Patent ID: 9266287
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B33Y,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method for use in 3D printing an object with customizable reflectances, comprising: for a set of printing materials for a 3D printer, determining a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) for a base diffuse layer and for a specular outer layer; with a set of normal distribution functions (NDFs), computing a corresponding geometry for a multi-faceted micro-structure; measuring reflectances of the specular outer layer with a surface of the specular outer layer comprising a plurality of the multi-faceted micro-structures corresponding to each of the NDFs with the set of printing materials; simulating a resulting BRDF of the base diffuse layer covered with the specular outer layer with the multi-faceted micro-structures; with an input target reflectance, determining a geometry of the multi-faceted micro-structures and a density on the surface of the specular outer layer to synthesize one of the NDFs; and operating a 3D printer to print a 3D object using the determined geometry and the set of printer materials.