具体实施方式：
[0032]The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033]A fabricating system in the present embodiment receives an input indicating a direction in which the reinforcement of a 3D-fabricated object against tension is desired. That is, the lamination fabricating apparatus converts 3D model data to rotate the 3D-fabricated object so that tensile strength of the 3D-fabricated object in the designated direction becomes higher than before the rotation. More specifically, the 3D model data is relocated so that tensile strength of the 3D-fabricated object in the designated direction becomes higher. Therefore, a tensile strength of the 3D-fabricated object, which has the multi-layer structure, in the designated direction can be raised.
[0034]Shape Data may represents a solid shape. In the present embodiment, the shape data of the 3D-fabricated object is referred to as the 3D model data as an example term for description.
[0035]Fabrication data is information that a lamination fabricating apparatus interprets to operate and fabricate three dimensional object. For example, the fabrication data includes order data, control content data, and setting data. In the present embodiment, the fabrication data is referred to as print data as an example term for description.
[0036]A direction regarding the strength is information which specifies the direction of a 3D model having different strengths with the directions of the 3D-fabricated object. For example, the preferable direction, in which the strength is high, is cited as an example. In reverse, there can be the preferable direction in which the strength is low in consideration of easiness to demolish.
[0037]In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have the same function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
[0038]Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, and particularly to FIG. 1, a fabricating system according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0039]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a fabricating system 1 according to the present disclosure. The fabricating system 1 includes an information processing apparatus 20 and a lamination fabricating apparatus 70 coupled to each other via a network 2. The network 2 may be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet. Alternatively, the information processing apparatus 20 and the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 may be connected each other via an exclusive line like a universal serial bus (USB) cable. The network 2 or the exclusive line may be wired, or some or all of the network 2 may be wireless connection, such as a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark).
[0040]The information processing apparatus 20 may be a personal computer (PC), but any apparatus that can run a program to be described later may be used. In addition, the information processing apparatus 20 may be a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a wearable PC, a game apparatus, a car navigation terminal, an electronic white board, or a projector.
[0041]The information processing apparatus 20 analyzes the 3D model data, constructs the 3D model that is a solid shape, and slices the 3D model at even intervals (lamination pitch) to generate slice data. The slice data is then converted into print data in the G code format, and the print data is sent to the lamination fabricating apparatus 70. The print data may be sent to the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 in a state stored in any recording medium that can store the print data, such as a USB memory or a secure digital (SD) card. The lamination fabricating apparatus 70 may read the print data from the recording medium attached to a recording-media interface (I/F). Accordingly, the network 2 may be omitted.
[0042]The information processing apparatus20 and the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 may be integrated. The lamination fabricating apparatus 70 may have a function of the information processing apparatus 20 and generate the print data from the 3D model data. The information processing apparatus 20 may send the 3D model data to a server 90, and then the server 90 may send the print data to the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 directly or via the information processing apparatus 20.
[0043]The lamination fabricating apparatus 70 fabricates the 3D-fabricated object based on the print data. There are a various fabricating methods such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), material jetting, binder jetting, selective laser sintering (SLS), and stereolithography (SLA) for the lamination fabricating apparatus 70. The FDM is a fabricating method in which mainly resin fused by heat is extruded from a nozzle and laminated to fabricate, that is, to build up in layers, the 3D-fabricated object. Fluid material such as resin or molten metal may be used by the lamination fabricating apparatus 70. The material jetting is the fabricating method in which resin discharged from an inkjet head is solidified in the multi-layer structure by ultraviolet rays. The binder jetting is the fabricating method in which a liquid binder is discharged from an inkjet head, and plaster or resin powder is solidified layer by layer. The SLS is the fabricating method in which a powdered material is irradiated with a laser to be sintered. The SLA is the fabricating method in which light curable resin is solidified layer by layer with an ultraviolet laser. In the present embodiment, an example of the FDM lamination fabricating apparatus 70 is described for the sake of explanatory convenience, but the relocation of the 3D model data in the present embodiment is adaptable regardless of the method.
[0044]Referring to FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B, a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 20 and the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 is described below.
[0045]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 20. The information processing apparatus 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 501, a read only memory (ROM) 502, a random access memory (RAM) 503, a hard disk drive (HDD) 505, a display device 508, a network interface (I/F) 509, a keyboard 511, a mouse 512, a media drive 507, an optical drive 514, a USB I/F 515, and a data bus line 510 to connect these device electrically, such as an address bus or a data bus.
[0046]The CPU 501 controls actions of the entire information processing apparatus 20. The ROM 502 stores a program for controlling the CPU 501 such as an Initial Program Loader (IPL). The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501. A hard disk (HD) 504 stores a program, an operating system (OS), and various data. The HDD 505 controls reading or writing of various data to or from the HD 504 under control of the CPU 501. The network I/F 509 is an interface for data communication through the network 2. The keyboard 511 is one example of input device provided with a plurality of keys for a user to input characters, numerals, or various instructions. The mouse 512 is one example of input device for the user to select a specific instruction or execution, select a target for processing, or move a cursor being displayed. The media drive 507 controls reading or writing of data with respect to a recording medium 506 such as a flash memory. The optical drive 514 reads or writes various data with respect to an optical disc 513 such as a compact disc (CD)-ROM, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or a blue-ray disc, which is one example of removable recording medium. The display device 508 displays various types of information, such as a cursor, menu, window, characters, or image. The display device 508 may be a projector. The USB I/F 515 is an interface to be connected with the USB cable or the USB memory.
[0047]FIG. 3A is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 according to the present embodiment. The lamination fabricating apparatus 70 includes a chamber 103 in a main body frame 120. An inside of the chamber 103 is a processing space. A stage 104 is provided as a placing table in the chamber 103 to fabricate the 3D-fabricated object. On the stage 104, the 3D-fabricated object is fabricated.
[0048]A fabricating head 110 is disposed above the stage 104 in the chamber 103. The fabricating head 110 includes discharging nozzles 115, which discharge a filament as a fabricating material, at the bottom. In the present embodiment, the fabricating head 110 includes the four discharging nozzles 115, but the number of the discharging nozzles 115 is arbitrary. Additionally, the fabricating head 110 includes a head heater 114 as a fabricating material heater to heat the filament supplied to each discharging nozzle 115.
[0049]The filament (in thin wire shape) is set to the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 in rolled state and supplied by a filament supply device 106 to each discharging nozzle 115 of the fabricating head 110. The filament may be different for each discharging nozzle 115. Alternatively, the filament may be same. In the present embodiment, the filament is supplied by the filament supply device 106, fused by the head heater 114, and extruded in a fused state from the predetermined discharging nozzle 115 to laminate the multi-layer structure, which is the 3D-fabricated object, layer by layer sequentially on the stage 104.
[0050]A support material, which does not form the 3D-fabricated object, can be supplied to the discharging nozzle 115 of the fabricating head 110 in place of the filament as the fabricating material. The support material is generally made of a different material from the filament as the fabricating material. Eventually, the support material is removed from the 3D-fabricated object made of the filament. The support material is fused by the head heater 114, and extruded in a fused state from the predetermined discharging nozzle 115 to laminate sequentially layer by layer.
[0051]The fabricating head 110 is held on an X-axis driver 101 extending along a lateral direction of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70, and movable along a longitudinal direction of the X-axis driver 101 (X-axis direction). The fabricating head 110 is movable along the lateral direction of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 (X-axis direction) by a driving force of the X-axis driver 101. Both ends of the X-axis driver 101 are held on a Y-axis driver 102 extending along a front-back direction of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70, and slidable along a longitudinal direction of the Y-axis driver 102 (Y-axis direction). As the X-axis driver 101 moves along Y-axis direction by a driving force of the Y-axis driver 102, the fabricating head 110 can move along the Y-axis direction.
[0052]Additionally, in the present embodiment, a chamber heater 107 is disposed in the chamber 103 (processing space) to heat the inside of the chamber 103 as a processing space heater. In the present embodiment, a temperature in the chamber 103 is desirably maintained at a target temperature during the fabricating process in order to fabricate the 3D-fabricated object by the FDM. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a preheating process is performed to raise the temperature in the chamber 103 to the target temperature before the fabricating process. The chamber heater 107 heats the inside of the chamber 103 to raise the temperature in the chamber 103 to the target temperature during the preheating process, and heats the inside of the chamber 103 to maintain the target temperature in the chamber 103 during the fabricating process. The chamber heater 107 is controlled by a controller 100 described below.
[0053]FIG. 3B is a schematic control block diagram of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 in the present embodiment. An X-axis position detector 111 is disposed in the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 to detect an X-axis position of the fabricating head 110. A detection result generated by the X-axis position detector 111 is sent to the controller 100. The controller 100 controls the X-axis driver 101 based on the detection result to move the fabricating head 110 to a target X-axis position.
[0054]In the present embodiment, a Y-axis position detector 112 is disposed in the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 to detect a Y-axis position of the X-axis driver 101 (Y-axis position of the fabricating head 110). A result detected by the Y-axis position detector 112 is sent to the controller 100. The controller 100 controls the Y-axis driver 102 based on the detected result to move the fabricating head 110 on the X-axis driver 101 to a target Y-axis position.
[0055]Additionally, in the present embodiment, a Z-axis position detector 113 is disposed in the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 to detect a Z-axis position of the stage 104. A result detected by the Z-axis position detector 113 is sent to the controller 100. The controller 100 controls a Z-axis driver 123 based on the detected result to move the stage 104 to a target Z-axis position.
[0056]As the controller 100 controls the movements of the fabricating head 110 and the stage 104, relative 3D positions between the fabricating head 110 and the stage 104 is set to a target 3D position in the chamber 103.
[0057]FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the fabricating system 1 including the information processing apparatus 20 and the lamination fabricating apparatus 70.
[0058]The information processing apparatus 20 runs a program 2010 to provide main functions to be described below
[0059]The information processing apparatus 20 includes a communication unit 21, a 3D model data reading unit 22, a 3D model display unit 23, a strength direction receiver 24, a 3D model relocation unit 25, a slicing unit 26, a print data generator 27, a general controller 28, a fabrication time calculator 31, a fabricating material amount calculator 32, a fabricating pattern selection receiver 33, a fabricating start determination receiver 34, and data processor 29. As any of the elements illustrated in FIG. 2 operates based on the instructions of the CPU 501 according to the program 2010 expanded from the HD 504 to the RAM 503, the functions mentioned above are implemented.
[0060]Additionally, the information processing apparatus 20 includes a storage unit 2000 built by the HD 504 illustrated in FIG. 2. The storage unit 2000 includes a 3D model data memory 2001 and stores the program 2010. The program 2010 is distributed in a state stored in the recording medium 506 or the optical disc 513 illustrated in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the program 2010 is delivered from the server 90. The program 2010 may be referred to as a printer driver or an application program. The program 2010 in the present embodiment may include two or more programs such as the printer driver, the application program, and others.
[0061]The 3D model data memory 2001 stores the 3D model data. The 3D model data may be the data read from a portable memory (or recording medium) such as the USB memory by the information processing apparatus 20 or the lamination fabricating apparatus 70, the data downloaded from the server 90 via the network 2, or the data generated by a 3D application operated on the information processing apparatus 20. The 3D application is software called 3D computer-aided design (CAD) or 3D computer graphics (CG) for example. Standard Triangulated Language (STL) is known as a data format of the 3D model data output by the 3D application, but the data format is not limited and may be 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF), Polygon File Format (PLY), or Wavefront Object File Format (OBJ). Table 1 is an example of the 3D model data.
TABLE 1Solid ascii facet normal 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000 outer loop vertex0.000000 2.000000 5.000000 vertex−2.000000 2.000000 5.000000 vertex0.000000 0.000000 5.000000 endloop endfacet facet normal 0.000000 0.000000 1.000000 outer loop vertex0.000000 0.000000 5.000000 vertex−2.000000 2.000000 5.000000 vertex−2.000000 0.000000 5.000000 endloop endfacet facet normal 0.000000 0.000000 −1.000000 outer loop vertex0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 vertex−2.000000 0.000000 0.000000 vertex0.000000 2.000000 0.000000 endloop endfacet ... (omitted)Endsolid
[0062]Table 1 presents the 3D model data in the STL, which is a format that presents the shape using triangle polygon. Data of one triangle includes vertexes of the triangle and a normal vector to the triangle in the 3D space.
[0063]Lines from “facet” to “endfacet” illustrated in Table 1 represent the data of the one triangle. Specifically, “normal” represents the normal vector to the triangle, three “vertex” represent coordinates of three vertexes of the triangle, respectively. Repetition of triangle data presents the 3D-fabricated object. As a surface of the 3D model is represented by the respective vertexes of the triangle, the slice data can be calculated by geometric calculation.
[0064]Any format can be used as long as the 3D model data presents the 3D shape. If a surface profile of the solid object is known, the information processing apparatus 20 can divide the surface profile into triangles and convert the triangles into the 3D model data in STL format.
[0065]The communication unit 21 of the information processing apparatus 20 is implemented by the program 2010 or OS executed by the CPU 501 or the network I/F 509 illustrated in FIG. 2. The communication unit 21 communicates with the lamination fabricating apparatus 70. More specifically, the print data converted from the 3D model data is send to the lamination fabricating apparatus 70.
[0066]The general controller 28 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2 and controls the entire lamination fabricating apparatus 70. In other words, the general controller 28 invokes each function illustrated in FIG. 4 as needed, to implement the function of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 in the present embodiment.
[0067]The 3D model data reading unit 22 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 and the HDD 505 illustrated in FIG. 2 and reads the 3D model data from the 3D model data memory 2001.
[0068]The 3D model display unit 23 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2. The 3D model display unit 23 converts the 3D model data to the 3D model presented in a perspective view and displays the 3D model on the display device 508. The 3D model display unit 23 serves as a display unit. This 3D model has 3D coordinates and the 3D model is projected on the display device 508. The 3D model is the converted shape data of the 3D-fabricated object based on the 3D model data.
[0069]The strength direction receiver 24 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501, the keyboard 511, the mouse 512 illustrated in FIG. 2, or a touch panel. The strength direction receiver 24 serves as a direction receiver. The strength direction receiver 24 receives a direction input by the user with the keyboard 511 or the mouse 512 in regard to the 3D model displayed by the 3D model display unit 23. This direction is the direction in which reinforcement against tension is desired.
[0070]The 3D model relocation unit 25 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2 and converts the 3D model data based on the direction received by the strength direction receiver 24. The 3D model relocation unit 25 serves as a relocation unit.
[0071]The slicing unit 26 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2 and slices the 3D model at a predetermined pitch to generate the slice data. In other words, the 3D model is sliced at an equal interval (interval of the laminated layer) in the z-axis direction, and a cross-sectional shape of the sliced 3D model data at each z coordinate is generated. The laminated layer can be variable or fixed. Since the 3D model data is presented in polygons, when a z coordinate is determined, an x and y coordinates of the polygon at the z coordinate are obtained. The slice data is an aggregation of the x and y coordinates of cross-section of the polygon.
[0072]The print data generator 27 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2 and generates the print data based on the slice data. The print data is presented in G code, for example, but any print data format that the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 can interpret is used. An example of the G code is described below with reference to FIG. 5B.
[0073]The fabrication time calculator 31 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2. The fabrication time calculator 31 calculates a fabrication time required to fabricate the 3D-fabricated object based on the print data.
[0074]The fabricating material amount calculator 32 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2 and calculates an amount of the material required to fabricate the 3D-fabricated object based on the print data.
[0075]The fabricating pattern selection receiver 33 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2. The fabricating pattern selection receiver 33 receives a selection result made by the user between a relocated 3D model data which is converted by the 3D model relocation unit 25 and the 3D model data before the relocation. The fabricating pattern selection receiver 33 serves as a selection receiver.
[0076]The fabricating start determination receiver 34 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG. 2 and receives whether or not to start fabrication of the 3D model displayed on the display device 508 by the 3D model display unit 23 (command input by the user). The fabricating start determination receiver 34 serves as a fabricating start receiver.
[0077]The data processor 29 is implemented by the execution of the program 2010 with the CPU 501, the HDD 505, and HD 504 illustrated in FIG. 2 and stores various types of data in the storage unit 2000 or reads various types of data from the storage unit 2000. Hereinafter, in a case where the information processing apparatus 20 reads or writes various types of data from or to the storage unit 2000, a description of “via the data processor 29” may be omitted.
[0078]The lamination fabricating apparatus 70 includes a fabricating unit 71. The fabricating unit 71, in which the various pieces of hardware illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B cooperate and discharge the material based on the print data, fabricates the 3D-fabricated object.
[0079]FIG. 5A illustrates an example of the generation of the slice data. For the sake of explanatory convenience, one polygon in the 3D space as an example is described. The normal vector n(a, b, c) and the coordinates of vertexes O, P, and Q are provides in the STL. An equation of a plane including the polygon is expressed by the following equation.
a(x−Xo)+b(y−Yo)+c(z−Zo)=0
[0080]where (Xo, Yo, Zo) represents a point on the polygon, and the coordinates of any one of the vertexes can be used.
[0081]To slice the polygon at certain z-coordinate, Z is assigned to z to obtain an equation of a line MN connecting points M and N in FIG. 5A, expressed as follows
ax+by=constant
[0082]In FIG. 5A, the point M is a side OP at a height Z, the point N is on a side OQ at the height Z. The line MN exists only in the polygon. Accordingly, when the coordinates of the point M and the point N are found, the line MN is obtained. The point M is on a line connecting the vertexes O and P and at the height Z, the point N is on a line connecting the vertexes O and Q and at the height Z. The line MN is the cross-sectional shape when the polygon is sliced.
[0083]FIG. 5B illustrates an example of the print data presented in the G code. One line presents one order of the print data. One order can include various types of contents, but the order in regard to the movement of the discharging nozzle 115 is described here. The order beginning with G1 expresses the movement of the discharging nozzle 115 and the supplying of the material. First line means moving the discharging nozzle 115 to the position (X=10, Y=10) at a speed of 600 mm/min. Second line means supplying 5 mm of the fabricating material while moving the discharging nozzle 115 to the position (X=20, Y=10) at the speed of 600 mm/min.
[0084]In the example illustrated in FIG. 5B, the print data generator 27 makes the order to supply the material to a range starting from the point M to the point N (or in reverse) in the G code.
[0085]The G code is widely used in the FDM lamination fabricating apparatus 70. However, any format can be used as long as the print data presents the trajectory of the discharging nozzle 115 (aggression of coordinates of two points), a moving speed, and amount of the supplied material. A lamination fabricating apparatus employing a method other than the FDM uses print data in a corresponding format.
[0086]FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate an input of the direction to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object and a rotation of the 3D model. FIG. 6A illustrates an example of the 3D model displayed on the display device 508 by the 3D model display unit 23. The user input the direction to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object against tension while looking at a 3D model 202 on the display device 508.
[0087]FIG. 6B illustrates the direction to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object against the tension. The user drags the mouse 512 in a direction 203 in which the 3D-fabricated object is reinforced (hereinafter also “reinforcement direction), for example. The 3D model 202 illustrated in FIG. 6B includes substrate 51 and a structure 52, which has a hole, fabricated on a substrate 51. The user is supposed to penetrate a string or the like through the hole. For this reason, the user wants to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object against the tension in the direction in which the structure 52 is drawn apart from the substrate 51. Therefore, the user drags the mouse 512 or traces the touch panel with a finger upward on the display device 508 in FIG. 6B.
[0088]As the user inputs the direction 203, the 3D model relocation unit 25 converts the 3D model data, so that the direction 203 to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object becomes horizontal. The 3D model 202 (3D-fabricated object) is rotated on the display device 508. FIG. 6C illustrates the 3D model whose direction 203 input by the user becomes horizontal. As the vertical direction on the display device 508 illustrated in FIG. 6C corresponds to the height direction (z-axis direction) of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70, the 3D-fabricated object can be reinforced in the direction 203 input by the user.
[0089]Note that, the 3D model displayed on the display device 508 is made by the projection transform, and the coordinate of the 3D model data is associated with a uv coordinate on the display device 508. Accordingly, the point in the uv coordinate touched with the mouse 512 or the finger by the user is converted to the 3D coordinate in the 3D model data.
[0090]The user indicates a direction on a two dimensional plane on the display device 508. However, as described above, the uv coordinate is equivalent to the 3D coordinate. Thus, the user can indicate one vector in the 3D space by indicating two points on the display device 508.
[0091]FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate an example of the rotation of the 3D model. FIG. 7A illustrates a case where the user inputs the direction 203 parallel to the z-axis. In order to make this direction 203 horizontal, the direction 203 becomes parallel to an xy-plane. More specifically, the direction 203 is rotated 90 degrees about at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis. FIG. 7B illustrated the direction 203 which is rotated 90 degrees about the x-axis. Alternatively, the direction can be rotated about the y-axis. Yet alternatively, the direction can be rotated 90 degrees about both the x-axis and the y-axis.
[0092]In order to convert the 3D model data to make the direction 203 (reinforcement direction) horizontal, for example, the 3D model is rotated by an angle between the xy-plane and the direction 203 input by the user about at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis. Here, the xy-plane, or the horizontal direction, is defined as a predetermined direction to calculate the angle between the direction received by the strength direction receiver 24 and the predetermined direction. As the direction 203 input by the user and the xy-plane form an angle α in FIG. 7C, the 3D model relocation unit 25 converts the 3D model data to rotate the 3D model by the angle α about at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis. In a case where the 3D model data is converted by the angle α, the 3D coordinates are converted by the following equations, in which (x, y, z) represents the coordinates before the conversion, (x′, y′ z′) represents the coordinates after the conversion.
x′=x
y′=y cos α+sin α
z′=−y sin α+z cos α
[0093]FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for relocating the 3D model data executed by the information processing apparatus 20.
[0094]The 3D model data reading unit 22 reads the 3D model data from the 3D model data memory 2001 (S110).
[0095]The 3D model display unit 23 interprets the 3D model data, and displays the 3D model on the display device 508 (S120).
[0096]The strength direction receiver 24 judges whether or not the user has input the direction 203 to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object (S130).
[0097]This judgment is done by determining whether or not the user pushes a predetermined operation button. Alternatively, the judgment can be done by determining whether the mouse 512 is dragged longer than or equal to a predetermined length. In a case of the touch panel, the judgment is done by determining whether the touch panel is traced with a finger longer than or equal to a predetermined length.
[0098]If the judgment in step S130 is “No”, the rotation of the 3D model is unnecessary, and the procedure goes to step S170.
[0099]If the judgment in step S130 is “Yes”, the strength direction receiver 24 receives the direction to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object by the user operation (S140).
[0100]The 3D model relocation unit 25 converts the 3D model data to relocate the 3D model data (S150).
[0101]The 3D model display unit 23 interprets the 3D model data after the relocation, and displays the 3D model on the display device 508 (S160).
[0102]The lamination fabricating apparatus 70 fabricates the 3D-fabricated object (S170). In other words, the print data generator 27 generates the print data, the communication unit 21 sends the print data to the lamination fabricating apparatus 70, and then the fabricating unit 71 of the lamination fabricating apparatus 70 fabricates the 3D-fabricated object.
[0103]As described above, the information processing apparatus 20 in the present embodiment converts the 3D model data to make the direction to reinforce the 3D-fabricated object horizontal. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 20 can reinforce the 3D-fabricated object in arbitrary direction.
[0104]Modifications of the first embodiment are described below.
[0105]FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for relocating the 3D model data executed by the information processing apparatus 20 according a first modification. Descriptions are given below of the first modification illustrated in FIG. 9, focusing on the differences f