System and method to control a three-dimensional (3d) printing device

Abstract

A method includes obtaining first model data specifying a first three-dimensional (3D) model of a first object and obtaining second model data specifying a second 3D model of a second object. The first model data indicates a location of the first 3D model relative to a model space and the second model data indicates a location of the second 3D model relative to the model space, where the second 3D model intersects the first 3D model in the model space. The method further includes processing the first model data and the second model data to generate machine instructions executable by a 3D printing device to generate a physical model of the first object, the physical model defining a void region to receive a physical instance of the second object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining first model data specifying a first three-dimensional (3D) model of a first object, the first model data indicating a location of the first 3D model relative to a model space;   obtaining second model data specifying a second 3D model of a second object, the second model data indicating a location of the second 3D model relative to the model space, wherein, in the model space, the second 3D model intersects the first 3D model; and   processing the first model data and the second model data to generate machine instructions executable by a 3D printing device to generate a physical model of the first object, wherein the physical model defines a void region to receive a physical instance of the second object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the machine instructions do not include instructions to generate a second physical model of the second object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving tagging data indicating that the second object is a non-printing object; and   determining dimensions of the void region based on dimensions of the second object and based on the tagging data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the void region is determined based on a cross-sectional shape of the second object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining dimensions of the void region based on dimensions of the 3D printing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining dimensions of the void region to enable the 3D printing device to deposit material on or over the physical instance of the second object without an extruder of the 3D printing device contacting the physical instance of the second object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the machine instructions includes:
 processing the first model data to generate a sliced model defining a plurality of layers to be deposited to form the physical model of the first object;   designating a particular layer of the plurality of layers as an insertion layer; and   including a print interrupt command in the machine instructions such that a printing operation is interrupted after the 3D printing device deposits material corresponding to the insertion layer.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the print interrupt command, when executed, causes a notification to be sent to another device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second object corresponds to an electrical component. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining third model data specifying a third 3D model of an electrical interconnect, the third model data indicating a location of the third 3D model relative to the model space, wherein, in the model space, the third 3D model intersects the first 3D model, and wherein the third model data is processed with the first model data and the second model data to generate the machine instructions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the physical model corresponds to the first 3D model and a second portion of the physical model corresponds to the third 3D model. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the machine instructions are executable to cause the 3D printing device to deposit a first material to form the first portion of the physical model and to deposit a second material to form the second portion of the physical model. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein processing the first model data, the second model data, and the third model data comprises:
 generating a sliced model associated with the first model data, the sliced model defining a plurality of layers to be deposited to form the first portion of the physical model;   determining that dimensions of the void region are insufficient to allow deposition of the second material within a portion of the physical model that corresponds to the void region; and   generating a notification suggesting manual intervention during formation of the physical model.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein generating the machine instructions includes:
 processing the first model data to generate a sliced model defining a plurality of layers to be deposited to form the physical model of the first object;   designating a particular layer of the plurality of layers as an interconnect deposition layer; and   including a command in the machine instructions to deposit material corresponding to at least a portion of the electrical interconnect after deposition of material corresponding to the interconnect deposition layer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the electrical interconnect is deposited on a layer lower than the interconnect deposition layer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the machine instructions further include a print interrupt command such that a printing operation is interrupted after the 3D printing device deposits material corresponding to at least a portion of the electrical interconnect. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining first model data specifying a first three-dimensional (3D) model of a first object, the first model data indicating a location of the first 3D model relative to a model space;   obtaining second model data specifying a second 3D model of a second object, the second model data indicating a location of the second 3D model relative to the model space, wherein, in the model space, the second 3D model intersects the first 3D model in the model space; and   processing the first model data and the second model data to generate machine instructions executable by a 3D printing device to generate a physical model of the first object, wherein the physical model defines a void region to receive a physical instance of the second object.   
     
     
         18 . A computing device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining first model data specifying a first three-dimensional (3D) model of a first object, the first model data indicating a location of the first 3D model relative to a model space; 
 obtaining second model data specifying a second 3D model of a second object, the second model data indicating a location of the second 3D model relative to the model space, wherein, in the model space, the second 3D model intersects the first 3D model in the model space; and 
 processing the first model data and the second model data to generate machine instructions executable by a 3D printing device to generate a physical model of the first object, wherein the physical model defines a void region to receive a physical instance of the second object.