Electrical power source for a 3D printed object

Number: 10137678
Published: 2018-11-27
Filed: 2014-10-02
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Trowbridge; Robert Scott
CPC: B33Y10/00; B33Y50/00; B33Y30/00; B29C64/106
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Power source for 3D printed object.

Abstract

A process and apparatus integrate a first 3D object model with a second 3D object model to generate an integrated 3D printable model. The first 3D object model models a first object that is passive. The second 3D object model models an electrical power source receptacle that operably connects to an electrical power source that provides electrical power for operation of the first object. The process and apparatus print a 3D object based upon the 3D model.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field(1) This disclosure generally relates to the field of printing configurations. More particularly, the disclosure relates to 3D printing configurations.2. General Background(2) The field of 3D printing has allowed for the fabrication of physical goods such as toys, figurines, etc. with the use of a 3D printer. A computing device, e.g., a personal computer (“PC”), laptop, etc. typically obtains a 3D model of the object. The computing device then provides that 3D model to a 3D printer to reproduce the physical goods from the 3D model.(3) Current 3D printing configurations are limited to 3D printing passive objects, e.g., toys that remain stationary without interaction or external activation. Automated objects that perform certain actions automatically, e.g., moving, speaking, etc., are not easily reproduced by 3D printers. As a result, typical manufacturing processes that are less efficient than 3D printing for individual objects are currently used for manufacturing such objects with automated or electrically powered capabilities.(4) Therefore, current 3D printing configurations do not provide adequate 3D printing capabilities for printing objects that are electrically powered. A process for providing an electrical power source to a 3D printed object is needed to reproduce objects that require an electrical voltage.SUMMARY(5) A process integrates a first 3D object model with a second 3D object model to generate an integrated 3D printable model. The first 3D obj

Claims

1. A method comprising: integrating a first 3D object model with a second 3D object model to generate an integrated 3D printable model, the first 3D object model modeling a first object that is passive, the second 3D object model modeling an electrical power source receptacle that operably connects to an electrical power source that provides electrical power for operation of the first object, the second 3D object model comprising an electrical pathway from the electrical power source receptacle to an actuator of the 3D object; printing a 3D object, with the actuator as a component, based upon the integrated 3D printable model such that the actuator interacts with the electrical power source to provide the electrical power to the first object; and connecting the actuator to the electrical power source using the electrical pathway. 7. A method comprising: integrating a first 3D object model with a second 3D object model to generate an integrated 3D printable model, the first 3D object model modeling a first object that is passive, the second 3D object model modeling a connector that operably connects to an external electrical power source that provides electrical power for operation of the first object, the second 3D object model comprising a conductive pathway from the connector to an actuator of the 3D object; printing a 3D object, with the actuator as a component, based upon the integrated 3D printable model such that the actuator interacts with the electrical power source to provide the electrical power to the first object; and connecting the actuator to the connector using the conductive pathway. 10. A method comprising: integrating a first 3D object model with a second 3D object model to generate an integrated 3D printable model, the first 3D object model modeling a first object that is passive, the second 3D object model modeling an electrical power source receptacle that operably connects to an electrical power source that provides electrical power for operation of the first object, the second 3D object model comprising an electrical pathway from the electrical power source to an actuator of the 3D object that is printed as a component of the 3D object; and connecting the actuator to the electrical power source using the electrical pathway.