Abstract: Provided are a system, method and computer program product for generating three dimensional models for use by an additive manufacturing or 3D printing system, in which object model data defining one or more objects to be built by a three-dimensional printing apparatus is input and used to generate a three dimensional model for a protective structure to surround the one or more objects. A user is provided with selectable configuration options for the protective structure. The method includes presenting, via a user interface, selectable configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the three-dimensional printing apparatus. In response to user selection of one or more configuration options via the user interface, a three dimensional model for the protective structure is automatically generated.

Abstract: In some examples, a system receives a first representation of structures to be combined for building a three-dimensional (3D) object by an additive manufacturing machine; and generates, based on the first representation, a second representation comprising voxels that represent the 3D object, the generation of the second representation comprising an evaluation of Boolean operations with respect to voxels in a voxel space to produce the second representation.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at a processor, an indication of a volume of a fabrication chamber and determining a characteristic of a build material for use in fabricating an object within the fabrication chamber. Based on the build material characteristic, a virtual object volume within the fabrication chamber may be determined, wherein the virtual object volume provides a virtual boundary within which to position virtual objects representing objects to be generated in the fabrication chamber.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at a processor, object model data representing an object that is to be generated by an additive manufacturing apparatus by fusing build material within a fabrication chamber wherein a dimensional compensation has been applied to the object model data based on an expected object placement position. The method may comprise receiving, from the additive manufacturing apparatus, an indication of an object generation placement position within a fabrication chamber where the object is to be generated and comparing, by the processor, the expected object placement position with the object generation placement position. If the expected object placement position matches the object generation placement position, the method may comprise determining, by the processor, that the dimensional compensation is valid and otherwise determining, by the processor, that the dimensional compensation is invalid.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at a processor, an object model describing a geometry of a three-dimensional object, and determining a transformed data model describing a volume containing a modified version of the three-dimensional object as a plurality of categorised contiguous, non-overlapping sub-volumes, wherein the modified version of the three-dimensional object includes a surface offset. Determining the transformed data model may comprises categorising the sub-volumes by defining a first region by determining an area swept by an offset operator when the offset operator is swept around a boundary of the sub-volume and defining a second region, interior to the first region, and indicative of the closest approach of the offset operator to the sub-volume when the offset operator is swept around the boundary. Intersections between a surface of the object model and at least one of the first and second region may be determined.

Abstract: In an example a method includes receiving, at processing circuitry, beam lattice data modelling at least part of a three-dimensional object to be generated using additive manufacturing as a beam lattice. A volumetric data model may be determined from the beam lattice data. Determining the volumetric data model may comprise dividing a volume containing the beam lattice data into sub-volumes and categorising the sub-volumes into (I) interior sub-volumes, which are wholly within a beam of the beam lattice; (ii) exterior sub-volumes which are wholly outside the beams of the beam lattice; and (ii) boundary sub-volumes which partially coincide with a beam of the beam lattice. The method may further comprise subdividing boundary sub-volumes and categorising the subdivided sub-volumes until a threshold volume size of boundary sub-volume is reached.

Abstract: In some examples, a system receives a first representation of structures to be combined for building a three-dimensional (3D) object by an additive manufacturing machine; and generates, based on the first representation, a second representation comprising voxels that represent the 3D object, the generation of the second representation comprising an evaluation of Boolean operations with respect to voxels in a voxel space to produce the second representation.

Abstract: According to examples, machine-readable instructions may cause a processor to obtain a 3D mesh model of a part and to obtain a displacement map that defines amounts of displacements to be applied to various points in the 3D mesh model, in which the displacement map is at a first resolution. The processor may also generate a lower resolution version of the displacement map, in which the lower resolution is lower than the first resolution. The processor may further apply the lower resolution version of the displacement map on the 3D mesh model to generate an updated 3D mesh model.

Abstract: Object model data modification is described in which object model data defining a three dimensional model to be generated by a three-dimensional printer may be obtained. Data relating to a first sensitive portion of the model may be obtained, the first sensitive portion representing a portion of the model to be concealed. Modified object model data in generated, the modified object model data including a first version of the three dimensional model that is represented in a first pre-processing application without exposing the first sensitive portion, and including the first object model data defining the three dimensional model for printing by a three-dimensional printer.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an additive manufacturing engine and an input to receive a plurality of part files to create a plurality of parts. Each part file includes a description of a part to be created by the additive manufacturing engine. A processor interprets a part file to read the description of the part from the part file, stores at least a portion of the description of the part, and repeats the interpretation and storing for each of the received part files. A job composer generates a manufacturing job using the stored descriptions and using characteristics of the additive manufacturing engine, and provides the generated manufacturing job to the additive manufacturing engine.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, by at least one processor, object model data describing a geometry of at least part of at least one object to be generated using additive manufacturing. The object model data defines a first geometrical transformation to be applied to the object model data. It may be determined if a second geometrical transformation is to be applied to the object model data. If a second geometrical transformation is to be applied, the first and second geometrical transformations may be applied to the object model data to determine modified object model data. Otherwise, the first geometrical transformation may be applied to the object geometry to determine modified object model data.

Abstract: A method of printing an envelope for encapsulating at least one 3D printed object, the envelope allowing for removal of the at least one 3D printed object from an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising: monitoring a printing queue for one or more print jobs; determining a size of at least one dimension of the envelope based on the size of the one or more queued print jobs; commencing printing of the one or more queued print jobs and the envelope; and varying the size of the at least one dimension in response to changes in one or more print jobs in the printing queue.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes acquiring, at a processor, a first data model and a second data model. The first data model comprises a representation of at least one property of at least part of a first object and the second data model comprises a representation of at least one property of at least part of a second object. The first and second objects are to be generated in a common additive manufacturing operation. The method may include generating a first print layer model and a second, different, print layer model using the processor by combining at least parts of the first data model and the second data model and generating additive manufacturing instructions based on the first print layer model and the second print layer model.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at a processor, object model data representing an object that is to be generated by an additive manufacturing apparatus by fusing build material within a fabrication chamber wherein a dimensional compensation has been applied to the object model data based on an expected object placement position. The method may comprise receiving, from the additive manufacturing apparatus, an indication of an object generation placement position within a fabrication chamber where the object is to be generated and comparing, by the processor, the expected object placement position with the object generation placement position. If the expected object placement position matches the object generation placement position, the method may comprise determining, by the processor, that the dimensional compensation is valid and otherwise determining, by the processor, that the dimensional compensation is invalid.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to a method in a three-dimensional printer for printing texture images. Lower resolution images of a texture image from a print file are generated and then selected based on volume pixels to be printed.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an additive manufacturing engine and an input to receive a plurality of part files to create a plurality of parts. Each part file includes a description of a part to be created by the additive manufacturing engine. A processor interprets a part file to read the description of the part from the part file, stores at least a portion of the description of the part, and repeats the interpretation and storing for each of the received part files. A job composer generates a manufacturing job using the stored descriptions and using characteristics of the additive manufacturing engine, and provides the generated manufacturing job to the additive manufacturing engine.

Abstract: A method comprises determining an amount of print materials consumed in at least part of a build job comprising a plurality of objects, and distributing the amount of print materials consumed on an object by object basis to the plurality of objects forming the build job.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving a first data model of an object to be generated in additive manufacturing, at a processor. Using the processor, a second data model may be determined. Determining the second data model may include generating for each of plurality of contiguous, non-overlapping sub-volumes of a volume containing the object, a sub-volume octree characterising the sub-volume and having a root node. Determining the second data model may further include generating a volume octree characterising the volume containing the object, the volume octree characterising in its lowest nodes the root nodes of the sub-volume octrees.

Abstract: A device comprising an execution component to execute an additive printing task to create a first article and a second article, and a monitoring component to, during execution of the additive printing task, monitor a quantity of consumable resources used to create the first article.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at a processor, an indication of a volume of a fabrication chamber and determining a characteristic of a build material for use in fabricating an object within the fabrication chamber. Based on the build material characteristic, a virtual object volume within the fabrication chamber may be determined, wherein the virtual object volume provides a virtual boundary within which to position virtual objects representing objects to be generated in the fabrication chamber.