Systems and methods for creating 3d objects

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing price quotes for 3D objects are described herein. In one embodiment, costs related to generating a 3D object molded from a 3D printer mold may be based on various parameters. The process for generating a price quote may include uploading an initial file to a server and converting that file into a 3D CAD file. The method may also include selecting units, materials, a finish, and/or a quantity of objects to be made. Based on the selections, the server may generate a price quote to produce the one or more objects, and a checkout option may be provided allowing the user to purchase the one or more objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating a price quote for a 3D object to be molded from a 3D printer, the method comprising:
 receiving an initial file associated with at least one 3D object to be formed;   obtaining a selection of at least one parameter for the at least one 3D object; and   generating a price quote based on the at least one parameter and the initial file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating further comprises:
 generating the price quote based on a 3D Computer Aided Design (“CAD”) file associated with the initial file.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the 3D CAD file associated with the initial file is the same as the initial file.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a checkout option to purchase the at least one 3D object based on the generated price quote.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 converting the initial file to a 3D CAD file.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a server receives the initial file; and   a client device transmits the initial file to the server.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initial file comprises at least one of: an STL file, an IGES file, a STEP file, a Catia file, a Solid Works file, a ProE file, a 3D Studio file, a Rhino file, a JPEG file, and a GIF file. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initial file comprises a 2D file, the method further comprises:
 converting the 2D file to a 3D CAD file.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:
 dimensions of the 3D object;   a material to form the 3D object;   a quantity of the 3D object to be made; and   a finish of the 3D object.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the initial file comprises metadata; and   the metadata comprises at least one of geographical and temporal data.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein generating further comprises:
 generating an additional price quote for a background to be formed based on the metadata associated with the initial file.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing at least one of the initial file, the at least one selection parameter, and the generated price quote in a database.   
     
     
         13 . A method for optimizing price quotes, comprising:
 receiving an initial file associated with at least one 3D object to be formed;   determining, based on the initial file, a design change for the at least one 3D object to be formed;   creating a modified version of the initial file comprising the design change; and   generating a price quote based on the modified version of the initial file.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining further comprises:
 determining a potential design issue for the at least one 3D object.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein creating further comprises:
 correcting the potential design issue within the modified version of the initial file by implanting the design change.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining further comprises:
 providing the design change to correct a potential design issue for the at least one 3D object.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 selecting at least one option for the at least one 3D object to be formed.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein generating further comprises:
 generating the price quote based on the modified version of the initial file and the selected at least one option.   
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a 2D file comprising a 2D image;   converting the 2D image into a 3D image;   creating a 3D CAD file comprising the 3D image; and   generating a price quote for a 3D object to be formed based on the created 3D CAD file.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving further comprises:
 uploading the 2D file to a server from a client device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 printing the 3D object based on the created 3D CAD file.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein converting further comprises:
 extracting a surface from the 2D image to be used for creating the 3D image.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the 2D object comprises a first dimension and a second dimension, converting further comprises:
 obtaining a selection of a third dimension from a user, the third dimension being used with the first dimension and the second dimension to create the 3D object.