Dr. KID: Direct Remeshing and K-Set Isometric Decomposition for Scalable Physicalization of Organic Shapes

Area of Science:

• Computer Graphics
• Computational Geometry
• 3D Printing

Background:

• Physicalization of complex organic shapes for 3D printing presents challenges.
• Existing methods may struggle with geometric fidelity and assembly of puzzle-like components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Dr. KID, an algorithm for puzzle-based physicalization of organic models.
• To enable reliable 3D printing of complex shapes as interlocking puzzle pieces.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes isometric decomposition and iterative K-means clustering with remeshing.
• Employs a curvature-aware strategy for surface thickness and puzzle piece finalization.
• Integrates triangle subdivision for smoother, curved triangular patches.

Main Results:

• The Dr. KID algorithm successfully decomposes organic models into printable puzzle components.
• 3D printed results demonstrate reliable performance with minimal loss of input geometry.
• Generated puzzle pieces feature integrated hinges and holes for assembly.

Conclusions:

• Dr. KID offers an effective approach for the physicalization of organic models into 3D printed puzzles.
• The algorithm ensures geometric accuracy and facilitates the assembly of complex shapes.