Method and system for producing 3-D carred signs using automatic tool path generation and computer-simulation techniques

摘要

The present invention concerns computer-produced carved signs and methods and apparatus for making the same. A computer-produced carved sign embodying a signage work having three-dimensional surfaces, is produced by a method which comprises, designing on a computer-aided design system, a three-dimensional graphical model of the signage work having three-dimensional surfaces to be carved in a signboard. On the computer-aided design system, a desired mathematical representation of the three-dimensional graphical model of the signage work to be carved in the signboard, is determined, and the desired mathematical representation is provided to a computer-aided machining system having a carving tool. Material constituting the signboard is removed using the carving tool moving under the controlled guidance of the computer-aided machining system, to leave in the signboard, a three-dimensional carved pattern corresponding to the three-dimensional graphical model of the signage work, wherein the three-dimensional carved-pattern in the signboard has three-dimensional surfaces corresponding to the three-dimensional surfaces of the three-dimensional graphical model of the signage work.