Patent ID: 6029096
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: B29C,B29K,B33Y

Abstract:
A method for analyzing data representing a three-dimensional object, said three-dimensional object to be physically formed from a plurality of lamina on a lamina-by-lamina basis, to derive data descriptive of the lamina that have associated therewith a desired trapped volume region, comprising:supplying data descriptive of the three-dimensional object including data corresponding to lamina N and N-1 of the three-dimensional objects;identifying any up-facing regions of lamina N-1 and any trapped volume regions of lamina N-1;deriving a potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N by unioning any up-facing regions associated with lamina N-1 and any trapped volume regions associated with lamina N-1;identifying individual holes associated with lamina N;comparing the individual holes associated with lamina N to the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N;identifying a trapped volume as being associated with lamina N if at least one individual hole for lamina N has an overlap with the potential trapped volume region associated with lamina N which Is greater than a predetermined criteria.