- Number
- 10933623
- Published
- 2021-03-02
- Filed
- 2018-09-20
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Bächer; Moritz Niklaus, Schumacher; Christian Gabriel, Zehnder; Jonas Alois
- CPC
- B22F3/1103; B22F10/14; B33Y50/00; G06F30/23; B22F10/80; B33Y50/02; G06F30/17
- Verdict
- Medium Notable software
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Structural optimization for large-scale 3D-printed structures (Bächer).
Abstract
A 3D printer system with a structural optimization tool to generate 3D models optimized for build materials such as those used in binder jetting technology-based printers. The structural optimization tool uses a computational approach to optimize mechanical and mass properties of large-scale structures (i.e., objects to be 3D printed), and the computational approach is tailored for fabrication on binder jetting technologies. To spend a material budget for printing an object wisely, the inventors in designing the computational approach turned the Bresler-Pister failure criterion into an objective measuring the potential of failure of an object or structure. This involved modeling the difference in tensile and compressive strength of the build material. To optimize structures under worst-case loads, the computational approach unifies an optimization to identify worst-case loads with an optimization to minimize the resulting failure potential, nesting them with first-order optimality constraints.
Background
BACKGROUND Field of the Description (1) The present description relates, in general, to fabrication of larger objects or structures using three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques. More particularly, the present description relates to a 3D printer system (and corresponding method implemented by a processor running code or programs (i.e., software) in such a system) that is configured to optimize the design of large-scale objects or structures, which may be weak in tension, and then using this optimized design as the input print file of a 3D printer provided in the 3D printer system. Relevant Background (2) There are many settings, including outdoor malls and plazas, sporting complexes, and theme and amusement parks, where it is desirable to include architectural ornamentation (or “AO”). The architectural ornamentation may be provided in the form of statues, ornate features of walls and buildings, rock work, and so on, and it may be quite large in size such as with dimensions ranging from several inches to many feet. The square foot price for architectural ornamentation can be quite high, and there is an ongoing demand for techniques of fabricating or providing the architectural ornamentation at reduced prices while retaining its attractive appearance and structural strength and durability. (3) In the construction industry, concrete is the dominating build material, and formwork is used to keep it in place while it transitions from a fluid to a solid state. With usage exceedi
Claims
1. A three-dimensional (3D) printer system, comprising: a 3D printer adapted for printing 3D objects using a build material; and an optimization system with memory storing a 3D model of an object and a processor executing software code to provide functions of a structural optimization tool, wherein the structural optimization tool takes as input the 3D model of the object, strength and material parameters for the build material, and a set of loads, wherein the structural optimization tool processes the input to first generate a set of worst-case loads for the 3D model of the object from the set of loads and to second generate an output print file defining a plurality of wall thicknesses for an optimized version of the 3D model of the object with a hollowed out interior that is adapted to withstand the set of worst-case loads, the plurality of wall thicknesses each being defined excluding material associated with providing struts in the hollowed out interior, wherein the 3D printer is operable to print a 3D object modeling the optimized version of the 3D model of the object using the output print file, and wherein the set of loads includes a set of unparameterized loads including thermal loads and a set of parameterized loads including wind loads. ||
11. A 3D printer system, comprising: memory storing a 3D model of an object that defines an exterior geometry of the object; and an optimization tool performing the following steps: defining material parameters for a build material; defining loading conditions for the object; and generating an output printer file for a 3D printer using the build material, wherein the generating includes optimizing an internal structure of the object while maintaining the exterior geometry and wherein the optimizing of the internal structure includes hollowing the object and defining two or more thicknesses for an outer wall while minimizing stresses and volume of the build material used to print the object and wherein the two or more thicknesses for the outer wall are in at least one single layer of the output printer file, wherein the loading conditions include worst-case loads for the object, and wherein asymmetric compressive and tensile strengths of the object are accounted for during the optimizing such that the maximum tensile stress in the object during the worst-case loads is less than a tensile strength of the object after printing with the build material by the 3D printer. ||
15. A system for printing 3D objects, comprising: a device operable to print 3D objects; and an optimization system with data storage storing a geometry of an object and a processor executing instructions to provide a structural optimization tool, wherein the structural optimization tool takes as input the geometry of the object and load conditions, wherein the structural optimization tool processes the input to first generate a set of worst-case loads for the object from the load conditions and to second generate an output print file defining an interior topology of the object for concurrently withstanding maximum compressive and tensile stresses generated by the set of worst-case loads, the interior topology defining a hollow out space in the object enclosed by a plurality of wall thicknesses each being defined excluding material associated with providing struts in the hollowed out space, wherein the device operates to print a 3D object using the output print file, and wherein the plurality of wall thicknesses is chosen by the structural optimization tool to satisfy a failure criterion that accounts for differences in compressive and tensile strengths of the printed 3D object, whereby the printed 3D object is able to withstand the maximum compressive and tensile stresses while under load. ||
20. A 3D printer system, comprising: memory storing a 3D model of an object that defines an exterior geometry of the object; an optimization tool performing the following steps: defining material parameters for a build material; defining loading conditions for the object; and generating an output printer file for a 3D printer using the build material, wherein the generating includes optimizing an internal structure of the object while maintaining the exterior geometry, wherein the optimizing of the internal structure includes hollowing the object and defining two or more thicknesses for an outer wall while minimizing stresses and volume of the build material used to print the object, and wherein the two or more thicknesses for the outer wall are in at least one single layer of the output printer file; and a 3D printer that prints a 3D object using the output printer file, wherein the two or more wall thicknesses satisfy a failure criterion that accounts for differences in compressive and tensile strengths of the printed 3D object, and wherein the loading conditions include a set of unparameterized loads including at least one of self-weight loads and thermal loads and further include a set of parameterized loads including at least one of wind loads and live loads.