JP2002292752A - Colored three-dimensional shaping system and method, data processing device and method for colored three- dimensional shaping, data processing program for colored three-dimensional shaping and recording medium having data processing program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional shaping system which makes an image on a monitor nearly equalize a shaped matter in color tone. SOLUTION: The system 1 sequentially laminates specified material layers and colors each of the material layers based on section data and creates colored shaped matters. In addition, the system is equipped with a monitor 26 which displays an image based on image data. The first color data of the image data are converted to second color data for making a monitor display an image in the color reproducing region of the shaped matter. The section data are created based on the image data containing the second color data. Further, the system has a table which shows the relationship between the second color data and the color development properties of the shape to be colored based on the second color data and a table which shows the relationship between the color data to be entered to a monitor display control part and the color development properties of an image on the monitor. Besides, the second color data are corrected based on these tables, then the corrected second color data are entered to the control part and the image is displayed on the monitor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing system and method, and more particularly to a method of forming a colored printed object by sequentially stacking layers of a predetermined material and coloring each material layer. The present invention relates to a coloring three-dimensional printing system and method. The present invention also relates to a data processing device and method for processing data for creating a colored three-dimensional structure. The present invention further relates to a data processing program for coloring three-dimensional printing, and a recording medium on which the data processing program is recorded.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a conventional three-dimensional printing apparatus, a thin layer of a powder material is formed, and a binder which is dried and hardened is applied using, for example, an ink jet head. In some cases, a three-dimensional structure is formed by repeating a process of forming a combined body material. In this three-dimensional printing apparatus, for example, the following operation is performed, and a three-dimensional printing object is created.

First, a gypsum or starch powder material is uniformly spread in a thin layer by a roller mechanism or the like. Next, an inkjet head is scanned over a region to be formed in the thin layer of the powder material, and a binder that is cured by drying is applied. The powder material in the area where the binder is applied is combined with the lower layer or the adjacent cured area. Until the modeling is completed, the steps of sequentially forming a thin layer of the powder material and applying the binder are repeated. When the shaping is completed, the three-dimensional structure bonded by the binder can be taken out by removing the powder material in the region where the binder is not applied.

[0004] Alternatively, for example, Japanese Patent Application No.
The three-dimensional modeling apparatus in 01-30888 uses an ultraviolet curing resin as a binder, and irradiates ultraviolet rays after applying the binder to bond the powder material.

By the way, the present inventors are studying a method of forming a shaped article having a surface colored. If the color to be colored is a single color or the image applied to the surface is simple, it is possible to perform coloring processing by human hands after modeling the object, but the arrangement of colors and images are complicated. In this case, not only is it difficult for a human to perform the coloring process, but also it is extremely difficult to automatically apply a color to a shaped object having irregularities (for example, the distance between the surface of the shaped object and the inkjet head is arbitrary). It is difficult to keep it constant in position.)

Therefore, the present inventors have considered that a colored molded article can be produced by applying a coloring agent such as ink to the cured powder material for each layer of the powder material. I have. Such coloring is generally performed based on three-dimensional image data of an object to be formed, after creating data indicating a coloring region to which a coloring agent is applied. Further, the three-dimensional image data is usually displayed on the monitor as a three-dimensional image, and the modeling operation is performed after the user creates or corrects the three-dimensional image on the monitor.

However, the color tone of the three-dimensional image confirmed on the monitor may be different from the color tone of the actually formed object. The reason is that the monitor emits light from the light source and reproduces the color, while the molded object reproduces the color by absorbing the light with a colorant such as ink, so the color reproduction area of the monitor and the color of the molded object The reproduction area is different from the actual reproduction area.
Because.

[0008] Further, if the conditions such as the material used for modeling differ, the color reproduction area of the modeled product also changes, and therefore,
There also arises a problem that the color tone of a formed object created for the same three-dimensional image data is different.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color three-dimensional image in which the color tone of a three-dimensional image created or corrected while checking on a monitor and the color tone of an actually created object can always be as close as possible. It is to provide a shaping system and method.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to process data for creating a shaped object so that the color tone of a three-dimensional image on a monitor and the tone of an actually created shaped object are always as close as possible. A data processing device and method are provided.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to process data for creating a modeled object so that the color tone of a three-dimensional image on a monitor and the color tone of an actually created modeled object are always as close as possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data processing program to be executed and a recording medium on which the data processing program is recorded.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a coloring three-dimensional printing system according to the present invention sequentially stacks layers of a predetermined material and performs coloring for each material layer to form a colored printing object. In the coloring three-dimensional printing system to be created, a layer forming means for sequentially forming layers of the material, a coloring means for applying a coloring agent to a coloring region of each material layer, and three-dimensional image data expressing a three-dimensional printing object A section data creating unit for creating a plurality of section data corresponding to each material layer, a display unit for displaying a three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data, and a driving unit for controlling display of the display unit. , Each section data has first section data and second section data, the layer forming section forms each material layer based on the first section data, and the coloring section includes the second section data. Based on each material The three-dimensional image data has shape data and first color data, and the coloring three-dimensional modeling system further transmits the first color data of the three-dimensional image data to the display means. Data conversion means for converting to three-dimensional image data for displaying a three-dimensional image in the color reproduction area of the modeled object, wherein the cross-section data creation means converts the three-dimensional image data having the second color data into cross-section data. And the driving unit causes the display means to display the three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data having the second color data.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the coloring three-dimensional printing system according to the present invention further includes a second color data and a printing result of the printing object colored based on the data, with respect to a condition that causes variation in color reproduction of the printing object. No. 1 showing the relationship with color development
A first storage unit for storing a table of the above, and a second storage unit that represents a relationship between color data input to a driving unit that controls display of the display unit and color development of a three-dimensional image displayed on the display unit.
Storage means for storing a table of the first and second tables,
And a correction unit for correcting the second color data based on the table. The second color data is input to the drive unit after being corrected by the correction unit.

The conditions that cause a change in color reproduction include, for example,
The above-mentioned material or coloring agent for forming a modeled object.

In the case where an ink jet head for discharging a colorant from a direction substantially perpendicular to each material layer is used as a coloring means, a direction vector in a laminating direction should be further formed as a condition for causing variation in color reproduction. An angle between the object surface and the outward normal vector is given.

[0016] The coloring three-dimensional printing method according to the present invention is the coloring three-dimensional printing method of sequentially stacking layers of a predetermined material and coloring each material layer to create a colored printed object. A layer forming step of sequentially forming layers of materials, a coloring step of applying a coloring agent to a colored region of each material layer, and a three-dimensional image data expressing a three-dimensional structure, a plurality of layers corresponding to each material layer. The method includes a cross-section data generation step of generating cross-section data, and a display step of displaying a three-dimensional image on a display device based on the three-dimensional image data, wherein each cross-section data has first cross-section data and second cross-section data. Then, in a layer forming step, each material layer is formed based on the first cross-sectional data, and in a coloring step, a coloring agent is applied to a coloring region of each material layer based on the second cross-sectional data, Original image The data has shape data and first color data, and the coloring three-dimensional modeling method further displays the first color data of the three-dimensional image data on the display device in the color reproduction area of the shaped object. A data conversion step of converting the color data into a second color data to generate cross-sectional data from three-dimensional image data having the second color data. A three-dimensional image is displayed on a display device based on three-dimensional image data having data.

In a preferred embodiment, the coloring three-dimensional printing method according to the present invention further includes a second color data and a printing result of the printing object colored based on the data, with respect to a condition that causes variation in color reproduction of the printing object. A first storage step of storing a first table representing a relationship with color development, color data input to a drive unit that controls display of the display device, and color development of a three-dimensional image displayed on the display device; And a correction step of correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables. The display step further includes a correction step of correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables. And displaying a three-dimensional image on the display device based on the three-dimensional image data having the second color data corrected in the step (a).

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is a data processing apparatus used in a coloring three-dimensional modeling system for sequentially forming layers of a predetermined material and coloring each of the material layers to create a colored molded article. , A cross-sectional data creating means for creating a plurality of cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer from three-dimensional image data expressing a three-dimensional structure, wherein each of the cross-sectional data is a first cross-sectional data and a second cross-sectional data Data, the first cross-sectional data is used to form each material layer, the second cross-sectional data is used to color each material layer, and the three-dimensional image data is shape data. And first color data, and the three-dimensional image data is input to a driving unit that controls display of the display device, whereby the three-dimensional image is displayed on the display device. The first color data of the image data,
The display device includes data conversion means for converting the image data into second color data for displaying a three-dimensional image in the color reproduction area of the modeled object, and the cross-sectional data creation means includes three-dimensional image data having the second color data. Wherein the three-dimensional image data having the second color data is input to the driving unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the data processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes a second color data and a color developing property of the molded object colored based on the data that cause a change in color reproduction of the molded object. First storage means for storing a first table representing the relationship between the color data input to the drive unit for controlling the display of the display device and the color development of the three-dimensional image displayed on the display device And a correction means for correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables, wherein the second storage means stores a second table representing the second color data. Is input to the drive unit.

The data processing method according to the present invention is a data processing method used in a coloring three-dimensional printing system for forming a colored printed object by sequentially stacking layers of a predetermined material and coloring each material layer. A cross-sectional data generating step of generating a plurality of cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer from three-dimensional image data expressing a three-dimensional structure, wherein each of the cross-sectional data includes a first cross-sectional data and a second cross-sectional data Data, wherein the first cross-sectional data is used to form each material layer, the second cross-sectional data is used to color each material layer, and the data processing method further comprises: The image data has shape data and first color data, and the three-dimensional image data is input to a driving unit that controls display of the display device, whereby the three-dimensional image is displayed on the display device. The method further includes a data conversion step of converting the first color data of the three-dimensional image data into second color data for displaying a three-dimensional image in the color reproduction area of the modeled object on the display device, In the cross-section data generation step, the cross-section data is generated from the three-dimensional image data having the second color data, and the three-dimensional image data having the second color data is input to the driving unit.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the data processing method according to the present invention further comprises a second color data and a color development property of the molded object colored based on the data that cause a change in the color reproduction of the molded object. A first storage step of storing a first table representing the relationship between the color data input to the drive unit for controlling the display of the display device and the color development of the three-dimensional image displayed on the display device And a correction step of correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables, wherein the second table corrected by the correction step is stored. The three-dimensional image data having the following color data is input to the driving unit.

The data processing program according to the present invention comprises:
In a data processing program used for a coloring three-dimensional modeling system that sequentially creates layers of a predetermined material and creates a colored modeling object by coloring each material layer, the coloring three-dimensional modeling system includes three-dimensional modeling. Cross-section data creating means for creating a plurality of cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer from three-dimensional image data expressing a model, display means for displaying a three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data, and display means And a drive unit for controlling the display of the data. Each of the cross-sectional data has a first cross-sectional data and a second cross-sectional data, and the first cross-sectional data is used for forming each material layer. Is used for coloring each material layer, the three-dimensional image data includes shape data and first color data, and the three-dimensional modeling system further includes three-dimensional image data. The first color data, a second data converting means for converting the color data for displaying a three-dimensional image in the color reproduction area of the shaped article on the display means,
The data processing program causes the data conversion means to convert the first color data of the three-dimensional image data into the second color data, and causes the sectional data creation means to convert the three-dimensional image data having the second color data from the three-dimensional image data. The method is characterized in that the section data is created, and the driving unit displays three-dimensional image data having the second color data on a display unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the data processing program according to the present invention, the three-dimensional printing system further comprises:
First storage means for storing a first table representing a relationship between the second color data and the coloring property of the modeled object colored based on the data that causes a change in the color reproduction of the modeled object; A second storage unit that stores a second table that represents a relationship between color data input to the driving unit that controls display on the display unit and the chromaticity of a three-dimensional image displayed on the display unit; And a correcting means for correcting the second color data based on the second table and the second table. The data processing program stores the first and second tables stored in the first and second storage means. Reading, based on these first and second tables, causing the correction means to correct the second color data, and causing the drive unit to perform correction based on the three-dimensional image data having the second color data corrected by the correction means. The three-dimensional image To be displayed on.

The recording medium according to the present invention is characterized in that it is a recording medium on which the data processing program according to the present invention is recorded.

[0025]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the three-dimensional printing system according to the present invention. The three-dimensional modeling system 1 includes a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 that performs coloring modeling of a modeling object, and a host computer that supplies a control signal and two-dimensional image data relating to a cross-sectional image of the modeling object to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100. And 2.

The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 applies an ultraviolet curable resin as a binder to a predetermined powder material as described later, and irradiates the ultraviolet light to bond the powder material.
Further, by performing coloring with color ink, a combined body of the color powder materials is sequentially formed, and a colored molded article is created as a final combined body.

The host computer 2 is a so-called general computer system including a control unit 2a, a monitor 2b, a keyboard 2c, and a mouse 2d. The control unit 2a is loaded with a program for performing a process of creating cross-sectional data obtained by slicing three-dimensional image data of a three-dimensional modeling object input in advance at a predetermined pitch, for example, in the horizontal direction. . For this reason,
The host computer 2 can create cross-sectional data (two-dimensional image data) of the object to be modeled from the three-dimensional image data of the modeling object, and supplies the created cross-sectional data to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100. . The cross-sectional data will be described later.

The three-dimensional image data includes shape data and color data, and a three-dimensional image is displayed on the monitor 2b based on these data. It is assumed that the three-dimensional image data (three-dimensional data) is composed of a plurality of polygons (for example, triangular polygons having three vertices). Each polygon has coordinates of each vertex, an outward normal vector of the polygon (this is It is defined from an outward normal vector on the corresponding three-dimensional object surface) and a color (this represents the color of the corresponding three-dimensional object surface). The former two correspond to shape data, and the latter correspond to color data. Of the three-dimensional image data, the color data is corrected according to conditions such as a powder material used for modeling, which will be described later.

The control unit 2a is connected to a colorimeter 104 for performing colorimetry on a modeled object. This device 104
This is used to create a first table described later.

The controller 2a is further connected to a colorimeter 106 for performing colorimetry of a three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 2b. This device 106 is used to create a second table described later.

The host computer 2 only supplies three-dimensional image data to the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100,
On the side of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100, cross-sectional data may be created from three-dimensional image data (see Table 1 below).
(D)).

Host computer 2 and three-dimensional printing apparatus 1
Between 00 and 00, data and the like can be transferred online, and data and the like can be transferred offline using the portable recording medium 3.
Recording media include a magneto-optical disk (MO), a compact disk (CD-RW), a digital video disk (DVD-RAM), and a memory card.

Next, an embodiment of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 includes a control unit 20, a powder supply unit 30, a head unit 40 that performs application, ultraviolet irradiation, and color ink application of an ultraviolet curable resin as a powder extension / binder, and a modeling unit 50 (these control units 20,
The powder supply unit 30, the head unit 40, and the modeling unit 50 will be described later. ) Is provided, and a cover 10a that covers the modeling portion 50 provided on the upper side of the housing is provided.

The cover 10a is made of a transparent material such as glass or acrylic resin, and is configured so that the situation during molding can be visually recognized. Further, the cover 10a is subjected to a process of shielding ultraviolet rays emitted during molding. Further, when the cover 10a is opened during the molding, the ultraviolet irradiation is immediately stopped, and the head unit 40 waits at a predetermined position.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) 11, operation switches 12, and a detachable opening 13 for the recording medium 3 are arranged on the front side of the housing 10, and a digital input / output terminal 14 is provided on the side. The liquid crystal display 11 is used as a means for displaying an operation guide screen when performing an operation input and a means for displaying the operation status of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100. The digital input / output terminal 14
S232C terminal, SCSI terminal or IEEE139
It is a general-purpose terminal such as four terminals.

FIG. 3 shows a main part of the three-dimensional molding apparatus 100 which performs a molding process, that is, a powder supply section 30, a head section 40,
And the modeling part 50 are shown.

As shown in FIG. 4, the powder supply unit 30 has a function of storing the powder 31 and a function of supplying a predetermined amount of the powder 31 to the secondary hopper 471 (FIG. 5) of the head unit 40. ing. The powder supply unit 30 includes a primary hopper 32, a rotor 3
3 and an agitator 34, and the amount of powder supplied to the secondary hopper 471 is controlled by controlling the number of rotations of the rotor 33. Agitator 34
Is adapted to prevent the powder 31 from blocking due to rotation. Regarding the powder 31,
In order to improve the color development, it is preferable to use a white color. When printing on white paper, for example, applying colored ink only to the colored areas enables gradation expression of the color in balance with the white background, but the same applies to the coloring of three-dimensional objects. Therefore, it is desirable to use a white powder material. Further, in the present embodiment, a rotary supply mechanism is shown as the powder supply unit 30, but a supply mechanism of a vibration type, a rotating blade type, a belt type, or the like may be used.

As shown in FIG. 5, the head section 40 comprises an ink jet head section 41, an ultraviolet irradiation section 46, and a powder extending section 47. In the present embodiment, the head unit 40 is a single X-direction moving unit for reciprocating the entire inkjet head unit 41, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 46, and the powder extending unit 47 in the X direction (the left-right direction in the drawing) in the horizontal plane. 49 (FIG. 6) to move integrally. The X-direction moving portion 49 is configured to be able to reciprocate in the X direction along a guide rail (not shown) extending in the X direction.

However, when finer movement / speed control is required, an X-direction moving mechanism may be provided in each of the ink jet head section 41, the ultraviolet irradiation section 46, and the powder extending section 47, and may be driven separately.

The ink jet head unit 41 includes a tank 4 containing an ultraviolet curable resin serving as a binder for binding the powder and a plurality of inks for coloring the combined powder.
3, a nozzle 44 for discharging the ultraviolet curable resin or ink in the tank, and a reciprocating movement of the tank 43 and the nozzle 44 in the Y-axis direction (front and back directions on the paper surface) orthogonal to the X axis and in the same horizontal plane as the X axis. And an ink jet head Y-direction moving unit 45 for the purpose. Y direction moving unit 4
5 is a Y that can move in the X direction together with the X direction moving section 49.
It is designed to be able to reciprocate in the Y direction along a guide rail (not shown) extending in the direction.

More specifically, the tank 43 includes a plurality of tanks (four tanks in this example) 43a to 43d each containing ink of a different color, and a tank 43e for ultraviolet curing resin. Specifically, the three primary colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) and W (white) ink are stored in the respective tanks 43a to 43d. Each ink that is a colorant does not discolor even when combined with the powder material, and it is desirable to use an ink that does not discolor or fade even after a long time. Generally, it is sufficient to mix the three primary colors of Y, M, and C in order to perform coloring. However, in order to express light and shade (gradation), it is necessary to eject white ink in addition to the three primary colors and mix the colors. Becomes effective. In general printers and the like, characters and images are printed on white paper with ink, toner, and the like. Therefore, if the white color of the base paper is used, white ink is not required.
By using only the three colors of C, the shading of each color component can be expressed in principle. However, when the color of the powder used as the material for the three-dimensional printing is not white, it is particularly effective to use a white ink.

The ultraviolet curing resin tank 43e is connected to an ultraviolet curing resin replenishing tank 48, and the ultraviolet curing resin can be replenished by a pump (not shown). As the ultraviolet curable resin, it is preferable to use a resin having a low viscosity such as an acrylic monomer resin having a low molecular weight so that the resin can be discharged using an ink jet head. Note that an epoxy-based resin or the like may be used as the ultraviolet curable resin.

The nozzle 44 is connected to the ink jet head 4
1 and is movable with respect to the Y direction integrally with the inkjet head Y direction moving section 45. The nozzle 44 includes the same number of discharge nozzles 44a to 44e as the number of tanks in the tank unit 43, and the discharge nozzles 44a to 44e are individually connected to the tanks 43a to 43e. Each of the discharge nozzles 44a to 44e is a nozzle that discharges an ultraviolet curable resin or ink as minute droplets by, for example, an inkjet method. Each discharge nozzle 44
The discharge of the ultraviolet curing resin or ink by a to 44e is as follows.
The ultraviolet curable resin or ink is individually controlled by the inkjet head driving unit 241 (FIG. 6), and adheres to a powder layer (described later) of the modeling unit 50 provided at a position facing the nozzle 44.

As described above, the ink jet head unit 41 can be moved in the plane defined by the X axis and the Y axis by the X direction moving unit 49 and the Y direction moving unit 45. The X-direction moving unit 49 and the Y-direction moving unit 45 can move the inkjet head unit 41 to an arbitrary position within the driving range on the XY plane based on the driving signal from the control unit 20. Then, the inkjet head driving unit 241 performs a plurality of ejection nozzles 44a to 44e in accordance with the position of the nozzle 44 on the XY plane.
The ultraviolet curable resin or the ink is selectively ejected from among them, and the ultraviolet curable resin or the ink is applied to a necessary portion of the powder layer of the modeling section 50.

The nozzles 44a to 44e may be moved independently in the X and Y directions instead of being integrated. Also, for each of the tanks 43a to 43e,
A plurality of nozzles may be provided along the front and back directions in FIG.

The ultraviolet irradiator 46 has a function of irradiating ultraviolet rays to cure the ultraviolet curable resin and to bind the powder. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 46 can be moved in the X direction by the X direction moving unit 49 together with the inkjet head unit 41. Alternatively, as described above, it may be possible to independently move in the X direction.
The ultraviolet irradiation section 46 also has a Y-direction moving section 242 (FIG. 6).
To allow independent movement in the Y direction. For example, an ultraviolet LED as a light source of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 46
Is used, and a required portion of the powder layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in a spot shape. An ultraviolet lamp extending in the Y direction may be used as a light source of the ultraviolet irradiation unit, and the movement of the ultraviolet irradiation unit in the Y direction may be omitted.

The powder extending section 47 includes a secondary hopper 471, a shutter 472, a blade 473, and an extending roller 474. These members 471, 472, 473,
474 extends along the Y direction. The powder extending unit 47 stores the powder necessary for forming one more powder layer supplied from the powder supply unit 30 in the secondary hopper 471, and opens the shutter 472 at a predetermined position to open the powder. Is to be dropped. When the powder extending section 47 is moved in the X direction by the X direction moving section 49, the thrown powder is extended by the blade 473 and the rotating extending roller 474, and a uniform powder layer is created. It is like that.

Returning to FIG. 3, the modeling unit 50 includes a modeling unit main body 51 having a concave portion, a modeling stage 52 provided to form the bottom surface of the concave portion of the modeling portion 51, and a modeling stage 52. A Z-direction moving unit (modeling stage elevating mechanism) 53 for moving in the Z direction (perpendicular to the XY plane) is provided. The modeling unit 50 plays a role of providing a work area for creating a modeled object using powder.

The modeling unit main body 51 supplies powder from the primary hopper 32 to the secondary hopper 471 at the upper left end thereof, and drops the powder from the secondary hopper 471 at the upper right end thereof. It is designed to hold the body temporarily.

The molding stage 52 has a rectangular shape in the XY cross section, and its side surface is in contact with the vertical inner wall 51 a of the concave portion in the molding portion main body 51.

The Z-direction moving section 53 has a support rod 53a connected to the molding stage 52 and a drive section 53b for moving the support rod 53a in the vertical direction.
The modeling stage 52 connected to the support bar 53a can be moved up and down along the Z direction by moving the 3a in the vertical direction by the driving unit 53b.

The rectangular parallelepiped three-dimensional space (space of the concave portion) formed by the modeling stage 52 and the vertical inner wall 51a of the modeling portion main body 51 functions as a work area for forming a modeling object. Then, a thin layer of powder is sequentially formed for each layer on the modeling stage 52, and a sequence of discharging an ultraviolet curable resin, curing the resin by irradiating ultraviolet rays, and discharging ink is performed for each layer. Accordingly, a required part of the powder is joined and colored to form a modeled object.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the three-dimensional printing system 1. As shown in FIG. Data or the like created on the host computer 2 side is input to the interface 21 from the host computer 2 via the digital input / output terminal 14 or to the interface 21 from the recording medium 3.

Control unit 2 for controlling three-dimensional printing apparatus 100
0 has the same function as a general-purpose computer. The system controller 201 includes the powder supply unit 30, the head unit 4
0, control for the X-direction moving unit 49 and the modeling unit 50 is performed.

The system controller 201 sends a driving motor 2 for driving the rotor 33 to the powder supply unit 30.
31, a drive motor 232 for driving the agitator 34 is controlled. For the head unit 40, the inkjet head driving unit 24 that drives the inkjet head unit 41
1. The Y-direction moving unit 45 for the inkjet head, the powder extending unit 47, the lighting control unit 243 for turning on the ultraviolet light source of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 46, and the Y-direction moving unit 242 for the ultraviolet irradiation unit are controlled.

The system controller 201 controls the X-direction drive motor 248 for the X-direction moving unit 49, and an encoder 244 for detecting a position in the X direction.
HP (Home Positio) that detects a reference position in the X direction
n) Receive a signal from the sensor 245. For the modeling unit 50, a drive motor 251 that drives the modeling stage elevating mechanism 53 is controlled.

The system controller 201 gives an instruction to the character generator 203 to display appropriate characters and symbols on the screen of the liquid crystal display 11 and receives input information from the operation switch 12. It is configured to be able to.

(Roles and Features of Section Data of Host Computer and 3D Modeling Apparatus from Creation of Section Data to Forming) Table 1 shows section data of an object to be formed from 3D image data of the object. And the host computer 2 until the modeling based on this data
And the roles and features of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 are divided into four parts.

First, the case of Table 1 (a) will be described. The host computer 2 sequentially transmits to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 while sequentially creating cross-sectional data of the object to be molded from the three-dimensional image data of the modeling object.

More specifically, the host computer 2
Creates cross-sectional data for each cross-section obtained by slicing a modeling object horizontally in three-dimensional image data. The cross-sectional data is created at a pitch (layer thickness t) corresponding to the thickness of one layer of powder to be laminated. This pitch can be changed within a predetermined range (the range of the thickness capable of binding the powder).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the created section data. As shown in FIG. 7, first cross-sectional data and second cross-sectional data are created as cross-sectional data from three-dimensional image data. The first cross-sectional data is data representing a region where the ultraviolet curable resin is applied. The second cross-sectional data is data indicating a coloring area to which ink is applied, and only data corresponding to a portion that appears on the surface of the three-dimensional structure has YCMW color information.

After sequentially receiving the cross-sectional data, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 performs modeling based on the data. In this case, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 does not require a function of creating cross-sectional data, so that the load is reduced. Further, the memory capacity of the host computer 2 may be minimum. However, since the entire cross-sectional image data cannot be checked in advance, if there is an error at the end of the data, the modeling up to that point becomes useless.

Next, the case of Table 1 (b) will be described.
The host computer 2 collectively creates cross-sectional data of the object to be modeled from the three-dimensional image data of the modeling object, and sequentially transmits the data to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 sequentially receives the cross-sectional data and performs modeling based on the data. In this case, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 does not need the function of creating the cross-sectional image data as in the case of Table 1 (a), so that the load can be reduced. The host computer 2 is not released from the task until the modeling is completed, but can always check the state during the modeling.

Next, the case of Table 1 (c) will be described.
The host computer 2 collectively creates cross-sectional data of the object to be modeled from the three-dimensional image data of the modeling object, and transmits the data to the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 at a time. The three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 receives a large amount of cross-sectional data, stores the data in a large-capacity memory, and then performs the printing. In this case, the host computer 2 is released from the task after transmitting the data.

Next, the case of Table 1 (d) will be described.
The host computer 2 transmits the three-dimensional image data of the modeling target to the three-dimensional modeling device 100. The three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 creates cross-sectional data of the object to be modeled from the received three-dimensional image data of the modeling object, and performs modeling. In this case, the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 requires a function of creating the cross-sectional data, so that the load becomes heavy. Also,
The host computer 2 has a job management function. However, it is suitable when the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 is used like a printer in a network environment.

Table 1

(Processing by Host Computer) FIG.
9 is a flowchart relating to a processing procedure in the host computer 2. First, three-dimensional image data of a modeling object is input (step S1). Next, parameters relating to modeling are input (step S2). Here, information such as a modeling size and a slice pitch is input. In step S3, a data check is performed. When the three-dimensional image data is in the STL format or the VRML format, only the information on the surface of the object is described. It is checked whether the surface information is consistent as a solid object. Here, a check is made as to whether the vertices are composed of a plurality of vertices or solely (that is, whether or not the vertices are closed), phase compensation of the surface (that is, whether the front and back of the surface are inverted), and the like.

In step S4, a data error check is performed. If there is no error in the data check in step S3, the process proceeds to step S6, and if there is an error, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the data is corrected. Since a portion where an error has occurred is displayed as a warning, the data is corrected sequentially in an interactive manner. Through the above processing, surface data indicating a closed space is obtained. Then, in step S6, the data is solidified. That is, information indicating which side of the closed space is clogged is added.

In step S7, the color data constituting the solidified three-dimensional image data is converted into color data for displaying a three-dimensional image on the monitor 2b in the color reproduction area of the modeled object. This step will be described later in detail.

Subsequently, in step S8, cross-section data creation and data transmission are performed according to each case shown in Table 1.

FIG. 9A shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (a). First, in step S811, the molding parameters are transmitted. In step S812, one section data is created from the three-dimensional image data having the converted color data, and if the preparation of the modeling apparatus is OK (step S81)
3) In step S814, one section data is transmitted. In the next step S815, since the cross-sectional data amount is known in advance, the process is terminated if all data has been transmitted, and if there is remaining data, the process proceeds to step S81.
2, S813 and S814 are repeated.

FIG. 9B shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (b). First, in step S821, the molding parameters are transmitted. In step S822, cross-sectional data is created from three-dimensional image data having the converted color data. If the preparation of the modeling apparatus is OK (step S82)
3) In S824, one section data is transmitted. In the next step S825, since the cross-sectional data amount is known in advance, the process ends if all data has been transmitted, and if there is data remaining, steps S823 and S824.
Is repeated.

FIG. 9C shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (c). First, in step S831, the molding parameters are transmitted. In step S832, cross-sectional data is created from the three-dimensional image data having the converted color data. In the next step S833, the section data is transmitted collectively and the processing ends.

FIG. 9D shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (d). First, in step S841, the molding parameters are transmitted. In step S842, three-dimensional image data having the converted color data is transmitted, and the process ends.

Returning to FIG. 8, when the data transmission is completed and the end command from the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 is confirmed in step S9, the history information of the data is updated in step S10. This means that by adding information such as modeling parameters and data correction to a file of 3D image data, the model can be easily reproduced based on this history information at the time of the next modeling (when repeating). This is to make it possible.

(Processing in Three-Dimensional Modeling Apparatus 100) FIG. 10 is a flowchart relating to a processing procedure in the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100.

FIG. 10A shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (a). First, in step S1011, when the system controller 201 of the control unit 20 of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 receives one section data, the powder supply unit 30, the head unit 40, and the X-direction moving unit 4 are based on the data.
9, and a drive signal to be transmitted to the modeling unit 50 is created. When the drive signal is transmitted in step S1012 to perform the modeling process for one layer, a signal indicating the end of the modeling process for one layer is transmitted to the host computer 2 in step S1013, and the process ends. The shaping process will be described later in detail.

FIG. 10B shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (b). In this case, similarly to FIG. 10A, when the system controller 201 of the control unit 20 receives one section data, the powder supply unit 30, the head unit 40, and the X
A drive signal to be transmitted to the direction moving unit 49 and the modeling unit 50 is created (step S1021), a modeling process for one layer is performed (step S1022), and a modeling process end signal is transmitted to the host computer 2 (step S102).
3), end.

FIG. 10C shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (c). First, in step S1031, when the system controller 201 of the control unit 20 receives the sectional data collectively, the powder supply unit 30, the head unit 40, the X-direction moving unit 49, and the molding unit 5 are based on the data of one layer.
Create a drive signal for transmission to 0. Step S1
At 032, a drive signal is transmitted to perform modeling processing for one layer.
In the next step S1033, since the cross-section data amount is known in advance, if the shaping process has been completed for all layers, a shaping process end signal is transmitted to the host computer 2 and the process ends (step S1034). If remains, steps S1031 and S1032 are repeated.

FIG. 10D shows a flow in the case of Table 1 (d). First, in step S1041, when the system controller 201 of the control unit 20 receives the three-dimensional image data having the converted color data, the system controller 201 creates cross-sectional data from the data. Then, a drive signal to be transmitted to the powder supply unit 30, the head unit 40, the X-direction moving unit 49, and the modeling unit 50 is created based on the slice data of one layer (step S1042). Step S1043
In step (1), a drive signal is transmitted to perform modeling processing for one layer.
In the next step S1044, since the cross-section data amount is known in advance, if the shaping process has been completed for all layers, a shaping process end signal is transmitted to the host computer 2 and the process ends (step S1045). If remains, steps S1042 and S1043 are repeated.

(Modeling Operation of Three-Dimensional Modeling Apparatus) Next, FIG.
The modeling operation of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 will be described with reference to 1 to 14.

First, the head section 40 is disposed at the upper left end of the modeling section main body 51, and the powder supply section 30 supplies the powder 31 to the secondary hopper 471 [FIG. 11 (a)].

Next, the head section 40 is moved to the X-direction moving section 49.
(Fig. 6) along with a guide rail (not shown)
The head moves in the X direction to the upper right end of the modeling unit main body 51, which is the initial position [FIG. 11B]. At this time, the modeling stage 52 is arranged at the same height as the upper end position of the modeling section 50.

Subsequently, the powder 31 is dropped from the secondary hopper 471 at the upper right end of the modeling unit main body 51, and the modeling stage 52 is moved by the Z-direction moving unit 53 to the layer thickness input from the host computer 2. Based on t
It is lowered and held by a distance corresponding to its thickness [FIG. 12 (c)].

The head section 40 is moved in the −X direction to supply the powder 31 as a material in the formation of the three-dimensional structure, while the blade 473 and the extension roller 474 supply the powder 31. One thin layer is formed (powder layer 80), and the ink jet head 4
The required portion 82 of the powder 31 is joined by discharging the ultraviolet curable resin from 1 to a predetermined region [FIG.
(D)].

The amount of the powder material supplied from the powder supply unit 30 during the formation of one layer (during one movement along the −X direction) is the amount required for the formation of one layer. It is set slightly higher than that to avoid running out of powder during molding. For this reason, after one layer is formed, the powder material remains, but the surplus powder material is discharged by the blade 473 and the extension roller 474 that move along the −X direction, and −
In the X direction, it falls from a powder recovery port (not shown) arranged between the modeling stage 52 and the upper left end of the modeling unit main body 51.

When the head unit 40 moves in the −X direction, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 46 irradiates the powder layer 80 with ultraviolet rays. As a result, the binder of the ultraviolet curable resin applied to the powder layer 80 is cured, and the combined body 82 of the powder material is formed. The powder in the region where the binder is not applied can be removed later.

Then, when the head section 40 reaches the upper left end of the molding section main body 51, one joining operation of the powder material is completed, and the molding of one layer is completed [FIG.
(E)].

Then, the powder 31 is again put in the secondary hopper 471.
Is supplied, the head section 40 moves in the + X direction, and ejects ink of each color from the inkjet head section 41 to the combined body 82 of the powder material formed by curing the binder by the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays. [FIG. 13 (f)]. Specifically, ink is applied to a coloring region near the surface of the three-dimensional structure, whereby the three-dimensional structure is colored. In this case, it is preferable to irradiate ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiating section 46 in order to surely cure the ultraviolet curable resin applied to the powder layer 80. When the head section 40 moves in the + X direction, the powder layer 80 is slightly lowered, and
It is preferable to prevent the contact between the powder layer 74 and the powder layer 80.

When the head section 40 reaches the upper right end of the modeling section main body 51 (FIG. 14 (g)), the modeling stage 52
It descends by a distance corresponding to the layer thickness t. Thus, a space for forming a new powder layer for one layer can be formed above the powder layer 80 in which the necessary bonding by the binder has been completed.

Then, the steps shown in FIGS. 12C to 14G are repeated to complete the modeled object 84 [FIG.
(H)].

(Monitor Color Adjustment) As described above, the color reproduction area of the modeled object is much smaller than the color reproduction area of the monitor 2b. As a result, a three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 2b is created. Often the color tone differs from that of the model. In general, data for driving the inkjet head unit 41 in the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 is digital data representing YMCW color data in 256 steps (8 bits) of 0 to 255, and is used for displaying on the monitor 2b. The color data input to the driving unit 326 (FIG. 16)
This is B data. Therefore, a so-called gamut mapping process of pushing the color represented on the monitor 2b into the color reproduction area of the modeled object is performed. In other words, the color data (hereinafter referred to as first color data) of the previously input three-dimensional image data is converted into color data (hereinafter referred to as first color data) for displaying the three-dimensional image on the monitor 2b within the color reproduction area of the modeled object. Less than,
This is called second color data. ) (Step S7 in FIG. 8). Utilizing the three-dimensional image data having the second color data, on the one hand, the cross-sectional data used for the coloring shaping operation of the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 is created, and on the other hand, the display of the three-dimensional image on the monitor 2b is performed. By doing so, monitor 2
The color tone of the three-dimensional image displayed in b and the created object can be made as close as possible.

However, according to the study of the present inventors,
Even if the color reproduction area of the monitor and the modeled object are matched by the gamut mapping process, if the modeling conditions (for example, materials used for modeling) are different, the color reproduction area of the modeled object changes for the same second color data. Therefore, it has been found that the color tone of the created modeled object differs from the color tone of the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 2b. Therefore, in the present invention,
The second color data obtained by the gamut mapping process is corrected according to the shaping conditions, and a three-dimensional image is displayed on a monitor based on the corrected data, so that the shading is always performed even when the shaping conditions are different. In addition, a three-dimensional image in which the difference in color tone between the object and the formed object is minimized can be displayed on the monitor.

The shaping conditions that cause variations in the color reproduction of the shaping object include materials (powder, binder, etc.) for shaping, coloring agents, and the degree of inclination of the surface of the shaping object with respect to the work area when the shaping part is formed. (In other words, the angle between the direction vector in the stacking direction and the outward normal vector on the surface of the object (opposite to the inside of the object)), the degree of bleeding due to the difference in the area of the colored portion of the same color. , The thickness per layer of powder, and the like, and if these are changed, the color developability of the obtained molded article differs even with the same second color data.

For example, in the molded article shown in FIG. 15A, a portion (for example, region A) to which ink can be directly attached by the ink jet head and a portion (for example, region B) to which ink cannot be directly attached have different coloring properties. In order to color the region B, a method of applying a colorant on the powder layer a1 and attaching the colorant to the lower surface of the cured portion of the powder layer a2, or applying ink on the powder layer a2, Can penetrate to the lower surface of the powder layer a2 and then cure the powder layer a2. In any case, even if the ink is discharged to the region B under the same conditions as the ink discharge conditions for the region A, Area B
And have different coloring properties.

The area C is where ink can be directly attached by the ink jet head.
When viewed in detail, it is formed stepwise as shown in FIG. In order to color the vertical portion D of the stairs, a method is conceivable in which ink adhered to the upper surface portion E of the powder layer a3 penetrates the powder layer a3, and the like (the upper surface portion E is shown in the drawing). As described above, the ink is more likely to adhere to the vertical portion D if it extends outside the cured portion.)
However, even when the ink is ejected to the area C under the same conditions as the ink ejection conditions for the area A, the coloring properties are different between the area A and the area C.

Therefore, using the model data for calibration as three-dimensional image data, the color development of the modeled object when the color modeling is performed by changing the conditions for changing the color reproducibility is measured by the colorimeter 104 (FIG. 1). . For example, in order to obtain a relationship between color data and colorimetric data on the degree of inclination of the surface of a modeled object to be created with respect to a work area, spherical data is used as three-dimensional image data, and the spherical surface of the modeled object after color modeling. A colorimeter 104 performs colorimetry for all of them. As described above, the relationship between the color data and the colorimetric data is created as a color correction table (first table) for the conditions that cause the color reproduction of the modeled object to fluctuate. This table may be stored in the control unit 2a of the host computer 2 when cross section data is created on the host computer 2 side as shown in Tables 1 (a) to 1 (c), or may be stored in the 3D modeling apparatus 100. The information may be stored in the control unit 20. Table 1 (d)
When the cross-section data is created on the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100 side as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the model data for calibration is input as three-dimensional image data to the drive unit 326 (FIG. 16) for controlling the display on the monitor 2b, and the color development of the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 2b is determined. Colorimeter 106 (FIG. 1)
Measure with Then, a relationship between the color data constituting the model data and the colorimetric data measured by the colorimeter 106 is created as a table (second table). This table is stored in the control unit 2a of the host computer 2.

Then, by referring to the first and second tables, the color tone of the modeled object and the monitor are obtained from the second color data for displaying the three-dimensional image in the color reproduction area of the modeled object on the monitor 2b. Third color data to be input to the drive unit of the monitor 2b can be created so that the difference between the color tone of the three-dimensional image on 2b and the color tone of the three-dimensional image on 2b is minimized. Specifically, the first color data is stored in the first table with respect to the second color data.
Is searched for color data in the second table such that the colorimetric data in the second table substantially matches the colorimetric data in the second table, and the color data in the second table is searched for the third color. Data.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the control unit 2a of the host computer 2 having a function of minimizing the difference in color tone between the modeled object and the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 2b. . In this embodiment, Tables 1 (a) to
This corresponds to the case (c). The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 300 of the control unit 2a stores first three-dimensional image data storage means 302 for storing previously input three-dimensional image data composed of first color data and shape data. 1
Data conversion means 304 for converting the color data of the image data into second color data by gamut mapping processing, and a second three-dimensional image data storage means 306 for storing three-dimensional image data composed of the second color data and the shape data. , Section data creating means 308, section data storing means 310,
First table creating means 312, first table storing means 314, second table creating means 316, second table storing means 318, color data correcting means 320, third table creating means
3D image data storage means 322 and modeling condition input means 324 are connected. CPU 300 also has
A drive unit 326 for controlling display on the monitor 2b is connected.

The molding condition storage means 324 stores the conditions (eg, molding size, thickness per powder) inputted as molding parameters (for example, see step S2 in FIG. 8).
Among the conditions for changing the color reproducibility (for example, the thickness per one powder).

The color data correcting means 320 is for converting the second color data into the third color data to be input to the drive section 326. Color data correction means 320
Also, based on the cross-sectional data stored in the cross-section data storage means 310, a shaping condition (for example, the degree of inclination of the surface of the shaped object with respect to the work area) that causes a change in color reproduction is calculated.

The first table creating means 312 creates a modeled object from the model data for calibration and, based on the colorimetric data obtained by measuring the color of the modeled object, modeling which changes the color reproduction of the modeled object. With regard to the condition, the relationship between the second color data and the colorimetric data of a model object colored based on the data is created as a color correction table (first table). This table is stored in the first table storage unit 314.

The second table creation means 316 inputs the model data for calibration to the drive section 326,
Based on colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the three-dimensional image displayed on the monitor 2b, a relation between the color data constituting the model data and the colorimetric data is created as a second table. Things. This table is stored in the second table storage unit 318.

According to this configuration, the first three-dimensional image data having the first color data is read out from the three-dimensional image data storage means 302, and the first color data is converted by the data conversion means 304 into the second color data. And converts the three-dimensional image data into second three-dimensional image data storage means 30.
6 is stored. Next, from the three-dimensional image data (second color data and shape data) stored in the second three-dimensional image data storage means 306, the section data creation means 3
08, the section data is created, and the section data storage means 3
Stored in 10. The color data correction unit 320 is based on the molding conditions (for example, powder material used) that causes a change in color reproduction stored in the molding condition storage unit 324 and the cross-section data stored in the cross-section data storage unit 306. Modeling conditions that cause fluctuations in the calculated color reproduction (for example,
The second three-dimensional image data storage is performed by referring to the first and second tables stored in the first and second table storage means 314 and 318 based on the degree of inclination of the surface of the modeled object with respect to the work area). The third color data is created by correcting the second color data stored in the means 306, and the three-dimensional image data having the third color data is stored in the third three-dimensional image data storage means 322. Let it.

The three-dimensional image data stored in the third three-dimensional image data storage means 322 is transmitted to a driving unit 326 for driving the display on the monitor 2b.

On the other hand, the cross section data stored in the cross section data storage means 310 is transmitted to the three-dimensional printing apparatus 100.

(Other Embodiments) Regarding the coloring in the above embodiment, it is not essential to perform coloring with ink, and coloring may be performed with toner or the like.

As for the binder of the above embodiment, it is not essential to use one that cures in response to light having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region, such as an ultraviolet curable resin. A liquid that cures in response to light of a wavelength may be used, or a liquid that cures in response to a specific heat energy, such as a thermosetting resin, may be used. Further, a material which is cured by drying may be used. In this case, an ultraviolet irradiation unit or the like is unnecessary.

When a visible light curable resin is used, a means for irradiating light having a wavelength in the visible region is provided in place of the above-mentioned ultraviolet irradiation part. When a thermosetting resin is used, a heater that emits thermal energy is provided instead of the above-described ultraviolet irradiation unit.

The present invention is not limited to a molding apparatus in which powder material layers are selectively bonded by a binder and the bonded powder material layers are sequentially laminated, but also reacts to a specific energy (for example, light or heat). The present invention can also be applied to a molding apparatus in which energy is selectively supplied to a layer of a material to be cured to cure the material layer, and the cured material layers are sequentially laminated. Further, the present invention is not limited to modeling by lamination, so-called rapid prototyping,
The present invention is applicable to general three-dimensional modeling for creating a colored three-dimensional model based on three-dimensional image data.

It is not necessary to measure the coloring properties of the formed object and the monitor using a colorimeter, and it is a matter of course that a correction table can be created by visually checking.

[0114]

According to the present invention, the difference between the color tone of a three-dimensional object and the color tone of a three-dimensional image displayed on a monitor can be minimized even when the molding conditions such as the materials used are changed. Therefore, a prototype (three-dimensional object) as close as possible to a three-dimensional image on the monitor can be created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a three-dimensional printing system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a three-dimensional printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of the three-dimensional printing apparatus that performs a printing process.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a powder supply unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a head unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a three-dimensional printing system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of cross-sectional data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of the host computer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a section data creation / transmission step of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing of the three-dimensional printing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a forming process of the three-dimensional forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a forming process of the three-dimensional forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a forming process of the three-dimensional forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a forming process of the three-dimensional forming apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining that the color development after modeling differs depending on the degree of inclination of the surface of the modeled object with respect to the work area even under the same ink discharge conditions.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control unit of a host computer having a function of minimizing a difference in color tone between a modeled object and a three-dimensional image displayed on a monitor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: three-dimensional modeling system, 2: host computer, 3
0: powder supply section, 40: head section, 41: inkjet head section, 43a to 43d: ink tank, 43
e: tank for ultraviolet curing resin, 46: ultraviolet irradiation part, 4
7: powder extension part, 50: modeling part, 52: modeling stage,
100: three-dimensional modeling device, 104: colorimeter, 106: colorimeter.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4F213 AB12 WA25 WA97 WB01 WL02 WL25 WL32 WL74 WL85 WL96 5B046 DA08 GA01 GA04 5B050 BA09 CA07 DA04 FA02 FA05 FA06 5B057 AA01 CA01 CA13 CB01 CB13 CB20 CC01 CE17 CE18 CH07 CH08

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. A coloring three-dimensional molding system for producing a colored molded object from three-dimensional image data having shape data and color data, wherein: a molding means for producing a molded object composed of a predetermined material; Modeling control data creating means for creating modeling control data for controlling the modeling means, coloring means for applying a coloring agent to each part of the molded article, and the coloring means based on the color data A coloring control data creating unit that creates coloring control data for controlling a display unit that displays a three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data; a driving unit that controls display of the display unit; Data conversion means for converting the color data into second color data for causing the display means to display a three-dimensional image in the color reproduction area of the modeled object, Color data generating means creates the colored control data from said second color data, wherein the driver comprises the second
A three-dimensional image is displayed on a display means based on the three-dimensional image data having the following color data. 2. The modeling control data creating unit is a unit that creates, as modeling control data, a plurality of first cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer for expressing a three-dimensional modeled object. Means for creating a model by sequentially laminating layers of a predetermined material based on the first cross-sectional data; and the coloring control data creating means, as coloring control data, a coloring area of each material layer. Wherein the coloring means is means for applying a coloring agent to a colored region of each of the material layers based on the second sectional data. The colored three-dimensional printing system according to claim 1. 3. A first table which stores a first table representing a relationship between second color data and a color developing property of a model object colored based on the data which causes a change in color reproduction of the model object. And a second table that stores a relationship between the color data input to the drive unit that controls the display of the display unit and the color development of the three-dimensional image displayed on the display unit. A storage unit; and a correction unit configured to correct the second color data based on the first and second tables, wherein the second color data is corrected after the correction by the correction unit. The three-dimensional modeling system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the system is inputted to a unit. 4. The coloring three-dimensional modeling system according to claim 3, wherein the condition causing the color reproduction to vary is the material for forming the modeling object. 5. The coloring three-dimensional printing system according to claim 3, wherein the condition causing a change in color reproduction is the colorant. 6. The three-dimensional modeling system according to claim 3, wherein said coloring means is an ink jet head for discharging a coloring agent from a direction substantially perpendicular to each material layer. 7. The condition according to claim 6, wherein the condition that causes a change in color reproduction is an angle between a direction vector in a stacking direction and an outward normal vector of a surface of a modeled object to be formed. Coloring 3D modeling system. 8. A coloring three-dimensional molding method for producing a colored three-dimensional object from three-dimensional image data having shape data and color data, wherein a molding step of creating a three-dimensional object made of a predetermined material using a molding means. Based on the shape data, based on the shape data, a modeling control data creating step of creating modeling control data for controlling the modeling means, a coloring step of applying a coloring agent to each part of the modeled object using a coloring means, A coloring control data creating step of creating coloring control data for controlling the coloring means based on the color data; a display step of displaying a three-dimensional image on a display device based on the three-dimensional image data; A data conversion step of converting the color data into second color data for causing the display device to display a three-dimensional image within the color reproduction area of the modeled object, In the color control data creation step, the coloring control data is created from the second color data, and in the display step, the three-dimensional image is displayed based on the three-dimensional image data having the second color data. A coloring three-dimensional printing method characterized by displaying on a device. 9. In the modeling data creating step, a plurality of first cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer for expressing a three-dimensional model is created as modeling control data. A modeling object is created by sequentially laminating layers of a predetermined material based on the first section data. In the coloring data creating step, a plurality of second sections showing coloring regions of each material layer as coloring control data. The method according to claim 8, wherein data is created, and in the coloring step, a coloring agent is applied to a coloring region of each of the material layers based on the second cross-sectional data. 10. A first table that stores a first table that represents a relationship between second color data and color development of a molded object that is colored based on the data with respect to a condition that causes a change in color reproduction of the molded object. And a second storage for storing a second table representing a relationship between the color data input to the drive unit for controlling the display of the display device and the coloring of the three-dimensional image displayed on the display device. And a correcting step of correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables, wherein the display step includes a tertiary image having the second color data corrected in the correcting step. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a three-dimensional image is displayed on the display device based on the original image data. 11. The condition causing the color reproduction to fluctuate is:
11. The coloring three-dimensional printing method according to claim 10, wherein the material is a material for forming a printing object. 12. The condition that causes a change in color reproduction is as follows:
The coloring three-dimensional molding method according to claim 10, wherein the coloring agent is used. 13. The coloring three-dimensional printing method according to claim 10, wherein in the coloring step, a coloring agent is discharged from a direction substantially perpendicular to each material layer via an ink-jet head serving as a coloring means. 14. The condition for causing a change in color reproduction is as follows:
14. The coloring three-dimensional printing method according to claim 13, wherein the angle is formed between a direction vector in a stacking direction and an outward normal vector of a surface of the printing object to be formed. 15. A data processing apparatus used in a coloring three-dimensional printing system for creating a colored printing object from three-dimensional image data having shape data and color data, wherein the printing apparatus creates a printing object based on the shape data. A shaping control data creating means for creating shaping control data for controlling the means; and a coloring control data creating means for creating coloring control data for controlling a coloring means for coloring a shaped object based on the color data. Means, a display means for displaying a three-dimensional image based on the three-dimensional image data, a drive unit for controlling the display of the display means, the color data, the display means in the color reproduction area of the modeled object Data conversion means for converting the second color data into a second color data for displaying a three-dimensional image with the second color data. The driving unit generates the coloring control data from
A data processing apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image on a display means based on the three-dimensional image data having the following color data. 16. The modeling control data creating means is a means for creating, as modeling control data, a plurality of first cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer for displaying a three-dimensional modeled object, The control data creating means is means for creating, as coloring control data, a plurality of second cross-sectional data indicating a coloring region of each material layer, wherein the first cross-sectional data is obtained by defining a layer of a predetermined material by the modeling means. The second cross-sectional data is used for applying a coloring agent to a coloring region of each of the material layers by the coloring means. Item 16. The data processing device according to Item 15. 17. A first table which stores a first table representing a relationship between second color data and a coloring property of a molded object colored based on the data which causes a change in color reproduction of the molded object. And a second table that stores a relationship between the color data input to the drive unit that controls the display of the display device and the color development of the three-dimensional image displayed on the display device. Storage means; and a correction means for correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables, wherein the second color data corrected by the correction means is input to the drive unit. 15. The method according to claim 15, wherein
6. The data processing device of 6. 18. Conditions for causing a change in color reproduction are as follows:
18. The data processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the material is a material for forming a modeled object. 19. The condition that causes a change in color reproduction is as follows:
18. The data processing device according to claim 17, wherein the colorant is the colorant. 20. A condition that causes a change in color reproduction,
18. The data processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle is formed between a direction vector in a stacking direction and an outward normal vector of a surface of the object to be formed. 21. A data processing method used in a coloring three-dimensional modeling system for creating a colored modeled object from three-dimensional image data having shape data and color data, wherein the modeled object is created based on the shape data. A shaping control data creating step of creating shaping control data for controlling the means; and a coloring control data creating step of creating coloring control data for controlling a coloring means for coloring a shaped object based on the color data. A step of inputting the three-dimensional image data to a driving unit that controls display of a display device, thereby displaying a three-dimensional image on a display device; and displaying the color data of the three-dimensional image data. A data conversion step of converting the image data into second color data for displaying a three-dimensional image in a color reproduction area of the modeled object on the device. In the data creation step, the coloring control data is created from the second color data, and in the display step, three-dimensional image data having the second color data is input to the driving unit. Data processing method. 22. In the modeling control data creating step, a plurality of first cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer for displaying a three-dimensional modeled object is created as modeling control data, and the coloring control data creation is performed. In the step, a plurality of second cross-sectional data indicating a coloring region of each material layer is created as coloring control data, and the first cross-sectional data is formed by sequentially stacking layers of a predetermined material by the forming means. 22. The data processing method according to claim 21, wherein the second section data is used to apply a coloring agent to a colored region of each material layer by the coloring means. . 23. A first table which stores a first table representing a relationship between second color data and a coloring property of a molded object colored based on the data that causes a change in color reproduction of the molded object. And a second table that stores a second table that represents a relationship between color data input to the driving unit that controls display of the display device and color development of a three-dimensional image displayed on the display device. A storage step; and a correction step of correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables, wherein the three-dimensional image having the second color data corrected in the correction step 23. The data processing method according to claim 21, wherein data is input to the driving unit. 24. A condition that causes a change in color reproduction,
24. The data processing method according to claim 23, wherein the material is a material for forming a modeled object. 25. A condition that causes a change in color reproduction,
24. The data processing method according to claim 23, wherein the colorant is used. 26. A condition that causes a change in color reproduction,
24. The data processing method according to claim 23, wherein the angle is formed between a direction vector in a stacking direction and an outward normal vector of a surface of a modeled object to be formed. 27. A data processing program used in a coloring three-dimensional printing system for creating a colored printing object from three-dimensional image data having shape data and color data, wherein the coloring three-dimensional printing system is made of a predetermined material. A shaping means for creating a shaping object to be formed; a shaping control data creating means for creating shaping control data for controlling the shaping means based on the shape data; and coloring for applying a coloring agent to each part of the shaping object. Means, based on the color data, coloring control data creating means for creating coloring control data for controlling the coloring means, and display means for displaying a three-dimensional image, based on the three-dimensional image data, A driving unit that controls display of the display unit, the color data, and the display unit causes the display unit to display a three-dimensional image in a color reproduction region of the modeled object. A data conversion means for converting the color data of the three-dimensional image data into the second color data, wherein the data conversion means converts the color data of the three-dimensional image data into the second color data. Causing the creating means to create the coloring control data from the second color data; causing the shaping control data creating means to create the shaping control data from the shape data; A data processing program for displaying the three-dimensional image data on a display means. 28. The coloring control data creating means, wherein the modeling control data creating means creates a plurality of first cross-sectional data corresponding to each material layer for displaying a three-dimensional object, as the shaping control data. Means for generating a plurality of second cross-sectional data indicating a coloring region of each material layer as coloring control data, wherein the first cross-sectional data is formed by sequentially stacking layers of a predetermined material by the forming means. 28. The data processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the second cross-sectional data is used to apply a coloring agent to a coloring region of each of the material layers by the coloring means. program. 29. The three-dimensional printing system further shows a relationship between the second color data and the color development of the printing object colored based on the data that causes variation in color reproduction of the printing object. A first storage unit that stores a first table; and a second storage unit that displays a relationship between color data input to the driving unit that controls display of the display unit and color development of a three-dimensional image displayed on the display unit. Second storage means for storing the second table, and correction means for correcting the second color data based on the first and second tables, wherein the data processing program comprises: And the first and second data stored in the second storage means.
Is read based on the first and second tables, and the correction means corrects the second color data based on the first and second tables, and the driving section outputs the second color data corrected by the correction means. 3. A three-dimensional image is displayed on the display means based on the three-dimensional image data.
7 or 28 data processing program. 30. A condition that causes a change in color reproduction,
30. The data processing program according to claim 29, wherein the program is the material for forming a modeled object. 31. A condition that causes a change in color reproduction,
30. The data processing program according to claim 29, wherein the program is the coloring agent. 32. The condition that causes a change in color reproduction is as follows:
30. The data processing program according to claim 29, wherein the angle is an angle formed between a direction vector in a stacking direction and an outward normal vector of a surface of a modeled object to be formed. 33. A recording medium on which the data processing program according to claim 28 is recorded.