JP2018192736A - Creating apparatus and creating method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention notifies a user that the production of a three-dimensional object has proceeded to a confirmation portion where it is desired to confirm the production condition of the three-dimensional object. A modeling apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by sequentially stacking modeling materials based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model, and is manufactured during the manufacturing of the three-dimensional object to be manufactured A receiving means for receiving information on a confirmation part that requires confirmation of condition, a determination means for determining whether the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part, and the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part Output means for outputting information when the determination means makes a determination. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a modeling apparatus and a modeling method.

In recent years, three-dimensional modeling techniques called additive manufacturing (AM), three-dimensional printers, rapid prototyping (RP), and the like have attracted attention (in this specification, these techniques are collectively referred to as AM techniques). AM technology slices the three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model to generate a plurality of cross-sectional data (referred to as slice data), and sequentially stacks a material layer made of a modeling material on a modeling table based on the slice data. This is a technique for producing a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) by fixing.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying on a display a progress screen that displays the current height of a modeled object and the height of a modeled object that can be modeled by a three-dimensional printer.
Thereby, the user can grasp | ascertain the progress condition of how much preparation of the molded article has progressed in real time.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-173730

When a three-dimensional object is manufactured by the above-described AM technique, it may be desired to know that the preparation of the three-dimensional object has progressed to a confirmation portion where the preparation of the three-dimensional object is desired to be confirmed in order to confirm the production state of the three-dimensional object.
However, in the case of the conventional technology, in order to know that the production of the three-dimensional object has progressed to the confirmation part of the three-dimensional object, the user needs to monitor the progress of how far the production of the three-dimensional object has progressed. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to inform a user that the production of a three-dimensional object has proceeded to a confirmation portion where it is desired to confirm the production condition of the three-dimensional object.

The first aspect of the present invention is:
Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model, a modeling apparatus that sequentially stacks modeling materials to produce a three-dimensional object,
Accepting means for receiving information on a confirmation part that requires confirmation of the production condition during the production of the three-dimensional object to be produced;
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part;
An output means for outputting information when the discriminating means discriminates that the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation portion;
The modeling apparatus characterized by having is provided.

The second aspect of the present invention is:
Based on the slice data generated from the three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model, a modeling method for producing a three-dimensional object by sequentially stacking modeling materials,
A step of receiving information on a confirmation part that requires confirmation of a production condition during the production of a three-dimensional object to be produced;
Determining whether the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part; and
A step of outputting information when it is determined that the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part;
The modeling method characterized by including this is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the user that the production of a three-dimensional object has proceeded to a confirmation portion where it is desired to confirm the production condition of the three-dimensional object.

The figure which shows the whole modeling system containing the modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment The figure which shows the structure of the modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment typically The figure which shows the flow of the modeling process which concerns on embodiment The figure which shows the solid model which concerns on the process example 1 typically The figure which shows an example of the slice data list in the process example 1 The figure which shows an example of the slice data list in the process example 2 The figure which shows the solid model which concerns on the process example 3 typically. The figure which shows an example of the slice data list in the process example 3 The figure shown about an example of the setting information input part of embodiment The figure shown about an example of the notification part of embodiment

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, various control procedures, control parameters, target values, etc., such as dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the members described in the following embodiments are described in the present invention. It is not intended to limit the scope of the above to only those.
Further, in the present invention, the scope of the present invention also includes those in which the embodiments described below are appropriately modified and improved based on the ordinary knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. include.
The present invention relates to a layered modeling technique (AM technique), that is, a modeling apparatus and a modeling method adopting a technique for producing a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) by arranging modeling materials in two dimensions and laminating them in layers.

  As the modeling material, various materials can be selected according to the application, function, purpose, etc. of the three-dimensional object to be produced. In this specification, a material constituting a three-dimensional object for modeling is referred to as “structural material”, and a portion formed of the structural material is referred to as a structure. A material that constitutes a support body (for example, a structure that supports the overhang portion from below) for supporting the structure being manufactured is referred to as a “support material”. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the two, the term “modeling material” is simply used. As the structural material, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), ABS, PS (polystyrene), and PC (polycarbonate) can be used. As the support material, a material having thermoplasticity and water solubility can be preferably used in order to simplify the removal from the structure. Examples of the support material include carbohydrates, polylactic acid (PLA), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), and PEG (polyethylene glycol).

Further, in this specification, digital data generated from cross-sectional data obtained by slicing three-dimensional shape data of a stereoscopic model to be produced into a plurality of layers along the stacking direction is referred to as “slice data”. The slice data is generated by adding information such as support material data as necessary. A layer (an image for one layer) formed of a modeling material based on slice data is referred to as a “material layer”. A “material layer” is a layer of particles formed by combining one or more material layers depending on the type of modeling material used.
A three-dimensional model (that is, a three-dimensional object represented by three-dimensional shape data given to the modeling apparatus) to be produced using the modeling apparatus is called a “modeling object”. In addition, a three-dimensional object produced (output) by the modeling apparatus is referred to as a “modeled object”. In the case where the modeled object includes the support body, a portion excluding the support body becomes a “structure” constituting the modeled object. The modeled object produced by the modeling apparatus according to the present embodiment may include a plurality of structures.
The three-dimensional shape data of one or more three-dimensional models is referred to as “modeling data”. When a plurality of separable structures are included in the modeled object, the three-dimensional shape data respectively corresponding to each structure is included in the modeled data.
Here, the three-dimensional shape data refers to, for example, data in the STL (Standard Triangulated Language) format, but the format is not particularly limited as long as it is data related to the three-dimensional shape of the three-dimensional model. Further, the three-dimensional shape data may include information on color, information on modeling material, and the like.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an entire modeling system 1 including a modeling apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. A modeling system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a modeling apparatus 101 and an information processing apparatus 102.
The modeling apparatus 101 according to this embodiment is an apparatus that uses a layered modeling method to produce a modeled object by sequentially laminating a large number of material layers.
And the modeling apparatus 101 receives modeling data and setting information as an input, and produces a modeling thing based on the three-dimensional shape data contained in modeling data.

The modeling data and setting information are transmitted from the information processing apparatus 102 to the modeling apparatus 101 via the communication path 103. The communication path 103 may be any means such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a USB (Universal Serial Bus), or the Internet, as long as it can exchange data between a plurality of devices.
The information processing device 102 is, for example, a personal computer or a tablet device, and is a device that includes a data processing mechanism and can transmit data to the outside.
The setting information is information that is set in advance by a user or an operator, such as position information indicating a desired location in the modeled object, a notification destination address for notifying that the fabrication of the modeled object has progressed to the desired part, and the like. . Here, the desired location refers to a portion (confirmation portion) that requires confirmation of the preparation of the modeled object when the modeled apparatus 101 is used to prepare the modeled object. The specific example of the contents of the setting information shown here is an example, and is not limited in the present embodiment.

<Configuration of modeling equipment>
The modeling apparatus 101 includes a ROM and a RAM, executes a modeling program stored in advance in the ROM, and creates a modeled object by performing data processing and device control. Note that not all of the modeling program is necessarily executed by the modeling apparatus 101, and part or all of the modeling program may be executed by a part other than the modeling apparatus 101 of the modeling system 1.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the modeling apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. The modeling apparatus 101 includes a processing unit 20 and a modeling unit 23.

(Processing part)
The function of each unit included in the processing unit 20 included in the modeling apparatus 101 is that a calculation unit (not illustrated) such as a CPU included in the modeling apparatus 101 executes a modeling program stored in advance in the ROM of the modeling apparatus 101. Can be realized.
The processing unit 20 has a function of acquiring the modeling data 31 and the setting information 32 from the information processing apparatus 102 via the communication path 103.
In the present embodiment, the processing unit 20 is connected to the information processing apparatus 102 via the communication path 103.
An example in which the setting information 32 is acquired from will be described. In this case, the information processing apparatus 102 includes a setting information input unit 40 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B) that receives input of the setting information 32 by a user or an operator. However, it is not limited to this, For example, the process part 20 or the modeling apparatus 101 may have the setting information input part which receives the input of the setting information 32 by a user or an operator.

Here, the setting information input unit 40 will be described. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating an example of the setting information input unit 40.
FIG. 9A shows a screen displayed when a user or an operator selects a desired portion of a modeled object. As a desired part, as shown to FIG. 9A, the following parts can be illustrated. It is a place where the slice area is small in the shaped object. Here, the slice area refers to the area of the material layer in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction when the material layers represented by the slice data are stacked. Moreover, it is a part in which a slice area changes greatly regarding a lamination direction in a molded article. Moreover, it is a part in which the slice area is constant in the stacking direction in the shaped object. Moreover, at the timing after the production of the first modeled object among the plurality of modeled objects in the case of preparing a plurality of modeled objects at the same time, the second modeled object being manufactured out of the plurality of modeled objects is included. This is the highest part in the stacking direction.

As described above, by setting a location having a small slice area as a desired location, it is possible to confirm whether the modeled object being produced has fallen, tilted, or broken. In addition, by setting a portion where the slice area greatly changes in the stacking direction as a desired location, it is possible to confirm whether the portion where the slice area of the modeled object being manufactured greatly changes is well modeled. In addition, by setting a portion where the slice area is constant (particularly, a portion where accuracy is desired) to be set as a desired location, it can be confirmed whether the surface of the modeled object is smoothly produced or not uneven. Moreover, it can collect | recover sequentially from the modeling object which preparation completed by setting the part with the highest height of the lamination direction of the 2nd modeling object in preparation to a desired location among several modeling objects. .
FIG. 9B shows a screen on which a model to be produced is displayed, and the user can specify a range corresponding to a desired location on this screen. In this case, a desired location can be set by reading the coordinates in the range specified on the screen.

Returning to the processing unit 20, the description will be continued.
The processing unit 20 generates one or more slice data based on the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31 based on the acquired modeling data 31. Then, the processing unit 20 specifies slice data corresponding to the desired location from the generated one or more slice data according to the position information indicating the desired location included in the acquired setting information 32. Note that the position information indicating the desired location is information for uniquely identifying the slice data corresponding to the desired location from one or more pieces of slice data to be generated. Moreover, the slice data to specify may be one or plural. Thereafter, the processing unit 20 transmits the generated slice data to the modeling unit 23.

The modeling unit 23 starts producing a modeled object based on the received slice data. And the process part 20 discriminate | determines whether preparation of the molded article performed by the modeling part 23 progressed to the desired location based on the specified slice data corresponding to a desired location.
As a result of the determination, when it is determined that the formation of the modeled object by the modeling unit 23 has progressed to a desired location, the processing unit 20 performs modeling to the notification destination address included in the setting information 32 based on the acquired setting information 32. Notify that the production of the object has progressed to the desired location.
As described above, the processing unit 20 generates slice data necessary for producing a modeled object by the modeling unit 23, and specifies slice data corresponding to a desired location from among the generated one or more slice data. The data generation unit 21 is provided. Further, the processing unit 20 determines whether or not the fabrication of the modeled object performed by the modeling unit 23 has progressed to the desired location, and notifies the arbitrary notification destination address that the fabrication of the modeled product has proceeded to the desired location. And a completion notification unit 22.

(Data generator)
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the data generation unit 21 includes a job reception unit 211, a layout unit 212, a support body generation unit 213, a slice data generation unit 214, and an index derivation unit 215.
The job receiving unit 211 acquires the modeling data 31 and the setting information 32 from the information processing apparatus 102 via the communication path 103.
The layout unit 212 receives the modeling data 31 acquired by the job receiving unit 211, and adjusts the posture and arrangement (layout) of the modeled object to be produced based on the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31. At this time, it is preferable that the layout part 212 adjusts so that the usage-amount of the modeling material required for preparation of the molded article by the modeling part 23 may become the minimum.

  The support body generating unit 213 receives the modeling data 31 including the three-dimensional shape data corresponding to the modeled object to be manufactured whose posture and arrangement are determined by the layout unit 212. And the support body production | generation part 213 adds the cross-sectional data of a required support body to the modeling data 31 when the modeling part 23 produces a modeling thing about each of the three-dimensional shape data contained in the received modeling data 31. . The support body may be unnecessary depending on the shape and orientation of the three-dimensional object represented by the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31.

  The slice data generation unit 214 receives the modeling data 31 to which the support body is added by the support body generation unit 213, and generates one or more slice data based on the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31. The slice data is data generated by slicing a three-dimensional object represented by the modeling data at a predetermined interval in the stacking direction, and each includes arrangement information of the modeling material. When the three-dimensional shape data includes information such as color information and material information, the generated slice data also includes information on the type of modeling material and arrangement information on various materials.

Further, the slice data generation unit 214 may generate slice data according to the type of the modeling unit 23. For example, if the modeling unit 23 is a type of modeling unit in which the material layers are formed one by one and stacked, the generated slice data may be image data. In addition, if the modeling unit 23 is a type of modeling unit in which a modeling material such as a hot melt lamination method (FDM) is arranged along a predetermined path, the generated slice data may be tool path data. .
The slice data generation unit 214 assigns an index to each of the generated one or more slice data, and sequentially registers the slice data in the slice data list 33 indicating the correspondence between each slice data and the index. An index is an identifier that is uniquely held by each of one or more slice data to be generated. Thereafter, the slice data generation unit 214 transmits the generated one or more slice data to the index deriving unit 215 and the modeling unit 23.

The index deriving unit 215 receives the slice data generated by the slice data generating unit 214. Then, the index deriving unit 215 selects slice data corresponding to the desired location from one or more slice data generated by the slice data generating unit 214 based on the position information indicating the desired location included in the setting information 32. Identify.
This point will be described in detail below.
The index deriving unit 215 derives a “desired part index” from the slice data generated by the slice data generating unit 214 and the position information indicating the desired part included in the setting information 32. Here, the “desired place index” is an index assigned to slice data corresponding to the desired place. The position information indicating the desired location may be any information as long as the index deriving unit 215 can uniquely derive the desired location index. For example, it may be an index or condition information assigned to slice data used to produce a modeled object up to a desired location, or area information of a modeled object.

Thereafter, the index deriving unit 215 refers to the slice data list 33 and identifies slice data to which the derived desired location index is assigned.
Then, the index deriving unit 215 updates the desired location flag held by the identified slice data. The desired location flag is one of items included in the slice data list 33, as will be described later, and each piece of slice data indicates whether or not the fabrication of the model has progressed to the desired location.

(Modeling Department)
The modeling unit 23 receives the slice data generated by the slice data generation unit 214, and uses the layered modeling method to produce a modeled object based on the slice data. In addition, the modeling unit 23 outputs an index assigned to the slice data for which the stacking is completed when the stacking for each generated slice data is completed. This index is an index assigned to each slice data by the slice data generation unit 214.
Hereinafter, an index assigned to slice data that has been stacked by the modeling unit 23 is referred to as a “stacking completion index”. In addition, as long as the modeling part 23 models a solid thing by the layered modeling method, the system will not be specifically limited. As the modeling part 23, for example, optical modeling method, powder sintering (laser sintering method), powder fixing method, hot melt lamination method (FDM), ink jet method, and electrophotographic method can be used.

(Completion notification section)
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the completion notification unit 22 includes a determination unit 221 and a notification unit 222.
The determination unit 221 receives the slice data list 33 generated by the slice data generation unit 214 and the index deriving unit 215 and the stacking completion index 34 output by the modeling unit 23. Then, the determination unit 221 refers to the slice data list 33 and acquires a desired location flag held by the slice data to which the stacking completion index 34 is assigned based on the stacking completion index 34. The determination unit 221 determines whether or not the fabrication of the model has progressed to the desired location based on the acquired desired location flag, and transmits the determination result to the notification unit 222.
The notification unit 222 receives the determination result output by the determination unit 221. When the fabrication of the modeled object has progressed to the desired location, the notification unit 222 notifies the notification destination address included in the setting information 32 of information regarding that the fabrication of the modeled object has proceeded to the desired location.
FIG. 10 shows an example of the display unit 50 that displays that the fabrication of the modeled object has progressed to the desired location, but the user knows information regarding that the fabrication of the modeled object has proceeded to the desired location at the information notification destination. The means is not particularly limited.

<Modeling process flow>
Next, the flow of a modeling process is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a modeling process according to the present embodiment.
In step S <b> 301, the job receiving unit 211 acquires the modeling data 31 and the setting information 32 from the information processing apparatus 102 via the communication path 103.
In step S302, the layout unit 212 determines the orientation and arrangement of each modeled object to be produced for each of the three-dimensional shape data included in the model data 31 acquired in step S301.

  In step S303, the support body generation unit 213 is necessary when modeling by the modeling unit 23 based on the three-dimensional shape data corresponding to each modeled object to be manufactured whose posture and arrangement are determined in step S302. Calculate the position and quantity of the support body. Then, the support body generation unit 213 generates cross-sectional data of the support body that represents the calculated structure of the support body. Further, the support body generation unit 213 adds the generated cross section data of the support body to the modeling data 31. Note that step S303 may be skipped when the support body is unnecessary.

  In step S304, the slice data generation unit 214 generates slice data for the modeling data 31 to which the cross-sectional data of the support body is added in step S303. When step S303 is skipped, the slice data generation unit 214 generates slice data from the modeling data 31 to which the cross-sectional data of the support body is not added. In addition, the slice data generation unit 214 assigns an index to each of the generated one or more slice data, and sequentially registers the slice data in the slice data list 33 indicating the correspondence between each slice data and the index. Then, the slice data generating unit 214 transmits the generated slice data to the index deriving unit 215 and the modeling unit 23.

In step S305, the index deriving unit 215 derives a desired location index from the slice data generated in step S304 and the position information indicating the desired location included in the setting information 32 acquired in step S301. Then, the index deriving unit 215 refers to the slice data list 33 generated in step S304 and identifies slice data to which the derived desired location index is assigned. Then, the index deriving unit 215 updates the desired location flag held by the identified slice data.
In step S306, the modeling part 23 produces a modeled object based on the slice data generated in step S304. And the modeling part 23 outputs the lamination completion index 34, when lamination | stacking is completed about each of the produced | generated slice data.

In step S307, the determination unit 221 acquires the slice data list 33 output in step S305 and the stacking completion index 34 output in step S306. The determining unit 221 refers to the slice data list 33 based on the stacking completion index 34 and acquires a desired location flag held by the slice data to which the stacking completion index 34 is assigned.
And the discrimination | determination part 221 discriminate | determines whether preparation of the molded article by the modeling part 23 progressed to the desired location based on the acquired desired location flag. If it is determined that the fabrication of the model has progressed to the desired location (Yes in step S307), the process proceeds to step S308. If it is determined that the production of the modeled object has not progressed to the desired location (No in step S307), the process proceeds to step S309.

In step S308, the notification unit 222 notifies the notification destination address included in the setting information 32 acquired in step S301 that the production of the model has progressed to a desired location.
In step S309, the modeling unit 23 determines whether the slice data corresponding to the material layer laminated in step S306 is the last slice data. When the slice data corresponding to the stacked material layers is the last slice data (Yes in step S309), the modeling process according to the present embodiment is terminated. If the slice data corresponding to the layered material layer is not the last slice data (No in step S309), step S306 to step S306 are similarly performed for slice data for forming the material layer to be stacked next. The process of S308 is executed.

As described above, the modeling apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment first acquires the modeling data 31 and the setting information 32. Next, the modeling apparatus 101 generates slice data according to the acquired modeling data 31. Then, the modeling apparatus 101 derives a desired location index according to the position information indicating the desired location included in the acquired setting information 32 and the generated slice data. The modeling apparatus 101 performs modeling according to the generated slice data. When the lamination progresses to the material layer corresponding to the slice data holding the derived desired location index, the modeling apparatus 101 proceeds to the notification destination address included in the acquired setting information 32 to the desired location. Notify me.
Thereby, when producing a modeling thing by modeling equipment 101, it can distinguish that preparation of a modeling thing has progressed to the desired part which is a check part which needs confirmation of the preparation condition of a modeling thing, and notifies a user or an operator. be able to. As a result, the user or operator can know that the production of the model has progressed to the desired location without monitoring the modeling progress.

In the present embodiment, the desired location flag is used to determine whether or not the fabrication of the model has progressed to the desired location. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the index is used without using the flag. It may also be by other methods. When an index is used without using a flag, it may be determined whether the index output as the stacking completion index 34 is a desired location index. And when a desired location index is output as the lamination completion index 34, you may discriminate | determine that preparation of a molded article has advanced to the desired location.
In this way, when the index derivation unit 215 identifies slice data corresponding to a desired location, and the material layer is laminated based on the identified slice data, it is determined that the fabrication of the model has progressed to the desired location. Anything is acceptable.
In the present embodiment, the notification unit 222 notifies the notification destination address that the production of the model has proceeded to the desired location when it is determined that the fabrication of the model has proceeded to the desired location. There is, but is not limited to this. The notification part 222 should just output information as an output means, when it determines with preparation of a molded article having advanced to the desired location. Thereby, the user can know that production of a modeled object has progressed to a desired location by outputting information.

Hereinafter, more specific processing examples 1 to 3 will be described. In processing examples 1 to 3, configurations and processes different from those of the above-described embodiments will be described, and descriptions of configurations and processes similar to those of the above-described embodiments will be omitted.
(Processing example 1)
Below, the process example 1 which is an example of the process which notifies that preparation of the molded article by the modeling apparatus 101 progressed to the desired location is demonstrated.
4A and 4B are diagrams schematically illustrating a modeled object according to Processing Example 1. FIG.
FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically illustrating a three-dimensional shape of the structure 402 in the modeled object 401 produced by the modeling apparatus 101 in the processing example 1. FIG. 4B is an XZ plan view schematically showing the structure 402 and the support body 403 when the model 401 is manufactured.

  In the processing example 1, the modeling apparatus 101 has a modeling object 401 having a shape as shown in FIG. Is made. In Processing Example 1, the modeling apparatus 101 performs modeling by stacking modeling materials in the Z-axis direction. In other words, the modeling apparatus 101 performs modeling based on slice data created by slicing at a predetermined interval in a plane parallel to the XY plane along the Z-axis direction. In processing example 1, modeling apparatus 101 shall create slice data by slicing at intervals of 0.5 mm along the Z-axis direction.

In Processing Example 1, as shown in FIG. 4B, the portion corresponding to Z = 50 to 100 mm in the structure 402 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom surface radius of 5 mm. Therefore, a support body is provided in the surrounding space to stabilize modeling. 403 is required. Therefore, when producing the modeled object 401, the support body 403 also needs to be modeled together.
In Processing Example 1, when modeling the modeled object 401, the modeling apparatus 101 performs modeling according to the modeling process flow illustrated in FIG. 3, and when the modeled object has been manufactured to a desired location, the information processing apparatus 102 is processed. Notify that the fabrication of the model has proceeded to the desired location.

Hereinafter, the flow of the modeling process in Process Example 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, since it is as above-mentioned about the flow of a basic modeling process, it abbreviate | omits about a basic part.
In step S <b> 301, the job receiving unit 211 acquires the modeling data 31 including the three-dimensional shape data and the setting information 32 from the information processing apparatus 102 via the communication path 103. In the processing example 1, the information included in the setting information 32 includes a desired location index and a notification destination address. Here, the desired location index is “150”, and the notification destination address is the IP address held by the information processing apparatus 102. In Processing Example 1, an IP address is cited as the notification destination address, but the present invention is not limited to this. The notification destination address may be any information as long as it is possible to exchange information to an external device, such as a mail address.

In step S <b> 302, the layout unit 212 adjusts the posture and arrangement (layout) of the modeled object 401 to be produced for the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeled data 31 acquired in step S <b> 301. In Processing Example 1, when the modeled object 401 is prepared by the modeling unit 23, the posture and arrangement of the modeled object 401 to be manufactured are adjusted so as to minimize the amount of modeling material used. That is, in the modeling apparatus that performs modeling by stacking modeling materials in the Z-axis direction, the modeled object 401 is manufactured in the posture illustrated in FIG. 4B.
In step S303, the support body generation unit 213 adjusts the position of the support body 403 necessary for modeling by the modeling unit 23 based on the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31 adjusted in step S302. Estimate the amount of support material. Then, the support body generation unit 213 generates cross section data of the support body that represents the estimated structure of the support body, and adds the generated cross section data of the support body to the modeling data 31.

In step S304, the slice data generation unit 214 generates slice data based on the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31 generated in step S303. In the processing example 1, since the slice interval is 0.5 mm, the slice data generation unit 214 generates 200 slice data corresponding to the modeled object 401 with Z = 100 mm. Thereafter, the slice data generation unit 214 assigns an index to each of the generated 200 slice data and sequentially registers them in the slice data list 33. Thereby, the slice data list 33 indicating the correspondence between the slice data and the index is generated.
An example of the slice data list 33 in Processing Example 1 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, it is understood that indexes “1” to “200” are assigned to each of the 200 slice data.

In step S305, the index deriving unit 215 derives a desired location index from the slice data generated in step S304 and the position information indicating the desired location included in the setting information 32 acquired in step S301.
In Processing Example 1, the acquired setting information 32 includes a desired location index “150”. Therefore, the index deriving unit 215 refers to the slice data list 33 generated in step S304 and identifies slice data to which the derived desired location index “150” is assigned.
Then, the index deriving unit 215 updates the desired location flag held by the identified slice data to “True”. As shown in FIG. 5, the desired location flag is one of the items included in the slice data list 33 and indicates whether or not the slice data corresponds to the desired location (“True” or “False”).
In Processing Example 1, since the desired location index “150” is derived, the desired location flag associated with the slice data to which the index “150” is assigned updates “True”.

In step S306, the modeling unit 23 prepares the modeled object 401 based on the slice data generated in step S304. And the modeling part 23 outputs the lamination completion index 34, when lamination | stacking is completed about each of the produced | generated 200 slice data.
In step S307, the determination unit 221 acquires the slice data list 33 output in step S305 and the stacking completion index 34 output in step S306. The determining unit 221 refers to the slice data list 33 based on the stacking completion index 34 and acquires a desired location flag. And the discrimination | determination part 221 determines whether preparation of the molded article by the modeling part 23 progressed to the desired location based on the acquired desired location flag. In Processing Example 1, when “150” is output as the stacking completion index 34 by the modeling unit 23, the determination unit 221 obtains the desired location flag “True”, and the fabrication of the model has progressed to the desired location. Is determined.

If it is determined in step S307 that the fabrication of the model has proceeded to the desired location, in step S308, the notification unit 222 notifies the information processing apparatus 102 that the fabrication of the model has proceeded to the desired location.
In the processing example 1, it has been described that the information processing apparatus 102 is notified when it is determined that the fabrication of the model has progressed to a desired location. In addition to the notification, the following processing is performed. Also good. For example, when the modeling apparatus 101 has an imaging unit and the fabrication of a model has progressed to a desired location, the modeled object being fabricated may be photographed and the captured image may be transmitted to the information processing apparatus 102. At this time, the information processing apparatus 102 may confirm, diagnose, or the like the degree of production of the modeled object from the transmitted captured image. In addition, the modeling apparatus 101 may include an interrupting unit that interrupts the manufacturing operation of the modeled object, and the manufacturing operation of the modeled object may be interrupted when the manufacturing of the modeled object proceeds to a desired location. Moreover, the production | generation operation | movement of a modeling thing may be interrupted and the modeling thing in preparation may be image | photographed.

In step S309, the modeling unit 23 determines whether or not there is slice data for performing the next stacking. If the next slice data exists, the process returns to step S306 to repeat the process.
Thereby, it can be discriminated that the fabrication of the model has progressed to the desired location. As a result, the user or the operator can know that the production of the model has progressed to the desired location without monitoring the progress.

(Processing example 2)
Next, Process Example 2 which is an example of a process for notifying that a modeling object up to a desired location has been completed by the modeling apparatus 101 will be described.
The process example 2 is the same as the process example 1 except that the position information indicating the desired location included in the setting information 32 is the height information “Z = 75.0 mm”. In the following description, the same parts as those of the processing example 1 are omitted.

In step S <b> 301, the job receiving unit 211 acquires the modeling data 31 and the setting information 32 from the information processing apparatus 102 via the communication path 103.
In the processing example 2, the setting information 32 includes height information and a notification destination address. Here, the height information is “Z = 75.0 mm”. In processing example 2, height information is given as position information indicating a desired location, but the present invention is not limited to this. The position information may be area information indicating a part in the modeled object 401 or the like.

In step S304, the slice data generation unit 214 generates slice data based on the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31 generated in step S303. Then, the slice data generation unit 214 assigns an index to each of the generated slice data and sequentially registers it in the slice data list 33. Further, the slice data generation unit 214 calculates the height of the shaped object 401 when the material layers are stacked based on the generated slice data, and sequentially registers them in the slice data list 33. Thereby, the slice data list 33 showing the correspondence between the slice data, the index, and the height of the modeled object 401 at the time of stacking is generated.
An example of the slice data list 33 in the processing example 2 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, it is understood that indexes “1” to “200” are assigned to each of the 200 slice data. Further, it can be seen that the height of the modeled object at the time of stacking is calculated for each of the 200 slice data.

In step S305, the index deriving unit 215 derives a desired location index from the slice data list 33 generated in step S304 and the acquired setting information 32.
In Processing Example 2, the index deriving unit 215 derives the desired location index “150” with reference to the slice data list 33 based on the height information “Z = 75.0 mm” included in the acquired setting information 32. . Then, the index deriving unit 215 refers to the slice data list 33 generated in step S304 and identifies slice data to which the derived desired location index “150” is assigned. Then, the index deriving unit 215 updates the desired location flag held by the identified slice data to “True”. As shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the desired location flag of slice data to which the desired location index “150” is assigned is “True”.
Since the subsequent processing is the same as that of the processing example 1, it is omitted.

  As described above, also in the processing example 2, it can be determined that the production of the modeled object has progressed to a desired location. As a result, the user or the operator can know that the production of the model has progressed to the desired location without monitoring the progress.

(Processing example 3)
Next, Process Example 3 which is an example of a process for notifying that the modeling apparatus 101 has completed the creation of a modeled object up to a desired location will be described.
Processing example 3 is processing example 1 and processing except that the position information indicating the desired location included in the setting information 32 is the desired location condition “location where the slice area is the smallest” and the shaped object to be produced is different. Similar to Example 2. In the following description, the same parts as those of the processing example 1 and the processing example 2 are omitted.

7A and 7B are diagrams schematically illustrating a three-dimensional model according to the processing example 3.
FIG. 7A is a diagram schematically illustrating the three-dimensional shape of the structure 702 in the modeled object 701 produced by the modeling apparatus 101 in the processing example 3. FIG. 7B is an XZ plan view schematically showing the structure body 702 and the support body 703 when the modeled object 701 is manufactured without performing the dividing process of the modeled object.
In Processing Example 3, the modeling apparatus 101 produces a drum-shaped modeled object 701 having a height of 100 mm, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
Since the modeled object 701 is a drum-shaped three-dimensional object, a support body 703 is required in a space located below the structure 702 of the modeled object 701 in the gravity direction as illustrated in FIG. 7B.

In step S <b> 301, the job receiving unit 211 acquires the modeling data 31 and the setting information 32 from the information processing apparatus 102 via the communication path 103.
In the process example 3, the setting information 32 includes a desired location condition and a notification destination address. Here, the desired location condition is “location with the smallest slice area”. In the processing example 3, “the place where the slice area is the smallest” is cited as the desired place condition, but the present invention is not limited to this. The desired part condition may be any condition as long as the slice data corresponding to the desired part can be uniquely specified.

In step S304, the slice data generation unit 214 generates slice data based on the three-dimensional shape data included in the modeling data 31 generated in step S303. Thereafter, the slice data generation unit 214 assigns an index to each of the generated slice data and sequentially registers them in the slice data list 33. Further, the slice data generation unit 214 calculates a slice area for each of the generated slice data, and sequentially registers the slice area in the slice data list 33. As a result, a slice data list 33 indicating the correspondence between slice data, indexes, and slice areas is generated.
An example of the slice data list 33 in the processing example 3 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, it is understood that indexes “1” to “200” are assigned to each of the 200 slice data. It can also be seen that the slice area is calculated for each of the 200 slice data.

In step S305, the index deriving unit 215 derives a desired location index from the slice location list 33 generated in step S304 and the desired location condition included in the acquired setting information 32. In Processing Example 3, the index deriving unit 215 derives the desired location index “100” with reference to the slice data list 33 based on the desired location condition “location with the smallest slice area” included in the acquired setting information 32. To do. Then, the index deriving unit 215 refers to the slice data list 33 generated in step S304 and identifies slice data to which the derived desired location index “100” is assigned. Then, the index deriving unit 215 updates the desired location flag held by the identified slice data to “True”. As shown in FIG. 8, it can be seen that the desired location flag of the slice data to which the desired location index “100” is assigned is “True”.
Subsequent processing is the same as Processing Example 1 and Processing Example 2, and is therefore omitted.

  As described above, also in the processing example 3, it can be determined that the production of the modeled object has progressed to a desired location. As a result, the user or the operator can know that the production of the model has progressed to the desired location without monitoring the progress.

(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Modeling system, 101 ... Modeling apparatus, 22 ... Completion notification part, 221 ... Discrimination part, 222 ... Notification part, 40 ... Setting information input part

Claims (5)

Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model, a modeling apparatus that sequentially stacks modeling materials to produce a three-dimensional object,
Accepting means for receiving information on a confirmation part that requires confirmation of the production condition during the production of the three-dimensional object to be produced;
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part;
An output means for outputting information when the discriminating means discriminates that the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation portion;
A modeling apparatus comprising: Processing means for performing processing for identifying slice data corresponding to the confirmation portion from the plurality of slice data to be generated;
The said discrimination | determination means discriminate | determines that the solid thing being produced was produced to the said confirmation part, when a modeling material is laminated | stacked based on the slice data specified by the said process means. The modeling apparatus described in 1. Having a photographing means for photographing a three-dimensional object;
3. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing unit photographs the three-dimensional object being manufactured when the determining unit determines that the three-dimensional object being manufactured has been manufactured up to the confirmation portion. 4. . Having interruption means for interrupting the production operation of the three-dimensional object,
The said interruption | blocking means interrupts the production | generation operation | movement of a solid object, when the said determination means discriminate | determines that the solid object being produced has produced to the said confirmation part. The modeling apparatus described in 1. Based on the slice data generated from the three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model, a modeling method for producing a three-dimensional object by sequentially stacking modeling materials,
A step of receiving information on a confirmation part that requires confirmation of a production condition during the production of a three-dimensional object to be produced;
Determining whether the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part; and
A step of outputting information when it is determined that the three-dimensional object being produced has been produced up to the confirmation part;
A modeling method comprising:

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