Patent Document ID: 9946816
Application ID: 14217811
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A system for visualizing three dimensional (3D) printability of a 3D model, said system comprising: at least one processor configured to: simulate an actual 3D printing process of the 3D model to generate a layered simulated 3D model describing the 3D model as it is to be printed, wherein operations to simulate the actual 3D printing process of the 3D model includes for the simulation, (i) selection of a printing material to be used in the actual 3D printing process and for the simulation, (ii) selection of (a) a type of 3D printing process to be used in the actual 3D printing process, (b) a thickness of layers for the actual 3D printing process, and (c) a smallest printable feature defined by one of a nozzle and a laser beam to be used in the actual 3D printing process; generate a visual rendering of the layered simulated 3D model including highlighting of regions of the layered simulated 3D model differing from the 3D model, wherein the 3D model is an originally received model; and display the visual rendering of the layered simulated 3D model on a display device, wherein the layered 3D model is generated with unprintable regions and displayed with color coding to allow a user to identify defects in the original 3D model; control a 3D printer to physically print the 3D model according to the layered simulated 3D model.