JP6972837B2 - 3D modeling device, 3D modeling program, and 3D modeling data generation program. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, a three-dimensional modeling program, and a three-dimensional modeling data generation program.

Patent Document 1 describes a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional model including a modeling body portion and a decorative portion, which comprises a modeling body portion forming step of forming the modeling body portion using at least decorative ink and a model material. Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional model, which comprises a step of forming a decorative portion for forming the decorative portion that covers the modeling main body portion using the decorative ink. ..

Patent Document 2 describes a head unit capable of discharging a plurality of types of liquids including a first liquid and a second liquid, capable of forming dots by the discharged liquids, and a curing unit for curing the dots. A first modeling mode in which the inside of the three-dimensional object is modeled by a plurality of dots made of the first liquid, which is a three-dimensional object modeling apparatus for modeling the three-dimensional object by the cured dots. The said by a plurality of modeling modes including a second modeling mode in which the inside of the three-dimensional object is modeled by a plurality of dots including dots composed of the second liquid and not including dots composed of one liquid. A three-dimensional object modeling apparatus is disclosed, which is characterized in that it can form a three-dimensional object.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-198896 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-101685

When modeling a three-dimensional model, the modeling material may be placed in the solid part inside the colored layer of the three-dimensional model. In this case, the color development property of the colored layer may decrease depending on the color density of the modeling material arranged closer to the colored layer.

The present invention suppresses a decrease in color development of a three-dimensional model as compared with a case where a modeling material is arranged without considering the color density when modeling the solid part of the three-dimensional model. It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional modeling device, a three-dimensional modeling program, and a three-dimensional modeling data generation program that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1 comprises a plurality of ejection heads for individually ejecting a plurality of modeling materials used in the modeling process of a three-dimensional model, and the three-dimensional modeling. when shaping at least a portion of the solid portion inner than the colored layer of the object, said as a dark Kunar order color density increases toward the inside of the three-dimensional model, yellow, red, blue, black A control unit for controlling the discharge head is provided so that the modeling material is arranged in the order of.

In the invention according to claim 2, in the control unit, the arrangement of the plurality of modeling materials in at least a part of the solid portion is symmetrical with respect to a predetermined reference position of the three-dimensional modeling object. As described above, the discharge head is controlled.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the discharge head so that a color mixing region in which the plurality of modeling materials are mixed and arranged is provided in at least a part of the solid portion. do.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the color mixing region includes a region in which a plurality of colors having different combinations of the plurality of modeling materials are alternately arranged in a predetermined direction.

In the invention according to claim 5, the plurality of colors include a common color.

In the invention according to claim 6, in the control unit, the concealing layer in which the modeling material having a color density lighter than that of the modeling material arranged in the solid portion is arranged is the colored layer and the solid portion. The discharge head is controlled so as to be formed between the and.

In the invention according to claim 7, the control unit controls the discharge head so that the white modeling material is arranged on the concealing layer.

The invention according to claim 8 includes a reception unit that receives an arrangement pattern of the plurality of modeling materials in the solid portion.

In the invention according to claim 9, the reception unit receives an arrangement pattern selected from a plurality of arrangement patterns including a checkered pattern and a striped pattern.

The three-dimensional modeling program of the invention according to claim 10 is a three-dimensional modeling program for causing a computer to function as a control unit of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

3D modeling data generation program according to claim 11 causes a computer, in the case of shaping the solid portions of the 3D object, as a dark Kunar order color density increases toward the inside of the three-dimensional model, yellow A 3D modeling data generation program to function as a generator that generates 3D modeling data that specifies the arrangement of multiple modeling materials so that the modeling materials are arranged in the order of system, red system, blue system, and black. Is.

According to the first, tenth, and eleventh aspects of the invention, when modeling the solid part of the three-dimensional modeled object, as compared with the case where the modeling material is arranged without considering the color density. It has the effect that it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the color development property of the three-dimensional model.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the modeled object is arranged without considering the symmetry of the arrangement of the plurality of modeling materials for the solid part, the three-dimensional effect due to the difference in the curability of the modeling material is obtained. It has the effect of suppressing distortion of the modeled object.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to suppress the consumption amount of the modeled object from being biased as compared with the case where a single modeling material is arranged in the solid portion.

According to the invention of claim 4, the three-dimensional modeling due to the difference in the curability of the modeled object is compared with the case where the color mixing area includes the area where the same color mixing is alternately arranged in the combination of the plurality of modeling materials. It has the effect of suppressing the distortion of objects.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the distortion of the three-dimensional modeled object due to the difference in the curability of the adjacently arranged modeling materials is suppressed as compared with the case where the plurality of colors do not contain a common color. It has the effect of being able to.

According to the invention of claim 6, a concealing layer in which a modeling material having a color density darker than that of the modeling material arranged in the solid portion is arranged is formed between the colored layer and the solid portion. Compared with the case, it has an effect that it is possible to suppress the decrease in color development of the colored layer.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the decrease in color development of the colored layer can be further suppressed as compared with the case where a modeling material other than white is arranged in the concealing layer.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the user can set an arbitrary arrangement pattern as compared with the case where the arrangement pattern of the plurality of modeling materials in the solid portion is fixed.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the user can easily select the arrangement pattern as compared with the case where there is no predetermined arrangement pattern selection branch.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of a 3D modeling apparatus. It is a figure which shows the arrangement example of a model material discharge head, a support material discharge head, and a three-dimensional model. It is a figure which shows the example of the internal structure of a three-dimensional model. It is a figure which shows an example of the slice data which sliced a three-dimensional model. It is a figure which shows another example of the slice data which sliced a 3D model. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of 3D modeling data generation processing. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a three-dimensional model. It is a cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional model. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a three-dimensional model. It is a cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional model. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the arrangement of a color in a solid part. It is a figure which shows the example of the arrangement of a color in a solid part. It is a figure which shows the example of the arrangement of a color in a solid part. It is a figure which shows the example of the arrangement of a color in a solid part. It is a figure which shows the example of the arrangement of a color in a solid part. It is a figure which shows the example of the arrangement of a color in a solid part. It is a figure which shows the example of the arrangement of a color in a solid part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the modeling process of a three-dimensional model.

Hereinafter, examples of embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The dimensional ratios in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

First, the configuration of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the following, cyan is represented by C, magenta is represented by M, yellow is represented by Y, black is represented by K, white is represented by W, and uncolored transparent color is represented by T, and each component must be distinguished by color. If there is, the description will be described by adding a color code (C, M, Y, K, W, T) corresponding to each color to the end of the code. When each constituent part is generically referred to without distinguishing each component, the code of the color at the end of the code is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 includes a controller 12, model material accommodating portions 14C, 14M, 14Y, 14K, 14W, 14T, model material discharge heads 16C, 16M, 16Y, 16K, 16W, 16T, and the like. A support material accommodating portion 18 is provided. Further, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 includes a support material ejection head 20, a UV (Ultra Violet) light source 22, an XY scanning unit 24, a modeling table elevating unit 26, a cleaning unit 28, a storage unit 30, a communication unit 32, and a remaining amount detection. A unit 34 is provided.

The controller 12, which is an example of the control unit, includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12C, a non-volatile memory 12D, and an input / output interface (I / O) 12E. Be prepared. The CPU 12A, ROM 12B, RAM 12C, non-volatile memory 12D, and I / O 12E are each connected via the bus 12F.

Further, the model material accommodating portion 14, the model material ejection head 16, the support material accommodating portion 18, the support material ejection head 20, the UV light source 22, and the XY scanning unit 24 are connected to the I / O 12E. Further, the modeling table elevating unit 26, the cleaning unit 28, the storage unit 30, the communication unit 32, and the remaining amount detecting unit 34 are connected to the I / O 12E.

The model material accommodating portion 14 accommodates a model material which is an example of a modeling material for modeling a three-dimensional modeled object. Further, the model material accommodating unit 14 accommodates the corresponding model materials of each CMYKWT color. The model material is composed of UV light, that is, a UV curable resin having a property of being cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

The model material ejection head 16 ejects the model material supplied from the model material accommodating portion 14 of the corresponding color by an inkjet method according to the instruction from the CPU 12A. A plurality of nozzles are provided on the discharge surface of the model material discharge head 16 for discharging the model material, and the nozzles for discharging the model material are controlled by the CPU 12A.

The support material accommodating portion 18 accommodates a support material for supporting or protecting a three-dimensional model. The support material is used to support the overhang portion (also referred to as "overhanging portion") of the 3D model until the model of the 3D model is completed, and is removed after the model of the 3D model is completed. .. The support material is also used for preventing and protecting the surface of a three-dimensional object from dripping when it has a nearly vertical surface such as a cube. The support material is also used to cover and protect the model material in order to prevent the three-dimensional model from being deteriorated by irradiation with UV light. Like the model material, the support material is composed of a UV curable resin or the like having the property of curing when irradiated with UV light.

The support material ejection head 20 ejects the support material supplied from the support material accommodating portion 18 by an inkjet method according to the instruction from the CPU 12A. A plurality of nozzles are provided on the discharge surface of the support material discharge head 20 for discharging the support material, and the nozzles for discharging the support material are controlled by the CPU 12A.

The model material discharge head 16 is provided with a dedicated model material discharge head 16 for each color, and a piezo type (piezoelectric method) discharge head that discharges a liquid model material corresponding to each color from a nozzle by pressure is applied. Similarly, as the support material discharge head 20, a piezo type discharge head that discharges a liquid support material from a nozzle by pressure is applied.

Each discharge head is not limited in the method of discharging the model material and the support material as long as it is an inkjet method, and may be a discharge head of a method of discharging the model material and the support material by the pressure of a pump, for example.

The UV light source 22 irradiates the model material discharged from the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharged from the support material discharge head 20 with UV light to cure the model material and the support material.

Examples of the UV light source 22 include a metal halide lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, an ultra-high-pressure mercury lamp, a deep ultraviolet lamp, a lamp that excites a mercury lamp from the outside without an electrode using microwaves, an ultraviolet laser, a xenon lamp, and a UV-LED (Light). A device having a light source such as Emitting Diode) is applied. Further, an electron beam irradiation device may be used instead of the UV light source 22. Examples of the electron beam irradiating device include electron irradiating devices such as a scanning type, a curtain type, and a plasma discharge type.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20 and the three-dimensional model 40. Although the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20 are shown together in FIG. 2 for simplification of the description, in reality, for example, the model material discharge heads 16C, 16M, 16Y, 16K, 16W , 16T, and the support material discharge head 20 are arranged along the X-axis direction. The order of arrangement of the discharge heads is not limited to this.

In the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20, for example, the discharge surface of the model material and the support material is arranged toward the modeling surface of the modeling table 36 on which the three-dimensional model 40 is arranged, and the XY scanning unit 24 (not shown) is provided. By the control of, it moves in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction together with the UV light source 22 (not shown). There is no limitation on the arrangement order of the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20 for each color. Further, the length of the model material discharge head 16 along the Y-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as “width of model material discharge head 16”) and the length of the support material discharge head 20 (hereinafter referred to as “width of support material discharge head 20”). The width of the model material discharge head 16 and the width of the support material discharge head 20 are equal to or larger than the length of the modeling table 36 along the Y-axis direction, that is, the width of the depth of the modeling table 36. You may.

The XY scanning unit 24 drives the model material discharge head 16, the support material discharge head 20, and the UV light source 22 so as to move in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. That is, the XY scanning unit 24 drives the model material discharge head 16, the support material discharge head 20, and the UV light source 22 so as to scan on the modeling surface of the modeling table 36.

The X-axis direction may be referred to as the scanning direction of the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20, and the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the scanning direction may be referred to as the width direction of the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20. .. The model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20 sequentially move in the scanning direction while discharging the model material and the support material in their respective width directions to form a three-dimensional model 40.

The modeling table elevating unit 26 raises and lowers the modeling table 36 shown in FIG. 2 in the Z-axis direction. When modeling the three-dimensional model 40, the CPU 12A discharges the model material and the support material onto the modeling table 36 so that the discharged model material and the support material are irradiated with UV light. The head 16, the support material ejection head 20, and the UV light source 22 are controlled. Further, the CPU 12A controls the XY scanning unit 24 so that the model material ejection head 16, the support material ejection head 20, and the UV light source 22 scan on the modeling surface of the modeling table 36, and the modeling table 36 controls the modeling table 36 in the Z-axis direction. The modeling table elevating part 26 is controlled so as to move to. Hereinafter, the Z-axis direction may be referred to as the height direction of the three-dimensional model 40. It is sufficient that the model material discharge head 16, the support material discharge head 20, the UV light source 22, and the modeling table 36 are relatively scanned, and the model material discharge head 16, the support material discharge head 20, and the three-dimensional model 40 are used. The arrangement of is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG.

The cleaning unit 28 has a function of cleaning the nozzles by sucking the material adhering to the nozzles of the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20. For example, the cleaning unit 28 is provided in a retracted area outside the scanning range of the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20, and when cleaning is performed, the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20 are retracted. Clean after evacuating to the area.

The storage unit 30 stores the three-dimensional modeling data 30A, the three-dimensional data 30B, and the support material data 30C, which will be described later.

The CPU 12A reads the three-dimensional modeling data generation program stored in the ROM 12B, and data for modeling the three-dimensional model 40 represented by the three-dimensional data 30B with the three-dimensional modeling device 10, that is, the three-dimensional modeling data 30A. To generate. The three-dimensional modeling data 30A includes discharge position information of the model material by the model material discharge head 16 and discharge position information of the support material by the support material discharge head 20. Here, the discharge position information is information representing the position (coordinates) at which the model material is discharged.

The CPU 12A moves the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20 to the designated positions according to the generated three-dimensional modeling data 30A, and models from the designated nozzles of the model material discharge head 16 and the support material discharge head 20. Discharge material and support material.

As the format of the three-dimensional data 30B, for example, the OBJ format, which is a data format for expressing a three-dimensional shape, is used. In the OBJ format, an OBJ file that handles geometric shape data and an MTL file that handles material data including color information are used. Therefore, the three-dimensional model 40 is represented as a set of triangular polygons. Further, the three-dimensional data 30B has color information in a portion corresponding to the surface of the polygon. The format of the data expressing the three-dimensional shape is not limited to the OBJ format, and may be another format.

The communication unit 32 is connected to a communication line such as the Internet and a LAN (Local Area Network), and has an interface for performing data communication with an external device such as a computer connected to the communication line. The three-dimensional modeling device 10 receives the three-dimensional data 30B of the three-dimensional modeling object 40 from an external device, and models the three-dimensional modeling object 40.

The remaining amount detecting unit 34 individually detects the remaining amount of the model material accommodated in the model material accommodating unit 14 for each color by using, for example, an optical sensor or the like.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the structure of the three-dimensional model 40 that is modeled based on the three-dimensional data 30B by the three-dimensional modeling device 10 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the three-dimensional model 40 includes an outermost layer 50, a colored layer 52, a concealing layer 54, and a solid portion 56.

The outermost layer 50 is a layer located on the outermost side of the three-dimensional model 40, and is a layer for protecting the surface of the colored layer 52. The outermost layer 50 is modeled with a T-color model material (hereinafter referred to as “T-color model material”), that is, clear ink, as an example. It is not always necessary to provide the outermost layer 50 on the three-dimensional model 40, and the colored layer 52 may be used instead of the outermost layer 50.

The colored layer 52 is a layer located between the outermost layer 50 and the concealing layer 54 described later, and is a layer visually recognizable from the outside of the three-dimensional model 40. The colored layer 52 is modeled based on the three-dimensional data 30B by using a model material of one color of C, M, Y, K, W, and T, or a model material in which a plurality of colors are combined.

The concealing layer 54 is a layer located between the colored layer 52 and the solid portion 56 described later. The concealing layer 54 is, in detail, a layer forming a region located on the outermost surface side (outer side) of the solid portion 56, and the concealing layer 54 is a layer included in the solid portion 56 in a broad sense. Is.

The concealing layer 54 is a layer that reflects light from the outside, and is formed by using a W color model material (hereinafter referred to as “W color model material”) as an example. As a result, since the W color is arranged on the base of the colored layer 52, the light is reflected by the concealing layer 54, and the color of the colored layer 52 approaches the color specified in the three-dimensional data 30B and is visually recognized. .. Further, if the light is reflected by the concealing layer 54, the color of the solid portion 56 inside the concealing layer 54 is concealed. Therefore, from this point as well, the color of the colored layer 52 is the three-dimensional data 30B. It will be visually recognized as it approaches the specified color. As described above, the property that the solid portion 56 including the concealing layer 54 reflects light is called "light reflectivity", and the property that the concealing layer 54 conceals the inside of the solid portion 56 is called "concealment property".

The color of the concealing layer 54 is not limited to the W color, and the concealing layer 54 may be modeled using a model material having at least one color different from the W color.

The solid portion 56 is a region located inside the concealing layer 54, and constitutes an internal region that is not visible from the outside of the three-dimensional model 40. The solid portion 56 is formed by appropriately combining model materials of C, M, Y, K, W, and T.

When the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 receives the three-dimensional data 30B, it generates a three-dimensional model corresponding to the three-dimensional model 40 represented by the three-dimensional data 30B.

The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 slices a three-dimensional model generated on a plane parallel to the modeling surface of the modeling table 36, that is, an XY plane, in the height direction of the three-dimensional modeling object 40 at predetermined intervals to obtain a three-dimensional model. For each layer obtained by slicing, slice data associated with the discharge position information of the model material and the support material of each color is generated. Since the three-dimensional model 40 is formed by sequentially stacking the model material and the support material based on the generated slice data, each slice data is a slice of the nth layer (n = 1 to N: N is an integer). Designated as data. The outline of each layer is specified by the slice data.

Figure 4 is an example of a schematic view a visual representation of the slice data in n ₁ layer in the case of sliced 3D object 40 in FIG. 3 in the XY plane. As shown in FIG. 4, slice data of n ₁ th layer are the slice data of the position across the solid portion 56, the outermost layer 50, the colored layer 52, masking layer 54, and the model material in the solid portion 56 Discharge position information is associated with.

Figure 5 is an example of a schematic view a visual representation of the slice data in the n ₂ layer in the case of sliced 3D object 40 in FIG. 3 in the XY plane. As shown in FIG. 5, slice data of n ₂ th layer are the slice data of the position which does not cross the solid portion 56, for example the outermost layer 50, the discharge position of the model material in the colored layer 52, and masking layer 54 Information is associated.

As shown in FIG. 3, since the inside of the three-dimensional model 40 is modeled as the solid portion 56, the ratio of the solid portion 56 including the concealing layer 54 in the three-dimensional model 40 is the outermost layer. It is larger than the proportion occupied by 50 and the colored layer 52.

Therefore, when the solid portion 56 including the concealing layer 54 is modeled with the W color model material, the W color model material is continuously ejected from the same nozzle of the W color model material ejection head 16 and the W color model material is discharged. It is conceivable that the discharge amount of the color model material varies, the W color model material does not discharge, or the W color model material is discharged to a position different from the designated position.

Therefore, it is conceivable to suppress the occurrence of ejection defects by arranging model materials of colors other than W in the solid portion 56 in a well-balanced manner. However, if a model material having a high color density is arranged in the solid portion 56, the color development property of the colored layer 52 may decrease.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the model material having a darker color density is arranged toward the inside of the three-dimensional model. Here, the color density is defined by, for example, the density obtained from the result of color measurement by a colorimeter.

Although the slice data may be associated with the discharge position information of the support material, in the following description, the support material is described in order to explain the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10 by paying attention to the discharge position information of the model material. The description of the discharge position information of is omitted.

Further, although the slice data is also associated with the discharge position information of the model material in the outermost layer 50, pay attention to the association of the discharge position information of the model material in the colored layer 52, the concealing layer 54, and the solid portion 56. In order to explain the operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10, the description of the discharge position information of the model material in the outermost layer 50 will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the three-dimensional modeling data generation process in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10. The three-dimensional modeling data generation program that defines the three-dimensional modeling data generation processing is stored in the ROM 12B in advance. For example, when the user receives the three-dimensional data 30B, the CPU 12A reads the three-dimensional modeling data generation program from the ROM 12B and executes it. ..

It is assumed that the slice data for the three-dimensional data 30B is generated in advance before the three-dimensional modeling data generation program is executed. However, in the generated slice data, only the outer shape of the layer obtained by slicing the three-dimensional model is specified, and the discharge position information of the model material of each color is not associated with it. Therefore, the discharge position information of the model material of each color is associated with the three-dimensional modeling data generation process described below.

First, in step S100, the CPU 12A sets the layer number n for selecting slice data to “1”. The three-dimensional model is sliced into N layers, and the layer number n is uniquely associated with each slice data. Here, it is assumed that the slice data having the layer number "1" is associated with, for example, the slice data of the lowest layer, and "2" and "3" are sequentially obtained from the slice data of the lowest layer to the slice data of the upper layer. It is assumed that the layer numbers of ", ...," N "are associated with each other. That is, the layer number 1 is associated with the slice data of the lowermost layer of the three-dimensional model 40, and the layer number N is associated with the slice data of the uppermost layer.

In step S102, the CPU 12A selects slice data corresponding to the layer number n.

In step S104, the CPU 12A generates the discharge position information of the colored layer 52 and associates it with the slice data selected in step S102.

For example, a case of generating three-dimensional modeling data of a conical three-dimensional modeling object 40 as shown in FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional model 40 shown in FIG. 7 in the XZ plane. Also shown n ₁ layer in the case of sliced 3D object 40 in the XY plane, the schematic diagram of a visual representation of the slice data in the n ₂ layer in FIGS. 9 and 10.

For example, coloring the range of the case, the outermost layer 50 a predetermined distance (thickness) from the boundary between (Fig. 9, not shown) d1 associating discharging position information of the colored layer 52 in the slice data of n ₁ layer shown in FIG. 9 Set as layer 52. The thickness d1 of the colored layer 52 is, for example, about several hundred μm, specifically about 500 μm, but is not limited to this.

Then, by setting the color information specified in the three-dimensional data 30B to the colored layer 52, the discharge position information of the model material to be discharged to the colored layer 52 is set.

In step S106, the CPU 12A generates the discharge position information of the concealing layer 54 and associates it with the slice data selected in step S102.

For example, when associating the discharging position information of the hidden layer 54 to the slice data of n ₁ layer shown in FIG. 9, sets the range of the distance d2 a predetermined from the boundary between the colored layer 52 as a masking layer 54. The thickness of the concealing layer 54 is, for example, about several hundred μm to several mm, specifically about 5 mm, but is not limited to this.

Then, by setting predetermined color information in the concealing layer 54, the ejection position information of the model material discharged to the concealing layer 54 is set. In the present embodiment, as an example, the concealing layer 54 is set to white. Therefore, the W color model material is discharged to the concealing layer 54.

In step S108, the CPU 12 generates the discharge position information of the solid portion 56 and associates it with the slice data selected in step S102.

For example, when associating the discharging position information of the solid portion 56 in the slice data of n ₁ layer shown in FIG. 9, it sets the range inside of the boundary between the masking layer 54 as a solid portion 56. Further, the range of the predetermined distance da1 from the boundary with the concealing layer 54 is the range of the first solid portion 56-1, and the range of the predetermined distance da2 from the boundary with the first solid portion 56-1 is the second. The range of the predetermined distance d3 from the boundary between the solid part 56-2 and the second solid part 56-2 is set to the third solid part 56-3, ... I will set it. In the case of slice data of n _2-layer shown in FIG. 10, it is set only solid portion 56-1 first since the area is small solid portion 56.

Then, by setting predetermined color information in each solid part, the discharge position information of the model material to be discharged to each solid part is set.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of model materials are arranged with respect to the solid portion 56 so that the model material having a darker color density is arranged toward the inside of the three-dimensional model 40 of the three-dimensional model 40. Set the specified discharge position information.

Basically, the color information is set in each solid part in the order of yellowish, reddish, blueish, and black in the order from the outside to the inside of the three-dimensional model 40.

For example, in the example of FIG. 9, the solid part 56 includes the first solid part 56-1 to the eighth solid part 56-8. Then, a mixed color of white and yellow is set in the first solid portion 56-1 as an example. Further, in the second solid portion 56-2, yellow is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the first solid portion 56-1. Further, in the third solid portion 56-3, a mixed color of yellow and red is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the second solid portion 56-2. Further, in the fourth solid portion 56-4, red is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the third solid portion 56-3. Further, in the fifth solid portion 56-5, a mixed color of red and blue is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the fourth solid portion 56-4. Further, in the sixth solid portion 56-6, blue is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the fifth solid portion 56-5. Further, in the seventh solid portion 56-7, a mixed color of blue and black is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the sixth solid portion 56-6. Further, in the eighth solid portion 56-8, black is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the seventh solid portion 56-7. The colors set in each solid part are examples, and are not limited to the above colors.

As described above, in the example of FIG. 9, a color mixing region is provided in at least a part of the solid portion 56. Here, the color mixing region is a region in which a plurality of model materials are mixed and arranged.

In the following, eight colors of white, black, blue, red, green, cyan, magenta, and yellow are referred to as a single color, and a mixed color means a color in which a plurality of single colors are mixed.

Color information is set for each solid part so that the arrangement of the plurality of model materials in at least a part of the solid part 56 is symmetrical with respect to the predetermined reference position of the three-dimensional model 40. It is preferable to do so.

For example, since the three-dimensional model 40 shown in FIG. 7 has a conical shape, the shape in the XY plane is a circle as shown in FIG. Therefore, the arrangement of the color information in the solid portion 56 is axisymmetric with respect to the reference line K passing through the center of the three-dimensional model 40 in FIG. 9 (the center of the eighth solid portion 56-8). .. It can also be said that the three-dimensional model 40 is point-symmetrical with respect to the center point C.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the three-dimensional model 40 is sliced on the XZ plane, the cross section has a substantially triangular shape. Therefore, the arrangement of the color information in the solid portion 56 is axisymmetric with respect to the reference line K passing through the center of the three-dimensional model 40 (the center of each solid portion) in FIG.

The reference line K and the center point C are examples of reference positions. That is, the reference position is a reference position when color information is set in each solid part, and is defined by, for example, a straight line or a point.

It should be noted that the color information may be set for each solid part so as to be symmetrical with respect to the reference position in a part of the solid part 56 instead of the whole area.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, in the rectangular parallelepiped-shaped three-dimensional model 40A, the arrangement of the plurality of model materials in at least a part of the solid portion 56 is the predetermined reference position of the three-dimensional model 40A. Color information is set in each solid part so as to be symmetric with respect to.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional model 40A shown in FIG. 11 in the XZ plane. Also, a schematic diagram of a visual representation of the slice data in n ₁ layer in the case of sliced 3D object 40A in the XY plane in FIG. 13.

In the example of FIG. 13, the solid part 56 is composed of the first solid part 56-1 to 56-4. A mixture of white and yellow is set in the first solid portion 56-1 as an example. Further, in the second solid portion 56-2, a mixed color of yellow and red is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than that of the first solid portion 56-1. Further, in the third solid portion 56-3, a mixed color of red and blue is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the second solid portion 56-2. Further, in the fourth solid portion 56-4, a mixed color of blue and black is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the third solid portion 56-3.

In the example of FIG. 13, a mixture of a plurality of colors is set in all the solid parts, but a single color may be set in all the solid parts. In this case, for example, the first solid portion 56-1 is set to yellow as an example. Further, in the second solid portion 56-2, red is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the first solid portion 56-1. Further, in the third solid portion 56-3, blue is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the second solid portion 56-2. Further, in the fourth solid portion 56-4, black is set as an example as a color having a darker color density than the third solid portion 56-3.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when the cross section in the XY plane is L-shaped, the same color information is set for a region having the same distance in the direction orthogonal to the L-shaped reference line K, for example. Is preferable. As shown in FIG. 15, when the width W of a part of the L-shaped shape is narrow, a number of solid portions corresponding to the width W are provided for the region.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, color information may be set so that the solid portion 56 has a checkered pattern. In the example of FIG. 16, the square-shaped region 56-W set to the same white color as the concealing layer 54 and the square-shaped region 56-Y set to yellow are alternately arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. ing. As a result, the color change from the concealing layer 54 becomes gradual.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the color information may be set so that the solid portion 56 has a striped pattern. In the example of FIG. 17, the rectangular region 56-W set to the same white color as the concealing layer 54 and the rectangular region 56-Y set to yellow are alternately arranged in the X direction. Although the vertical striped pattern is used in the example of FIG. 17, a horizontal striped pattern may be used, or an oblique striped pattern may be used.

Further, in the examples of FIGS. 16 and 17, the solid portion 56 is set to white and yellow, which are monochromatic colors, but may be configured to include a checkered pattern or a striped pattern of mixed colors.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 18, the solid part 56 includes a first solid part 56-1, a second solid part 56-2, and a third solid part 56-3.

As an example, a mixed color of white and yellow is set in the first solid portion 56-1, and a mixed color of yellow and red is set in the second solid portion 56-2.

Then, in the third solid portion 56-3, the red and blue square-shaped mixed color regions 56-RB and the blue and black square-shaped mixed color regions 56-BK alternate in the X and Y directions. It has a checkered pattern.

Further, in the example of FIG. 19, the color mixing regions 56-RB and 56-BK are rectangular and have a striped pattern alternately arranged in the X direction. Although the vertical striped pattern is used in the example of FIG. 19, a horizontal striped pattern or an oblique striped pattern may be used.

By the way, the model material may have different curing characteristics and the like depending on the color. On the other hand, in the examples of FIGS. 18 and 19, blue is set as a common color in the color mixing regions 56-RB and 56-BK. Therefore, the change in color at the boundary between the color mixing regions 56-RB and 56-BK, that is, the change in curability becomes gradual.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the solid portion 56 is composed of a first solid portion 56-1 and a second solid portion 56-2, and the first solid portion 56-1 is white. A yellow color mixture may be set, and a yellow, red, blue, and black color mixture may be set in the second solid portion 56-2.

It should be noted that a reception unit that accepts arrangement patterns of a plurality of model materials in the solid portion 56 may be provided, and a plurality of model materials may be arranged in the solid portion 56 with the received arrangement pattern.

In this case, the reception unit may accept the arrangement pattern freely set by the user. Further, for example, a plurality of arrangement patterns including a checkered pattern and a striped pattern may be displayed on a display unit (not shown) so that the user can select the arrangement pattern and accept the arrangement pattern selected by the user.

In step S110, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the discharge position information of the model material is associated with the slice data of all the layers. That is, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the layer number n is the layer number N representing the uppermost layer of the three-dimensional model 40. If the determination process in step S110 is a negative determination, the process proceeds to step S112.

In step S112, the CPU 12A adds "1" to the current layer number n. Then, the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the CPU 12A selects the slice data of the upper layer adjacent to the slice data layer associated with the discharge position information of the model material immediately before.

After that, steps S102 to S110 are repeatedly executed until the determination process in step S110 becomes an affirmative determination, and the discharge position information of the model material is associated with the slice data of each layer.

When the discharge position information is associated with the slice data of each layer, the determination process in step S110 becomes an affirmative determination, and the three-dimensional modeling data generation process shown in FIG. 6 ends. At the end of the three-dimensional modeling data generation process, the CPU 12A stores the slice data of each layer associated with the ejection position information of the model material in the storage unit 30 as the three-dimensional modeling data 30A. As described above, the controller 12 is also an example of a generation unit that generates the three-dimensional modeling data 30A.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the modeling process of the three-dimensional modeled object 40. The three-dimensional modeling program that defines the modeling process is stored in ROM 12B in advance, and when a modeling instruction is received from the user together with slice data associated with the discharge position information generated in the three-dimensional modeling data generation process of FIG. , CPU 12A reads the three-dimensional modeling program from ROM 12B and executes it.

In step S200, the CPU 12A sets the layer number n for selecting slice data to “1”.

In step S210, the CPU 12A acquires the discharge position information of the model material of each color associated with the slice data of the layer number n from the storage unit 30.

In step S220, the CPU 12A controls the model material ejection head 16 and the XY scanning unit 24 so as to eject the model material of the designated color at the position indicated by the ejection position information of the model material of each color.

In step S230, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the discharge position information of the model material associated with the slice data has been acquired for all the layers. If the determination process in step S230 is a negative determination, the process proceeds to step S240.

In step S240, the CPU 12A adds "1" to the current layer number n. Then, the process proceeds to step S210, and in step S210, the CPU 12A acquires the discharge position information of the model material of each color associated with the slice data of the upper layer adjacent to the layer on which the model material was discharged immediately before from the storage unit 30. ..

After that, steps S210 to S240 are repeatedly executed until the determination process in step S230 becomes affirmative, and the model material is designated at the specified position based on the discharge position information of the model material of each color associated with the slice data of each layer. Discharge the model material of the specified color.

When the model material is ejected based on the ejection position information of the model material of each color associated with the slice data of the uppermost layer, the determination process in step S230 becomes a positive determination, and the modeling process shown in FIG. 21 is completed.

That is, by the modeling process shown in FIG. 21, the three-dimensional model 40 having the surface color and shape specified by the three-dimensional data 30B is modeled.

As described above, according to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 10, when modeling at least a part of the solid portion 56, the model material having a darker color density is arranged toward the inside of the three-dimensional modeled object. Controls the model material discharge head.

Although the present invention has been described above using each embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the scope described in each embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be made to each embodiment without departing from the gist of the present invention, and the modified or improved embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, the case where a model material having a color other than the transparent color is used for the solid portion 56 has been described, but the transparent model material may be arranged in the solid portion 56.

Further, when the colored layer 52 is black, even if the model material of any color is arranged in the solid portion 56, the influence on the color development is small, so that even if the model material is arranged without considering the color density. good.

Further, for example, the three-dimensional modeling data generation process shown in FIG. 6 and the modeling process shown in FIG. 21 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). In this case, the processing speed can be increased as compared with the case where it is realized by software.

Further, in each embodiment, the embodiment in which the three-dimensional modeling data generation program and the three-dimensional modeling program are installed in the ROM 12B has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Various programs according to the present invention may be provided in the form of being recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. For example, various programs according to the present invention are recorded on an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) -ROM, or in a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and a memory card. It may be provided in a recorded form. Further, various programs according to the present invention may be acquired from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication unit 32.

10 3D modeling device 12 Controller 14 Model material storage unit 16 Model material discharge head 18 Support material storage unit 20 Support material discharge head 22 Light source 24 XY scanning unit 26 Modeling table elevating unit 28 Cleaning unit 30 Storage unit 30A 3D modeling data 30B 3D data 30C Support material data 32 Communication unit 34 Remaining amount detection unit 36 Modeling table 40, 40A 3D model 40A 3D model 50 Outer layer 52 Colored layer 54 Concealing layer 56 Solid part C Center point K Reference line

Claims (11)

Multiple ejection heads that individually eject multiple modeling materials used in the modeling process of 3D objects, and
When said shaping at least a portion of the solid portion inner than the colored layers of the three-dimensional model, as a dark Kunar order color density increases toward the inside of the three-dimensional model, yellow, red, A control unit that controls the discharge head so that the modeling material is arranged in the order of blue and black.
A three-dimensional modeling device equipped with. The control unit controls the discharge head so that the arrangement of the plurality of modeling materials in at least a part of the solid portion is symmetrical with respect to a predetermined reference position of the three-dimensional modeling object. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 1. Claim 1 or claim 2 that the control unit controls the discharge head so that a color mixing region in which the plurality of modeling materials are mixed and arranged is provided in at least a part of the solid portion. The described three-dimensional modeling device. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color mixing region includes a region in which a plurality of colors having different combinations of the plurality of modeling materials are alternately arranged in a predetermined direction. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of colors include a common color. In the control unit, a concealing layer in which the modeling material having a color density lighter than that of the modeling material arranged in the solid portion is arranged is formed between the colored layer and the solid portion. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which controls the discharge head. The three-dimensional modeling device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit controls the discharge head so that the white modeling material is arranged on the concealing layer. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a reception unit that receives an arrangement pattern of the plurality of modeling materials in the solid portion. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the reception unit receives an arrangement pattern selected from a plurality of arrangement patterns including a checkered pattern and a striped pattern. A three-dimensional modeling program for making a computer function as a control unit of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Computer,
When shaping the solid portions of the 3D object, as a dark Kunar order color density increases toward the inside of the three-dimensional model, yellow, red, blue, and modeling material in black order placement A 3D modeling data generation program that functions as a generator that generates 3D modeling data that specifies the arrangement of multiple modeling materials.

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