a scaled copy.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the geometrically related object includes material to enclose a portion of the object.
6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the geometrically related object includes a mating surface to the object.
7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the first processor obtains the digital model using shape from motion.
8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more spatial sensors include a plurality of cameras positioned to provide coverage of different surfaces of the object within the working volume.
9 . The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more spatial sensors include a single camera configured to navigate around the working volume.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more spatial sensors include one or more articulating mirrors.
11 . The device of claim 1 further comprising controllable lighting.
12 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a computer automated design environment to view the digital model.
13 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a computer automated design environment to modify the digital model.
14 . A method comprising:
placing an object in a working volume of a three-dimensional printer;
capturing a three-dimensional image of the object, thereby providing a digital model;
generating tool instructions to fabricate a second object geometrically related to the object with the three-dimensional printer; and
controlling the three-dimensional printer with the tool instructions to fabricate the second object.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the second object is a three-dimensional copy of the object.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the second object is shaped and sized to enclose a portion of the object.
17 . The method of claim 14 wherein the second object includes a mating surface for mechanically coupling to the object.
18 . The method of claim 14 wherein capturing a three-dimensional image of the object includes:
capturing a plurality of images of the object with a plurality of cameras positioned to provide coverage of different surfaces of the object within the working volume; and
processing the plurality of images to obtain the digital model.
19 . The method of claim 14 wherein capturing a three-dimensional image of the object includes:
capturing a plurality of images of the object from a plurality of poses with a single camera configured to navigate around the working volume; and
processing the plurality of images to obtain the digital model.
20 . The method of claim 14 wherein capturing a three-dimensional image of the object includes:
capturing a plurality of images of the object from a plurality of poses with a single camera using one or more articulating mirrors; and
processing the plurality of images to obtain the digital model.