Adding Strength, Color, and Finish to 3D Printed Objects

Abstract

A method comprises steps for (a) printing a 3D object using a 3D printer, the 3D object comprising a surface having one or both of one or more raised artifacts and one or more instances of raised text; and (b) printing an overlay to the surface with a printer using UV-curable ink and curing the ink with ultraviolet light, providing thereby one or more of increased strength, improved texture, and enhanced color effects or the 3D object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising steps:
 (a) printing a 3D object using a 3D printer, the 3D object comprising a surface having one or both of one or more raised artifacts and one or more instances of raised text; and   (b) printing an overlay to the surface with a printer using UV-curable ink and curing the ink with ultraviolet light, providing thereby one or more of increased strength, improved texture, and enhanced color effects or the 3D object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step (a), the surface includes a plurality of raised artifacts and a plurality of instances of raised text. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step (a), the 3D object is formed from an ultraviolet-curable polymer, paper, or sandstone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step (b), the overlay is printed using an inkjet printer,. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein in step (b) color images are added to the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further providing a step wherein a file for driving the 3D printer to produce the 3D object is created by a user through an interactive interface to a CAD program, and a file to drive the printer using UV-curable ink is derived from the first file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the CAD program and interactive interface is provided through a web page. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the CAD program provides access to libraries enabling users to select 3D objects to print, clip art to be added to the 3D object, text tools to add text to the 3D object and color tools to add color and color images to the 3D object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the users are enabled to download a first file to drive a 3D printer to create the 3D object, and a second file derived from the first file to print the overlay on the printed 3D object. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a computerized appliance having a processor and coupled to a data repository, the processor executing software from a non-transitory medium, the software providing an interactive interface to a design program, the design program enabling a user to:   select from storage an individual one of a plurality of objects that may be printed on a 3D printer;   select text to add to the 3D object and add the text to the object;   select artifacts to add to surfaces of the 3D object, and add the artifacts to the object;   enhance surfaces of the 3D object with color and images;   create a first file to run a 3D printer to print the 3D object;   create a second file to run a printer with UV-curable ink to overlay the 3D object with color and images; and   download the two files.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  comprising a 3D printer and an inkjet printer, wherein the user downloads the two files, sends the first to a 3D printer creating the 3D object, mounts the created 3D object in the second printer, and sends the second file to the second printer providing a UV-curable overlay to the 3D printed object, the overlay file then cured by UV light, providing one or more of enhanced strength, enhanced texture, and color and images to the 3D object. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the computerized appliance is an Internet-connected appliance providing a web page enabling users to access and use the design program.