Method for constructing three-dimensional models and device therefor

Claim 1

Method of preparing a three-dimensional model from an actual object having portions of differing heights, comprising the steps of: supporting a transparent cover plate over and displaced vertically from said actual object; producing at least one transferable contour line on said transparent cover plate, each of said contour lines overlying portions of said actual object of substantially the same height, and said transferable contour lines being produced of a transfer material readily transferable to and receivable by a transfer receiving material; transferring each of said contour lines to a plurality of separate pieces of transfer receiving material corresponding to at least a number of different contour levels by pressing each piece of transfer receiving material into engagement with said transparent plate cover to cause the material of which said contour lines is produced to be transferred to and received by said pieces of transfer receiving material; removing the portion of Each separate piece of transfer receiving material lying outside of a different predetermined contour line transferred thereto until there are produced separate pieces of transfer receiving material each of which has the outer boundary thereof defined by a different predetermined one of said contour lines; subsequently, stacking said pieces of transfer receiving material on top of each other vertically with the separate pieces of transfer receiving material being arranged vertically from bottom to top, in accordance with the corresponding increasing heights of the actual object represented by the respective contour lines transferred to the pieces of transfer receiving material; and orienting said stacked pieces of transfer receiving material horizontally in accordance with the horizontal positionment of that portion of the actual object represented by the respective contour lines transferred to the stacked pieces of transfer receiving material.