System and method for generating instructions for customization

Abstract

A method of creating a triangulated surfaces for generating machine readable instructions for customization is provided. The method comprises selecting text or symbols. The text or symbols are spaced. The text or symbols are mapped between first and second curves. Triangulated surfaces are generated from the mapped text or symbols. The triangulated surfaces are converted to machine readable instructions.

1 . A method of creating a triangulated surface for engraving an item, the method comprising:
 selecting text or symbols;   spacing the text or symbols;   mapping the text or symbols between first and second curves;   generating triangulated surfaces from the mapped text or symbols.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting text or symbols further comprises selecting at least one divider and wherein spacing the text further comprises placing the at least one divider and mapping the text or symbols comprises mapping the at least one divider. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising converting the triangulated surfaces into machine readable instructions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the triangulated surfaces are converted to machine readable instructions for the generation of a tool path. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising identifying areas for clean up and generating clean-up lines. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein clean-up comprises the elimination of sharp edges and burrs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein spacing the text or symbols and placing is performed on the basis of the selected text or symbols. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first curve has a shape different from the second curve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second curves form a bezel. 
     
     
         10 . A method for creating a triangulated surface convertible to a series a machine readable instructions, the method comprising:
 defining a shape for placement of text and/or symbols;   defining the text and/or symbols for placement on the shape;   placing the text and/or symbols on the shape as triangulated surfaces; and   converting the triangulated surfaces to machine readable instructions for generation of a customized item.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the shape comprises an upper and lower closed curve. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the text comprises one or more lines of text. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein placing the text and/or symbols comprises spacing the text and/or dividers within the upper and lower closed curves. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the placed text and/or symbols are mapped between the upper and lower close curves. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein triangulated surfaces are generated from the mapped text and/or symbols. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the triangulated surfaces are converted to machine readable instructions for the generation of a tool path. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising identifying areas for clean up and generating clean-up lines. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the triangulated surfaces are converted to machine readable instructions for the generation of a photorealistic image. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the triangulated surfaces are converted to machine readable instructions for the generation of a rapid prototyping model. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program code for creating a triangulated surface convertible to a series a machine readable instructions, the program code causing a computer to execute a method comprising:
 defining a shape for placement of text and/or symbols;   defining the text and/or symbols for placement on the shape;   placing the text and/or symbols on the shape as triangulated surfaces; and   converting the triangulated surfaces to machine readable instructions for generation of a desired output.