A Computer Aided Tomography to Ruled Edge Prototyping Translator

To remain competitive in a global market, manufacturers are called upon to bring a variety of products to market with continually decreasing lead times and development costs. These commercial realities are a driving force demanding the development of improved rapid prototyping techniques. A rapid prototyping technique (RP) includes any automatic technique for producing a solid three dimensional object from a computer assisted drawing representation of the object. RP devices can also be used to make a 3D physical model of medical image data. This technology is software that reads standard 3D medical image data (CAT, MRI, etc.) and automatically generates ruled edged layers to approximate the surface geometry of the object imaged.

Benefits
This software provides in a single package a replacement for the functions currently provided by a series of relatively expensive software products. It is inherently more efficient than existing software that first converts the medical data to triangular facets, then smooth the facets, then output the facets to the prototyping device which slices the facets. In contrast, this software moves directly from image data to the ruled edge cutter paths. In an optional second step, vertical edge cutter paths are produced for current commercial prototyping machines.

Stage of Development
This technology is seeking partners for development-manufacturing-sales-etc of the working-final-etc product. It is available for developmental research support/licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Additional Info
*Thomas, C., Chamberlain, P. Solid Freeform Fabrication Conference, Austin, TX, August 9-12, 1999.
*http://www.mech.utah.edu/PEOPLE/faculty/facdir.html

Inventor(s): Charles Thomas, Peter Chamberlain

Type of Offer: Licensing



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