Systems and Methods for Preparing a Virtual Three-Dimensional (3D) Object for 3D Printing

1 . A computer-implemented method for printing a 3D object based on a virtual three dimensional (3D) object, the method comprising:

receiving a model of a solid 3D object, the model including a shell and an internal volume that is a void;

meshing the internal volume to generate a polygonal mesh representation of the internal volume, wherein a density of edges in the polygonal mesh representation is controlled based on a stress analysis for the model;

generating a lattice microstructure corresponding to the polygonal mesh representation, wherein the lattice microstructure includes solid parts for the edges of the polygonal mesh; and

generating a lightweight representation for the solid 3D object, the lightweight representation comprising the shell and the lattice microstructure.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending the lightweight representation to a 3D printer for creating the solid 3D object.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the model is based on a computer-aided design (CAD) model for a physical object.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the model comprises a closed triangle mesh.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

offsetting the closed triangle mesh by a predetermined distance to generate an offset model; and

determining an intersection between the closed triangle mesh and the offset model, wherein the shell and the internal volume are represented based on the intersection.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of one or more faces or triangles of the model; and

generating a display for the 3D object based on the model, wherein the display does not include the selected one or more faces or triangles.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein one of the solid parts of the lattice microstructure comprises a cylinder.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a density of edges in an area of the model is directly related to an amount of stress based on the stress analysis.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the generating of the lattice microstructure comprises:

controlling one or more dimensions of the solid parts of the lattice microstructure based on the stress analysis for the model.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein a radius of a cylinder or cone in an area of the model is directly related to an amount of stress based on the stress analysis.

11 . A system for preparing a virtual 3D object for 3D printing, the system comprising:

a processing system; and

computer-readable memory in communication with the processing system encoded with instructions for commanding the processing system to execute steps comprising:

receiving a model of a solid 3D object, the model including a shell and an internal volume that is a void;

meshing the internal volume to generate a polygonal mesh representation of the internal volume, wherein a density of edges in the polygonal mesh representation is controlled based on a stress analysis for the model;

generating a lattice microstructure corresponding to the polygonal mesh representation, wherein the lattice microstructure includes solid parts for the edges of the polygonal mesh; and

generating a lightweight representation for the solid 3D object, the lightweight representation comprising the shell and the lattice microstructure.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

sending the lightweight representation to a 3D printer for creating the solid 3D object.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the model is based on a computer-aided design (CAD) model for a physical object.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the model comprises a closed triangle mesh.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

offsetting the closed triangle mesh by a predetermined distance to generate an offset model; and

determining an intersection between the closed triangle mesh and the offset model, wherein the shell and the internal volume are represented based on the intersection.

16 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of one or more faces or triangles of the model; and

generating a display for the 3D object based on the model, wherein the display does not include the selected one or more faces or triangles.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein one of the solid parts of the lattice microstructure comprises a cylinder.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a density of edges in an area of the model is directly related to an amount of stress based on the stress analysis.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the generating of the lattice microstructure comprises:

controlling one or more dimensions of the solid parts of the lattice microstructure based on the stress analysis for the model.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for preparing a virtual 3D object for 3D printing, the computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed, cause a processing system to execute steps comprising:

receiving a model of a solid 3D object, the model including a shell and an internal volume that is a void;

meshing the internal volume to generate a polygonal mesh representation of the internal volume, wherein a density of edges in the polygonal mesh representation is controlled based on a stress analysis for the model;

generating a lattice microstructure corresponding to the polygonal mesh representation, wherein the lattice microstructure includes solid parts for the edges of the polygonal mesh; and

generating a lightweight representation for the solid 3D object, the lightweight representation comprising the shell and the lattice microstructure.