'Source-based' heterogeneous solid modeling

This paper proposes a new scheme for modeling heterogeneous objects. Concep ts of 'grading source' and material parameters are introduced so that the m aterial composition and material varying information can be represented. In order to model the grading sources and 'source-included' objects, extended operations (e.g. insertion, merge, immersion) in addition to the CSG type Boolean operations are defined. The sliced file format of a heterogeneous o bject for rapid prototyping fabrication is also briefly discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.