Surface2Volume: Surface Segmentation Conforming Assemblable Volumetric Partition

Users frequently seek to fabricate objects whose outer surfaces consist ofregions with different surface attributes, such as color or material. Manufac-turing such objects in a single piece is often challenging or even impossible.The alternative is to partition them into single-attribute volumetric partsthat can be fabricated separately and then assembled to form the targetobject. Facilitating this approach requires partitioning the input model intoparts thatconformto the surface segmentation and that can be moved apartwith no collisions. We proposeSurface2Volume, a partition algorithm capableof producing suchassemblableparts, each of which is affiliated with a singleattribute, the outer surface of whose assembly conforms to the input surfacegeometry and segmentation. In computing the partition we strictly enforceconformity with surface segmentation and assemblability, and optimize forease of fabrication by minimizing part count, promoting part simplicity,and simplifying assembly sequencing. We note that computing the desiredpartition requires solving for three types of variables: per-part assemblytrajectories, partition topology, i.e. the connectivity of the interface surfacesseparating the different parts, and the geometry, or location, of these inter-faces. We efficiently produce the desired partitions by addressing one type of ariables at a time: first computing the assembly trajectories, then determin-ing interface topology, and finally computing interface locations that allowparts assemblability. We algorithmically identify inputs that necessitatesequential assembly, and partition these inputs gradually by computing anddisassembling a subset of assemblable parts at a time. We demonstrate ourmethod's robustness and versatility by employing it to partition a rangeof models with complex surface segmentations into assemblable parts. Wefurther validate our framework via output fabrication and comparisons toalternative partition techniques.