Apple gets patent for new 3D printing technique

Technology company Apple has received approval for a U.S. patent, No. 10,105,905, covering the 3D printing of models using a method that approximates the original shape of objects as a collection of small triangles, according to a report from TechCrunch.com.

Currently, the majority of 3D-printed models rely on a minimal amount of internal support, or infill, for structural stabilization. This standard design makes 3D-printed models subject to cracking or even collapse, according to the report. In contrast, Apple's 3D printing technique of triangular tessellation uses triangles of varying sizes to provide increased support for the models.

The process may also improve the overall efficiency of creating 3D-printed models, noted Michael Sweet, senior printing system engineer at Apple and inventor of the method.