Abstract: A computer-aided design (CAD) system may support spatially-aware detection of trapped support areas in 3D printing. The CAD system may detect trapped support areas in the surface mesh in that detected trapped support area do not have linear access to an opening in the surface mesh, including by surrounding the surface mesh with a virtual bounding box that encloses the surface mesh, mapping the virtual bounding box and surface mesh into a 3D cube space, and tracking mesh cubes and bounding cubes of the 3D cube space. For a given mesh face of the surface mesh, The CAD system may determine whether the given mesh face is part of a trapped support area by projecting a ray from the given mesh face and assessing the given mesh face as part of a trapped support area based on the ray passing through a mesh cube or a bounding cube.

Abstract: A computer-aided design (CAD) system may support detection of internal channel networks for 3D printing and may include a CAD model access engine and a channel network detection engine. The CAD model access engine may access a CAD model of a physical object to be constructed through 3D printing. The channel network detection engine may detect an internal channel network included in the CAD model of the physical object, including by identifying channel openings along a surface of the CAD model that satisfy an opening size threshold and recursively identifying internal faces of the CAD model that form the internal channel network, wherein the internal faces are faces of the CAD model that are internal to the surface of the CAD model. The channel network detection engine may also perform a channel verification on the identified internal channel network to support the 3D printing of the physical object.

Abstract: A computer-aided design (CAD) system may support detection of internal channel networks for 3D printing and may include a CAD model access engine and a channel network detection engine. The CAD model access engine may access a CAD model of a physical object to be constructed through 3D printing. The channel network detection engine may detect an internal channel network included in the CAD model of the physical object, including by identifying channel openings along a surface of the CAD model that satisfy an opening size threshold and recursively identifying internal faces of the CAD model that form the internal channel network, wherein the internal faces are faces of the CAD model that are internal to the surface of the CAD model. The channel network detection engine may also perform a channel verification on the identified internal channel network to support the 3D printing of the physical object.

Abstract: A computer-aided design (CAD) system may support spatially-aware detection of trapped support areas in 3D printing. The CAD system may detect trapped support areas in the surface mesh in that detected trapped support area do not have linear access to an opening in the surface mesh, including by surrounding the surface mesh with a virtual bounding box that encloses the surface mesh, mapping the virtual bounding box and surface mesh into a 3D cube space, and tracking mesh cubes and bounding cubes of the 3D cube space. For a given mesh face of the surface mesh, The CAD system may determine whether the given mesh face is part of a trapped support area by projecting a ray from the given mesh face and assessing the given mesh face as part of a trapped support area based on the ray passing through a mesh cube or a bounding cube.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a coding element having a track with multiple transparent sections, a light source positioned to output light to the track, and a photodetector array, positioned to detect light that passes through the transparent sections of the track. The photodetectors of the photodetector array have larger width dimensions than the width dimensions of the transparent sections of the track. Resolution of the optical encoder may be adjusted by changing the resolution of the coding element.

Abstract: A polaroid encoder system for detecting movement is disclosed. The system includes a movable polarizing code element. A detector module detects an amplitude based on how much illumination passes through one portion of the movable polarizing code element. A quadrant of the movable polarizing code element is determined based on how much illumination passes through another portion of the movable polarizing code element. The angular position of the movable polarizing code element can then be determined by using amplitude and the quadrant information.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for measuring wall thickness. After an internal body topology of the model is generated, the topology is traversed between wall elements to determine wall thickness.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical encoder device is provided with an optical encoder to detect codewheel/codestrip positions; a housing to accommodate the optical encoder; a first tapered guidepost protruding from a sidewall of the optical encoder housing; and a second tapered guidepost protruding from the sidewall of the optical encoder housing and extending substantially parallel to the first tapered guidepost. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for calculating internal volume of a solid model, comprising selecting a seed cube that is internal to a solid model; determining a plurality of surrounding cubes surrounding said seed cube; and calculating a boundary volume from said plurality of surrounding cubes, and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for measuring wall thickness. After an internal body topology of the model is generated, the topology is traversed between wall elements to determine wall thickness.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a coding element having a track with multiple transparent sections, a light source positioned to output light to the track, and a photodetector array, positioned to detect light that passes through the transparent sections of the track. The photodetectors of the photodetector array have larger width dimensions than the width dimensions of the transparent sections of the track. Resolution of the optical encoder may be adjusted by changing the resolution of the coding element.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a coding element having a track with multiple transparent sections, a light source positioned to output light to the track, and a photodetector array, positioned to detect light that passes through the transparent sections of the track. The photodetectors of the photodetector array have larger width dimensions than the width dimensions of the transparent sections of the track. Resolution of the optical encoder may be adjusted by changing the resolution of the coding element.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for decomposing a product model into manufacturing specific regions, including a corresponding system, method, and computer program product incorporating an object view visualization method for decomposing a product model into manufacturing specific regions.

Abstract: An optical encoder module is employed to detect light modulated by a moveable member (e.g., code wheel). The optical encoder includes an emitter having a light-emitting element, and a transparent medium encapsulating the light-emitting element. The transparent medium has a convex aspherical external surface shaped so as to focus light received from the light-emitting element into a substantially collimated beam of light using a single refractive interface for illuminating the movable member. The optical encode module also includes a detector facing the emitter for detecting modulated light of the collimated beam transmitted through the movable member.

Abstract: A coding element such as a codewheel includes first and second surfaces that are configured with respect to each other and with respect to a light beam such that the light beam is reflected at the two surfaces using the optical phenomenon of total internal reflection. The coding element also includes a coding pattern that is aligned in an optical path of the light beam after the light beam has reflected off of both of the surfaces. A coding element with surfaces that reflect a light beam as a result of total internal reflection can be utilized in an encoding system that operates in transmission while the light source and the photodetector array are located on the same side of the coding element.

Abstract: A code disk, an optical encoder using such a disk and a method thereof are described. The code disk includes a first region on the disk and a second region that is adjacent to the first region. The first region increases continuously in size in a radial direction from a minimum at a first angular position to a maximum that occurs 360 degrees from the first angular position. One of the first and second regions allows light to be transmitted therethrough to a detector, and the other of the first and second regions prevents light from being transmitted therethrough. The detector generates an output that corresponds to the amount of light transmitted through the code disk.

Abstract: An optical encoder device (100) comprises: an optical emitter (103) for emitting light, the optical emitter (103) having a light emission direction (E); an optical detector (104) for detecting light emitted by the optical emitter (103), the optical detector (104) having a light detection direction (D) which is different from the light emission direction (E); an optical element (109) for controlling an optical path (108) between the optical emitter (103) and the optical detector (104) such that light emitted by the optical emitter (103) can be detected by the optical detector (104); and a free area (113) in the optical encoder device (100) for accommodating a moveable optical encoding unit (112) comprising a plurality of alternating transparent and opaque encoding elements such that the plurality of alternating transparent and opaque encoding elements of the optical encoding unit (112) is able to affect the optical path (108).

Abstract: An optical encoder device is provided with an optical encoder for detecting codewheel/codestrip positions, an optical encoder housing for accommodating the optical encoder, a first tapered guidepost protruding from a sidewall of the optical encoder housing, the first guidepost having a star-shaped cross-section and being arranged adjacent to the optical encoder, and a second tapered guidepost protruding form the sidewall of the optical encoder housing and extending substantially parallel to the first guidepost, the second guidepost having a diamond-shaped cross-section and being arranged remote from the optical encoder.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for measuring wall thickness. After an internal body topology of the model is generated, the topology is traversed between wall elements to determine wall thickness.

Abstract: An optical encoder module is employed to detect light modulated by a moveable member (e.g., code wheel). The optical encoder includes an emitter having a light-emitting element, and a transparent medium encapsulating the light-emitting element. The transparent medium has a convex aspherical external surface shaped so as to focus light received from the light-emitting element into a substantially collimated beam of light using a single refractive interface for illuminating the movable member. The optical encode module also includes a detector facing the emitter for detecting modulated light of the collimated beam transmitted through the movable member.