Patent ID: 11931922
Assignee: INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRIA
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 0:
1. A method for computationally designing and producing at least one rigid re-usable two-pieced mold (1, 1a, 1b) for the reproduction of a complex object (2) or a resemblance (2′) thereof, wherein the complex object (2) is an object for which no parting direction (X) exists that allows non-destructive casting of said object (2) with a single rigid two-pieced mold (1, 1a, 1b) in a single-stepped extraction process, wherein each two-pieced mold (1, 1a, 1b) is designed to enclose at least one cavity (3) that is fillable with filling material to form the complex object (2), a resemblance (2′) of the complex object (2), or a part of the complex object (2), namely a sub-object (2a, 2b), to be reproduced within the mold (1, 1a, 1b), wherein each mold (1, 1a, 1b) consists of a rigid material, the method comprising the following steps:
a) taking as an initial input (IN) a digital surface description (D) of the complex object (2) to be reproduced;
b) manipulating the digital surface description (D) of step a) in order to obtain a feasible digital representation (Df) and consequently calculating at least one feasible re-usable two-pieced mold (1f), wherein a feasible digital representation (Df) is a representation that allows for each two-pieced mold (1, 1a, 1b) a single-stepped non-destructive extraction process,
b1) wherein the manipulation of the digital surface description (D) is performed by applying at least one of the following amendments to the digital surface description (D): {object deformation, split of the complex object (2) into a number of sub-objects (2a, 2b) and as such increasing the number of molds (1a, 1b), extending the complex object (2) by adding at least one inset (4)}, and
b2) wherein the extent of manipulation according to step b1) is determined based on

an optimization algorithm (OA), and/or
user-input preference data (U), and
b3) wherein the optimization algorithm (OA) is applied to obtain at least one feasible two-pieced mold (1f, 1fa, 1fb) by way of calculating an optimized orientation and position of the object (2) or sub-object (2a, 2b) within at least one feasible two-pieced mold (1, 1fa, 1fb) and consequently to calculate the shape of each piece of each two-pieced mold (1f) and its parting line, wherein the parting line is defined as at least one closed curve (C) in 3D space that is shaped when the two pieces (U, L) of the mold (1f, 1fa, 1fb) and the cavity (3) or the object (2) within the mold (1) meet one another;

c) manufacturing to produce the at least one feasible two-pieced mold ((1f, 1fa, 1fb) of step b) as an output (OUT).