Multi-part counting system for three-dimensional printed parts

Abstract

According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a 3D printing system comprising an interface, a database, a production planning system configured to receive a model provided by a user, and a multi-part counting system configured to receive, from the production planning system, the user-provided model, calculate a bounds of the user-provided model, perform a first test on each of the plurality of pieces of the model to determine if each piece can escape the bounds of the model individually in relation to each other piece of the model, perform a second test on each of the plurality of pieces of the model to determine if each piece can escape the bounds of the model simultaneously in relation to all other pieces of the model, and output, based on the first test and the second test, a determination of different discrete and interlocking parts in the model.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A 3D printing system, comprising:
 at least one computer hardware processor; and   at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer hardware processor, cause the at least one computer hardware processor to perform:
 receiving a 3D model of an object to be printed using a 3D printing process, the 3D model comprising a plurality of pieces including a first piece; 
 determining whether the first piece can be moved outside a boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other piece of the plurality of pieces; 
 responsive to determining that the first piece cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting a second piece of the plurality of pieces, identifying the first piece and the second piece as interlocking pieces in a first interlocking part; 
 responsive to determining that the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting another piece of the plurality of pieces, identifying the first piece as a first discrete part; 
 storing either the first interlocking part or the first discrete part in a file. 
   
     
     
         2 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other piece of the plurality of pieces comprises:
 partitioning the first piece into a plurality of segments;   for each of the plurality of segments:
 attempting to move, via an escape path, the segment outside the boundary of the 3D model; and 
 determining if, along the escape path, the segment intersects another piece of the plurality of pieces; 
   responsive to determining that at least one of the plurality of segments intersects the second piece, determining that the first piece cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting the second piece; and   responsive to determining that none of the plurality of segments intersects another piece of the plurality of pieces, determining that the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting another piece of the plurality of pieces.   
     
     
         3 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments comprise voxels. 
     
     
         4 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments comprise triangular patches. 
     
     
         5 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the escape path comprises a complex escape path. 
     
     
         6 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computer hardware processor, further cause the at least one computer hardware processor to perform:
 responsive to determining that the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting the second piece identifying the first piece and the second piece as discrete pieces relative to each other.   
     
     
         7 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computer hardware processor, further cause the at least one computer hardware processor to perform:
 identifying a plurality of parts of the 3D model, the plurality of parts including the first interlocking part;   determining whether the first interlocking part can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other part of the plurality of parts; and   responsive to determining that the first interlocking part cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting a second part, identifying a second interlocking part that includes the first interlocking part and the second part.   
     
     
         8 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computer hardware processor, further cause the at least one computer hardware processor to perform:
 identifying a plurality of parts of the 3D model, the plurality of parts including the first discrete part;   determining whether the first discrete part can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other part of the plurality of parts; and   responsive to determining that the first discrete part cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting a second part, identifying a second interlocking part that includes the first discrete part and the second part.   
     
     
         9 . The 3D printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computer hardware processor, further cause the at least one computer hardware processor to perform:
 a number of interlocking parts in the 3D model.   
     
     
         10 . A method for printing 3D parts, the method comprising:
 using at least one computer hardware processor to perform:
 receiving a 3D model of an object to be printed using a 3D printing process, the 3D model comprising a plurality of pieces including a first piece; 
 determining whether the first piece can be moved outside a boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other piece of the plurality of pieces; 
 responsive to determining that the first piece cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting a second piece of the plurality of pieces, identifying the first piece and the second piece as interlocking pieces in a first interlocking part; 
 responsive to determining that the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting another piece of the plurality of pieces, identifying the first piece as a first discrete part; 
 storing either the first interlocking part or the first discrete part in a file. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining whether the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other piece comprises:
 partitioning the first piece into a plurality of segments;   for each of the plurality of segments:
 attempting to move, via an escape path, the segment outside the boundary of the 3D model; and 
 determining if, along the escape path, the segment intersects another piece of the plurality of pieces; 
   responsive to determining that at least one of the plurality of segments intersects the second piece, determining that the first piece cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting the second piece; and   responsive to determining that none of the plurality of segments intersects another piece of the plurality of pieces, determining that the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting another piece of the plurality of pieces.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of parts of the 3D model, the plurality of parts including the first interlocking part;   determining whether the first interlocking part can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other part of the plurality of parts; and   responsive to determining that the first interlocking part cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting a second part, identifying a second interlocking part that includes the first interlocking part and the second part.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of parts of the 3D model, the plurality of parts including the first discrete part;   determining whether the first discrete part can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other part of the plurality of parts; and   responsive to determining that the first discrete part cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting a second part, identifying a second interlocking part that includes the first discrete part and the second part.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising identifying a number of discrete parts and a number of interlocking parts in the 3D model. 
     
     
         15 . A 3D printing system comprising:
 a 3D printer;   at least one computer hardware processor; and   
       at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer hardware processor, cause the at least one computer hardware processor to perform:
 receiving a 3D model of an object to be printed using the 3D printer, the 3D model comprising a plurality of pieces including a first piece; 
 determining whether the first piece can be moved outside a boundary of the 3D model without intersecting any other piece of the plurality of pieces; 
 responsive to determining that the first piece cannot be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting a second piece of the plurality of pieces, identifying the first piece and the second piece as interlocking pieces in a first interlocking part; 
 responsive to determining that the first piece can be moved outside the boundary of the 3D model without intersecting another piece of the plurality of pieces, identifying the first piece as a first discrete part; 
 storing either the first interlocking part or the first discrete part in a file.