Heterogeneous Solids: Possible Representation Schemes
Stéphane M. Morvan, Georges M. Fadel · 1999
Solid freeform fabrication processes allow parts to be built with accuracy and mechanical integrity, permittingthem to be used in tooling or fOrlnandfit applications. There is already a need form~lti ..color Parts.for surgical applications, which will eventually lead to. multi-material RP .machines.WhetherJor on the spot color deposition or for functionally tailored multiple materials parts,.RPmachines with such capabilities are becoming available. They will eventually lead to the trtiepromise of Solid Freeform Fabrication: a system that can build a functional mechanism without assembly, and from multiple materials. This paper is aimed at understanding the new challenges raised from representing solids whose material distribution is changing gradually from one material to another (HC), and those made of a collection .of discrete materials (HD). Several representation schemes are reviewed and critiqued. Techniques borrowed from medical imaging and geoscience modeling are used to better understand the modeling of heterogeneous and gradient solids, from a geometric standpoint.