Method and system for generating and printing three dimensional barcodes
Systems and methods for printing a three-dimensional object containing information embedded as three-dimensional physical representations are disclosed. The methods include receiving information to be embedded in the three-dimensional object, determining a mapping between the received information and a plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object, generating a build sequence that will cause the three-dimensional printing device to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations in accordance with the mapping. The three-dimensional printing device uses the build sequence to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
1. A method for printing a three-dimensional object containing information embedded as three-dimensional physical representations, the method comprising, by a processor:
receiving information to be embedded in the three-dimensional object;
determining a mapping between the received information and a plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object by assigning a structure to each data value in the received information, the structure formed from one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations, at least some of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations comprising dimensions in an x-direction, a y-direction, and a z-direction;
generating a build sequence that will cause a three-dimensional printing device to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations in accordance with the mapping; and
causing the three-dimensional printing device to use the build sequence to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations form a barcode embedded within the three-dimensional object.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object comprises mapping non-public information included in the received information to the z-direction of one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object comprises mapping public information included in the received information to the x-direction or the y-direction of one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the public information includes at least one of the following: a part number, part identification information, inventory information, user manual, safety information, or licensing information.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the non-public information includes at least one of the following: information relating to printing of an object, information relating to printing of parts of an object, secondary manufacturing information, or information defining the sequencing of parts in manufacturing an object.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object comprises mapping unencrypted information included in the received information to the z-direction of one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the structure comprises defining, for the one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations at least one of the following: a height range, a depth range, a width range, or a spacing.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
saving at least one copy of the mapping at a location external to the three-dimensional object; and
encoding at least one link to the location within the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object by identifying a color scheme for each of the plurality of physical representations.
11. The three-dimensional object formed using the method of claim 1 .
12. A system for printing a three-dimensional object containing information embedded as three-dimensional physical representations, the system comprising:
a three-dimensional printing device;
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising programming instructions that when executed by the processor, will cause the processor to:
receive information to be embedded in the three-dimensional object;
determine a mapping between the received information and a plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object by assigning a structure to each data value in the received information, the structure formed from one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations, at least some of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations comprising dimensions in an x-direction, a y-direction, and a z-direction;
generate a build sequence that will cause the three-dimensional printing device to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations in accordance with the mapping; and
cause the three-dimensional printing device to use the build sequence to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations form a barcode embedded within the three-dimensional object.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the programming instructions that when executed by the processor, will cause the processor to determine the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object comprise programming instructions that will cause the processor to map non-public information included in the received information to the z-direction of one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the programming instructions that when executed by the processor, will cause the processor to determine the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object comprise programming instructions that will cause the processor to map public information included in the received information to the x-direction or the y-direction of one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the programming instructions that when executed by the processor, will cause the processor to determine the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object comprise programming instructions that will cause the processor to map unencrypted information included in the received information to the z-direction of one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the programming instructions that when executed by the processor, will cause the processor to assign the structure comprise programming instructions that will cause the processor to define, for the one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations at least one of the following: a height range, a depth range, a width range, or a spacing.
18. The system of claim 12 , further comprising programming instructions that when executed by the processor, will cause the processor to determine the mapping between the received information and the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object by identifying a color scheme for each of the plurality of physical representations.