How to save the world from Pologons! Uformia's Volumetric Modelling for 3D Printing

In this video, a sketch based user interface is able to quickly create 3D models with symmetric inner structures, such as fruit and vegetables, volcanoes and anatomical models. The idea is that 'volumes' can then be sliced , diced, duplicated and modified, using existing CAD operations, yet preserving the volumetric structure.  The mesh is re-calculated.

Volumetric modelling is an active field of research with obvious applications to 3D printing.

Uformia, founded by Cherie Stamm and Turlif Vilbrandt, is building a completely new volume-based paradigm for 3D modeling which they call Digital Materialization (DM). It gives expert modellers new capabilities, and offers a more intuitive modelling approach for novices.

Skip over to the Uformia Kickstarter campaign video:


Imagine how a piece of clay is pulled and pushed into new shapes and you'll get the idea. To quote the Uformia FAQ "It means the object is a piece of malleable material, not a collection of paper sheets glued together. Whatever you do to it, you still have a valid solid object, unlike in traditional solid modeling, where objects can have cracks and other surface issues."

In traditional CAD, 3D objects are modelled using 2D primitives. The 3D object is approximated by a mesh of flat polygons. The Uformia software reduces every object to its mathematical function, allowing for the modelling of everything from the micro-structure (e.g. of a bone) to its general shape. 

We've previously written about how specialised plug-ins to CAD software are appearing to handle all kinds of specialized modelling manipulations. To introduce volumetric modelling to the market, a Uformia plug-in called Symvol is now available for the popular Rhino software. Take a close look at the Uformia showcase. The Symvol plug-in is just the start of Uformia's vision for re-inventing 3D Design and Fabrication software. The advantages include:

• Infinite level of detail, matching the ability of 3D printers to reproduce fine details
• Hierarchical structures at different levels of scale, as in real world objects
• Organic bending of soft and sharp objects, matching the ability of 3D printers to reproduce fluid forms
• Model surfaces remain valid, irrespective of any changes made by the user
• Morphing of one object to another, allowing a 3D printer to print a series of related objects
• Customization of objects to produce variants, perhaps 3D printing a batch
• Algorithms that help create 3D integrity, surface and watertightness 'readiness' for 3D printing
• Smaller file sizes than mega-meshes, yet still able to describe complex models, great for collaboration

Also see Hyperfun,  Voxel, NURBS, Solid Modelling