Applying texture patterns to 3D object models
A computing device comprising a controller is disclosed herein. The controller is to receive a virtual build volume defining an arrangement of a 3D object model to be used by a 3D printer to generate a 3D object; identify a portion of a surface of the to be generated 3D object that is expected to exhibit at least one of a set of surface quality defects; and modify the 3D object model by applying at least one texture pattern to a portion of the 3D object model corresponding to the identified portion, the texture pattern to be selected based on the expected at least one surface quality defect, to cause a 3D geometrical modification of the portion that is to at least partially mask the expected surface quality defect of a 3D object generated using the modified 3D object model.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, a virtual build volume defining an arrangement of a 3D object model to be used by a 3D printer to generate a 3D object;
identifying, by the processor, a portion of a surface of the to-be-generated 3D object that is expected to exhibit one or more surface quality defects from a set of surface quality defects;
choosing, by the processor, at least one texture pattern to cause a 3D geometrical modification of the portion that is to at least partially mask the expected one or more surface quality defects of the to-be-generated 3D object by matching the expected one or more surface quality defects to the at least one texture pattern using a look-up-table that matches a set of texture patterns with the set of surface quality defects; and
modifying, by the processor, the 3D object model by applying at the least one texture pattern to a portion of the 3D object model corresponding to the identified portion.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by the processor, at least one visualization of the 3D object to which the at least one texture pattern has been applied to the 3D object model to enable a user to visualize effect of texture application to the 3D object model;
receiving, by the processor, user selection of an acceptable one of the at least one visualization; and
modifying, by the processor, the 3D object model by applying the at least one texture pattern corresponding to the user selection.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the 3D object is expected to exhibit the one or more surface quality defects selected from stair-stepping, linear surface anomalies, voids, bubbles, sinks, fusing anomalies, abraded top, and elephant skin.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying, by the processor, whether the portion of the 3D object is expected to exhibit surface quality defects from a plurality of sets of surface quality defects.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor, post-processing data indicative of a post-processing operation to be performed on the 3D object,
wherein the at least one texture pattern is selected based on the one or more surface quality defects and the post-processing operation.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the one or more surface quality defects include one, or more than one of linear surface anomalies, fusing anomalies, and bubbles,
wherein the at least one texture pattern is selected to have a cross-section comprising a repeating pattern having a length ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm and a height ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the one or more surface quality defects include either or both of stair-stepping and elephant skin,
wherein the at least one texture pattern is selected to have a cross-section comprising a repeating pattern having a length ranging from about 0.3 mm to about 0.6 mm and a height ranging from about 0.3 mm to about 0.8 mm.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the one or more surface quality defects include an abraded top surface quality defect in the portion of the 3D object,
wherein the at least one texture pattern is selected to have a cross-section comprising a repeating pattern having a length ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm and a height ranging from about 0.3 mm to about 0.5 mm.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface quality defects in the portion of the 3D object are determined based on a set of rules to be applied to the arrangement of the 3D object in the virtual build volume.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the portion of the 3D object model comprises a non-horizontal surface; and
determining, by the processor, that the non-horizontal surface is expected to exhibit a stair-stepping surface quality defect based on a thickness of a build material layer and an angle of the non-horizontal surface.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the 3D object model comprises an upper-facing horizontal surface; and
determining, by the processor, that the upper-facing horizontal surface of the 3D object is expected to exhibit an abraded top surface quality defect.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the 3D object model comprises a non-horizontal surface at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane;
comparing, by the processor, the angle with an angle threshold; and
determining, by the processor, that the non-horizontal surface of the 3D object is expected to exhibit a fusing anomalies surface quality defect in a case where the angle exceeds the angle threshold.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
causing, by the processor, the 3D printer to generate the 3D object in accordance with the modified 3D object model.
14 . A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform processing comprising:
receiving a virtual build volume defining an arrangement of a 3D object model to be used by a 3D printer to generate a 3D object;
identifying a portion of a surface of the to-be-generated 3D object that is expected to exhibit a surface quality defect from a set of surface quality defects;
choosing at least one texture pattern to cause a 3D geometrical modification of the portion that is to at least partially mask the expected surface quality defect of the to-be-generated 3D object by matching the expected surface quality defect to the at least one texture pattern using a look-up-table that matches a set of texture patterns with the set of surface quality defects; and
applying the at least one texture pattern to a portion of the 3D object model corresponding to the identified portion.
15 . The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the processing further comprises:
causing the 3D printer to generate the 3D object in accordance with the 3D object model that has been modified via application of the at least one texture pattern.
16 . A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform processing comprising:
receiving a virtual build volume defining an arrangement of a 3D object model to be used by a 3D printer to generate a 3D object;
identifying a portion of a surface of the to-be-generated 3D object that is expected to exhibit a surface defect from a set of surface quality defects;
choosing at least one texture pattern to cause a 3D geometrical modification of the portion that is to at least partially mask the expected surface quality defect of the to-be-generated 3D object by matching the expected surface quality defect to the at least one texture pattern using a look-up-table that matches a set of texture patterns with the set of surface quality defects;
applying the at least one texture pattern to a portion of the 3D object model corresponding to the identified portion; and
causing the 3D printer to generate the 3D object in accordance with the 3D object model that has been modified via application of the at least one texture pattern.
17 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising the 3D printer, wherein the processor and memory are part of the 3D printer.
18 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a computing device separate from the 3D printer,
wherein the processor and memory are part of the 3D printer.
19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising the 3D printer.