Patent Document ID: 8525830
Application ID: 12884282
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer implemented method for converting a stereolithographic file into a point cloud file, the method comprising: receiving the stereolithographic file describing a part from a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium; identifying, using a non-transitory processor, a number of triangles in the stereolithographic file; selecting, using the non-transitory processor, a triangle in the number of triangles; identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a plurality of vertices for the triangle; assigning, using the non-transitory processor, the plurality of vertices to a plurality of points in a point cloud comprising points on a three-dimensional grid; identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a volume within the point cloud, wherein the volume encompasses the plurality of vertices; identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a first set of points in the point cloud within the volume and within a first selected distance from a plane defined by the plurality of vertices; identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a second set of points in the point cloud within a second selected distance from bounds defined by the plurality of vertices; identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a third set of points at an intersection of the first set of points and the second set of points to form identified points; associating, using the non-transitory processor, an identifier for the part with the identified points and the plurality of points in the point cloud, whereby an association of data is formed; and storing, on a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the association of data as a point cloud file.