Three dimensional object data

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for transforming three dimensional object data are disclosed. In some examples, data representing a three dimensional object is received, the data comprising object property data indicative of at least one attribute of at least a portion of the three dimensional object. The object property data is transformed into a plurality of device independent object property data objects having a common data structure, each object property data object comprising a value indicative of each of a predetermined set of object properties.

1 . A system to process jobs for additive manufacture of three-dimensional objects, the system comprising:
 a processing apparatus to receive job data specifying an object to be produced by additive manufacture and generate control data for output to a particular additive manufacturing system to produce the specified object; and   an interface of the processing apparatus structured to receive job data comprising a device independent object property data object, the data object including a listing of values that specify desired attributes of the object to be produced, the listing of values of different desired attributes conforming to a common data object structure that specifies an order of the different attributes specified in the listing.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies units for each value in the listing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies that the listing begin with a number of values specifying a color of the object to be produced. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies that the listing includes values for color, density, stiffness, conductivity and opacity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies that the listing includes values for color, density, stiffness, conductivity and opacity in that order. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies that the listing including values for elasticity, surface roughness and porosity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing apparatus is to insert a default value for any attribute of the listing for which no value is specified in the received job data. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing apparatus is to:
 determine apparatus capabilities for a specific additive manufacturing system to receive the control data; and   evaluate whether the specific additive manufacturing system can produce the desired attributes specified in the device independent object property data object.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing apparatus is to:
 determine apparatus capabilities for a specific additive manufacturing system to receive the control data; and   convert the listing into control data matching the capabilities of the specific additive manufacturing system.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the common data object structure specifies a bit depth for values for each attribute in the listing. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing apparatus comprises a mapping module to identify a value for the listing based on at least one of resolution to which the value is specified and frequency with which the value at a given resolution is contained within the device independent object property data object. 
     
     
         12 . A method to process jobs for additive manufacture of three-dimensional objects, the system comprising:
 receiving job data specifying an object to be produced by additive manufacture; and   generating control data for output to a particular additive manufacturing system to produce the specified object;   the job data comprising a device independent object property data object, the data object including a listing of values that specify desired attributes of the object to be produced, the listing of values of different desired attributes conforming to a common data object structure that specifies an order of the different attributes specified in the listing.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies units for each value in the listing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies that the listing begin with a number of values specifying a color of the object to be produced. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies that the listing includes values for color, density, stiffness, conductivity and opacity in that order. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the common data object structure further specifies that the listing including values for elasticity, surface roughness and porosity. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inserting insert a default value for any attribute of the listing for which no value is specified in the received job data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining apparatus capabilities for a specific additive manufacturing system to receive the control data; and   converting the listing into control data matching the capabilities of the specific additive manufacturing system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the common data object structure specifies a bit depth for values for each attribute in the listing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying a value for the listing based on at least one of resolution to which the value is specified and frequency with which the value at a given resolution is contained within the device independent object property data object.