IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,736,946
Granted Patent B2
US 12,736,946 · App. 18/023,363 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Constraint compliance by pores in curved sections

Inventors: Nathan Eric Shirley (Vancouver, WA); Benjamin David Coughlin (Vancouver, WA); Ronnie George Parsons (Portland, OR)
Assignee: PERIDOT PRINT LLC
G05B19/4099G05B2219/49023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,736,946
App. No.
18/023,363
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor that may obtain a digital model of an item to be fabricated by a 3D fabrication system. The digital model may include pores or pores are to be added algorithmically to the digital model and the pores traverse a curved section of the digital model. The processor may identify within the digital model, consecutive pores along the curved section that fail to comply with a predefined constraint, in which the predefined constraint may include an inter-pore distance constraint, an inter-pore cross-sectional area constraint, or a combination thereof. The processor may modify the digital model to remove at least some of the identified pores to cause remaining pores along the curved section to comply with the predefined constraint.

Claims (36)

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored computer-readable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

obtain a digital model of an item to be fabricated by a three-dimensional (3D) fabrication system, wherein either the digital model includes a plurality of pores traversing a curved section of the digital model having inner and outer surfaces, or the digital model is to be processed to add the plurality of pores;

identify a central portion of the curved section extending centrally between the inner and outer surfaces;

determine locations at which consecutive pores along the curved section intersect with the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion;

identify, within the digital model, the consecutive pores that fail to comply with a predefined constraint based on the determined locations, wherein the predefined constraint comprises an inter-pore distance constraint, an inter-pore cross-sectional area constraint, or a combination thereof;

modify the digital model to remove at least some of the identified pores to cause remaining pores along the curved section to comply with the predefined constraint; and

cause the 3D fabrication system to fabricate the item in accordance with the modified digital model.

2 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the processor to:

modify the digital model to move some of the remaining pores to cause distances between the remaining pores to be averaged with respect to each other.

3 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein identification of the consecutive pores that fail to comply with the predefined constraint includes:

identifying some of the consecutive pores along the curved section that fail to comply with the predefined constraint based on the determined locations at which the consecutive pores intersect with one of the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion.

4 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein identification of the consecutive pores that fail to comply with the predefined constraint further includes:

identifying other of the consecutive pores along the curved section that fail to comply with the predefined constraint based on the determined locations at which the consecutive pores intersect with another one of the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion.

5 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 , wherein identification of the consecutive pores that fail to comply with the predefined constraint further includes:

identifying still other of the consecutive pores along the curved section that fail to comply with the predefined constraint based on the determined locations at which the consecutive pores intersect with a last one of the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion.

6 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein causing the 3D fabrication system to fabricate the item in accordance with the modified digital model includes:

sending the modified digital model to the 3D fabrication system.

7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the item to be fabricated comprises a forming mold, a forming screen for the forming mold, a transfer mold, a transport screen, or a combination thereof.

8 . A method comprising:

obtaining, by a processor, a digital model of an item to be fabricated by a three-dimensional (3D) fabrication system, wherein either the digital model includes a plurality of pores traversing a curved section of the digital model having inner and outer surfaces, or the digital model is to be processed to add the plurality of pores;

identifying, by the processor, a central portion of the curved section extending centrally between the inner and outer surfaces;

determining, by the processor, locations at which consecutive pores along the curved section intersect with the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion;

identifying, by the processor and within the digital model, the consecutive pores that fail to comply with a predefined constraint based on the determined locations, wherein the predefined constraint comprises an inter-pore distance constraint, an inter-pore cross-sectional area constraint, or a combination thereof;

modifying, by the processor, the digital model to remove at least some of the identified pores to cause remaining pores along the curved section to comply with the predefined constraint; and

causing, by the processor, the 3D fabrication system to fabricate the item in accordance with the modified digital model.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

modifying, by the processor, the digital model to move some of the remaining pores to cause distances between the remaining pores to be averaged with respect to each other.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein identifying the consecutive pores that fail to comply with the predefined constraint includes:

identifying some of the consecutive pores along the curved section that fail to comply with the predefined constraint based on the determined locations at which the consecutive pores intersect with one of the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein identifying the consecutive pores that fail to comply with the predefined constraint further includes:

identifying other of the consecutive pores along the curved section that fail to comply with the predefined constraint based on the determined locations at which the consecutive pores intersect with another one of the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying the consecutive pores that fail to comply with the predefined constraint further includes:

identifying still other of the consecutive pores along the curved section that fail to comply with the predefined constraint based on the determined locations at which the consecutive pores intersect with a last one of the inner and outer surfaces and the central portion.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein causing the 3D fabrication system to fabricate the item in accordance with the modified digital model includes:

sending the modified digital model to the 3D fabrication system.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the item to be fabricated comprises a forming mold, a forming screen for the forming mold, a transfer mold, a transport screen, or a combination thereof.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2025
From: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
To: PERIDOT PRINT LLC
Reel/Frame 070187/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2023
From: SHIRLEY, NATHAN ERIC; COUGHLIN, BENJAMIN DAVID; PARSONS, RONNIE GEORGE
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 062804/0257 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230305524A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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