US 11,861,271 B2
Method for polymerizing superficial features in 3D-printed parts
Joel Ong, Eden Prairie, MN (US); Christopher Prucha, Eden Prairie, MN (US); Marshall Ling, Eden Prairie, MN (US); and Elton Cheung, Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Assigned to Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/098,586.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/300,621, filed on Jan. 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0229825 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 30/17 (2020.01); G06F 113/10 (2020.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B28B 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 30/17 (2020.01) [B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B28B 1/001 (2013.01); G06F 2113/10 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
accessing a part model comprising a three-dimensional representation of a part;
accessing a material profile of a material selected for the part, the material profile relating exposure energy and three-dimensional polymerization geometry of the material;
segmenting the part model into a set of model layers;
segmenting a first model layer, in the set of model layers, into a first set of model volumes;
detecting a first superficial model volume, in the first set of model volumes of the first model layer, intersecting a first upward-facing surface of the part model;
selecting a first interior model volume, in the first set of model volumes of the first model layer, fully contained within the part model;
based on the material profile, calculating a first exposure energy predicted to yield a first three-dimensional polymerization geometry approximating a first contour of the first upward-facing surface contained within the first superficial model volume when projected onto the material during a build;
populating a first print image with the first exposure energy in a first image area corresponding to the first interior model volume in the first model layer; and
storing the first print image in a print file for the part.