Method for creating three dimensional lattice structures in computer-aided design models for additive manufacturing
View Patent ↗Methods for creating three dimensional lattice structures in computer-aided design models. A method includes receiving a solid model containing a plurality of boundary surfaces for a void region, computing a bounding box of the solid model and a plurality of grid points on an axis-aligned grid within the bounding box, creating a lattice cell layout for a lattice structure within the void region, computing an implicit model defined by a scalar value for each of the grid points on the axis-aligned grid, extracting the lattice structure in the solid model based on the implicit model.
1. A method for creating three dimensional lattice structures in computer-aided design models and comprising:
receiving a solid model containing a plurality of boundary surfaces for a void region;
computing a bounding box of the solid model and a plurality of grid points on an axis-aligned grid within the bounding box;
creating a lattice cell layout for a lattice structure within the void region;
computing an implicit model defined by a scalar value for each of the grid points on the axis-aligned grid, wherein the scalar value for each grid point is determined by:
calculating a surface distance based on a minimum distance for the grid point to the plurality of boundary surfaces;
calculating a lattice distance based on the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice structure; and
setting the scalar value based on a lesser of the surface distance and the lattice distance;
extracting the lattice structure in the solid model based on the implicit model; and
manufacturing the extracted lattice structure.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the surface distance comprises subtracting a surface thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the plurality of boundary surfaces when hollowing is required.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface distance is based on the minimum distance for the grid point to a hollowed surface when a variable thickness is applied to the solid model.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the lattice distance comprises subtracting a lattice thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice cell layout.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lattice structure comprises a lattice cell template applied at each lattice cell in the lattice cell layout.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein calculating the lattice distance comprises subtracting a lattice thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice cell template.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein lattice distance is compared to the minimum distance for the grid point to a lattice cell template of neighboring lattice cells when the grid point lies on an edge or vertex of the lattice cell.
8. A data processing system comprising:
a processor; and
an accessible memory, the data processing system particularly configured to:
receive a solid model containing a plurality of boundary surfaces for a void region;
compute a bounding box of the solid model and a plurality of grid points on an axis-aligned grid within the bounding box;
create a lattice cell layout for a lattice structure within the void region;
compute an implicit model defined by a scalar value for each of the grid points on the axis-aligned grid, wherein the scalar value for each grid point is determined by:
calculating a surface distance based on a minimum distance for the grid point to the plurality of boundary surfaces;
calculating a lattice distance based on the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice structure; and
setting the scalar value based on a lesser of the surface distance and the lattice distance;
extract the lattice structure in the solid model based on the implicit model; and
manufacture the extracted lattice structure.
9. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein calculating the surface distance comprises subtracting a surface thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the plurality of boundary surfaces when hollowing is required.
10. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the surface distance is based on the minimum distance for the grid point to a hollowed surface when a variable thickness is applied to the solid model.
11. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein calculating the lattice distance comprises subtracting a lattice thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice cell layout.
12. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the lattice structure comprises a lattice cell template applied at each lattice cell in the lattice cell layout.
13. The data processing system of claim 12 , wherein calculating the lattice distance comprises subtracting a lattice thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice cell template.
14. The data processing system of claim 13 , wherein lattice distance is compared to the minimum distance for the grid point to a lattice cell template of neighboring lattice cells when the grid point lies on an edge or vertex of the lattice cell.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more data processing systems to:
receive a solid model containing a plurality of boundary surfaces for a void region;
compute a bounding box of the solid model and a plurality of grid points on an axis-aligned grid within the bounding box;
create a lattice cell layout for a lattice structure within the void region;
compute an implicit model defined by a scalar value for each of the grid points on the axis-aligned grid, wherein the scalar value for each grid point is determined by:
calculating a surface distance based on a minimum distance for the grid point to the plurality of boundary surfaces;
calculating a lattice distance based on the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice structure; and
setting the scalar value based on a lesser of the surface distance and the lattice distance;
extract the lattice structure in the solid model based on the implicit model; and
manufacture the extracted lattice structure.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein calculating the surface distance comprises subtracting a surface thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the plurality of boundary surfaces when hollowing is required.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the surface distance is based on the minimum distance for the grid point to a hollowed surface when a variable thickness is applied to the solid model.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein calculating the lattice distance comprises subtracting a lattice thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice cell layout.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the lattice structure comprises a lattice cell template applied at each lattice cell in the lattice cell layout.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein calculating the lattice distance comprises subtracting a lattice thickness from the minimum distance for the grid point to the lattice cell template.