Method for operating an additive manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

A method for operating an additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) in a manufacturing environment (1), the manufacturing environment (1) comprising one or more additive manufacturing devices (2.1-2.n), characterized in that data related to the operation of at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) are transmitted from an external data storage device (6) to the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) via a separate data connection (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating an additive manufacturing device in a manufacturing environment comprising one or more additive manufacturing devices. Background Art

[0002] As known from the prior art, there are various methods for operating an additive manufacturing device in a corresponding manufacturing environment including one or more additive manufacturing devices, wherein the environment includes a plurality of additive manufacturing devices. Here, the operation of each additive manufacturing device is usually controlled based on data related to the operation of the additive manufacturing device. Therefore, the operation of various additive manufacturing devices requires the data related to the operation of one specific additive manufacturing device to be transmitted to another specific additive manufacturing device.

[0003] Until now, data related to the operation of a specific additive manufacturing device has usually been transmitted to other specific additive manufacturing devices via a local network environment of the specific manufacturing environment (e.g., via a local company network such as a LAN or Ethernet). Therefore, the additive manufacturing devices are usually connected to a local network environment in terms of data transmission.

[0004] However, the local network environment is often used not only to transfer the corresponding data to the specific additive manufacturing equipment, but also to transfer other data between other equipment implemented in hardware and software that may not even be related to the manufacturing process, such as organizational, computing or management equipment of the manufacturing environment.

[0005] Sometimes, even all data traffic within a company is exchanged through the corresponding local network environment, so different users can also use the local network environment to access different devices that communicate through the local network environment.

[0006] This configuration requires, among other things, improvements in the operation of additive manufacturing equipment in the corresponding manufacturing environment, for example in terms of required component and process quality, and generally seeks to ensure that data related to the operation of a specific additive manufacturing equipment cannot be modified, stolen, etc. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to describe a relatively improved method for operating an additive manufacturing device in a manufacturing environment comprising one or more additive manufacturing devices.

[0008] This object is achieved by a method for operating at least one additive manufacturing device in a manufacturing environment, the manufacturing environment comprising one or more additive manufacturing devices.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention described herein relates to a method for operating at least one additive manufacturing device in a manufacturing environment comprising one or more additive manufacturing devices. The method is particularly useful for controlling the operation of at least one additive manufacturing device in a manufacturing environment comprising one or more additive manufacturing devices.

[0010] The method is essentially directed to the operation or control of any additive manufacturing device (also commonly referred to as a 3D printer). Therefore, an additive manufacturing device that is operable or operates according to the method should in principle be understood to refer to any device involved in the additive manufacturing of one or more three-dimensional components (such as technical components or groups of technical components). For the implementation of the method, the actual additive manufacturing process in which the specific additive manufacturing device is operable or operates according to the method is of only secondary significance (if any). Therefore, in this article, FDM devices, i.e. additive manufacturing devices for implementing a fused deposition modeling process (FDM process), or FFE devices, i.e. additive manufacturing devices designed for implementing a fused filament fabrication process (FFF process), are cited only by way of example, so that the additive manufacturing device is as operable or operates according to the method as possible.

[0011] The specific additive manufacturing device operates according to the method based on data related to the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device. The term "data" can also be understood as a data record. In principle, the corresponding data or data record can be or can include any data or data record that directly or indirectly controls the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device. Therefore, the corresponding data or data record can be specific system-specific parameters, i.e. specific parameters regarding at least one configuration of the specific additive manufacturing device, and / or component-specific parameters, i.e. specific parameters regarding at least one component to be produced by the specific additive manufacturing device, and / or process-specific parameters, i.e. specific parameters related to at least one process executable by the specific manufacturing device.

[0012] The respective data or data record may be or may include a combination of one or more system-specific parameters and / or one or more component-specific parameters and / or one or more process-specific parameters. The respective combination may relate to a specific additive manufacturing process for a specific component with defined component characteristics, which process may be performed by at least one specific additive manufacturing device.

[0013] According to the method, the corresponding data or data records are typically provided via an external data storage device (i.e., typically via a data storage device that does not form part of the network of the specific manufacturing environment), or the corresponding data or data records can be retrieved from such a data storage device. Therefore, the corresponding external data storage device is typically not connected to the local network environment of the specific manufacturing environment (if a local network environment is provided). Therefore, it is typically not possible to form a data connection between the external data storage device and the local network environment of the specific manufacturing environment (if a local network environment is provided). For example, the local network environment of the specific manufacturing environment may be a company network.

[0014] For example, the corresponding external data storage device may be a network storage device, ie, in particular, an external server device (eg, a cloud server device). Thus, for example, the corresponding external data storage device may be connected to the Internet.

[0015] According to the method, a provider may provide the corresponding data or data records. For example, the provider may be the manufacturer of the specific additive manufacturing equipment of the manufacturing environment and / or the developer of the specific components additively manufactured in the manufacturing environment and / or the developer of specific structural data about the specific components additively manufactured in the manufacturing environment. The corresponding provider may typically be a natural person or a legal person, for example, the natural person or legal person is seeking to prevent the transmission of the corresponding data or data records via a network connection outside its control (e.g., the local network environment of the specific manufacturing environment (if a local network environment is provided)) in order to avoid unnecessary modification of the corresponding data or data records and / or theft of the corresponding data or data records.

[0016] Subsequently, the respective external data storage device may be under the control of the provider of the respective data or data records. Thus, the provider of the respective data or data records may control access to and / or modification of the data or data records stored in the specific external data storage device; thus, for example, the provider of the respective data or data records may grant an access and / or modification authorization to access and / or modify the data or data records stored in the specific external data storage device. The respective access or modification authorization may be subject to specific authorization and / or restriction criteria; thus, for example, the respective access or modification authorization may be granted or restricted locally and / or temporarily and / or in another way so that the access or modification authorization is granted only when specific authorization and / or restriction criteria are met - in this regard, payment criteria (i.e. a specific fee charged for accessing the data or data records stored in the specific external data storage device) - also refers to the granting of access to or modification of the data or data records stored in the specific external data storage device.

[0017] It is essential for the transmission of data or data records between the respective external data storage device and the specific additive manufacturing device that, for this purpose, according to the method, a separate or discrete data connection is used for the transmission of data or data records related to the operation of the additive manufacturing device from the specific external data storage device. Thus, according to the method, the data transmission of the respective data or data records from the specific external data storage device to the specific additive manufacturing device is performed via at least one separate or discrete data connection. In other words, according to the method, at least one separate or discrete data connection, i.e. a data connection that is in particular independent of a possibly provided local network environment, is formed between the specific external data storage device and the specific additive manufacturing device for the transmission of data or data records from the specific external data storage device to the specific additive manufacturing device. The specific separate or discrete data connection between the specific external data storage device and the specific additive manufacturing device is isolated or shielded from all other possibly provided data connection possibilities of the specific manufacturing environment, such as the local network environment (if a local network environment is provided); therefore, it is not possible to connect between the specific separate or discrete data connection and other data connections of the specific manufacturing environment, such as the local network environment (if a local network environment is provided). Thus, the separate or discrete data connection formed between the particular additive manufacturing device and the particular external data storage device is an independent data connection.

[0018] This means that the specific additive manufacturing device according to the method is connectable or connectable to the specific external data storage device only via the specific individual or discrete data connection and vice versa. Thus, the specific additive manufacturing device according to the method is usually not connected to other possibly provided data connection possibilities of the specific manufacturing environment, such as the local network environment (if a local network environment is provided).

[0019] Due to the use of a separate or discrete data connection between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device, the method is improved with respect to the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device, since, for example, with respect to the required component and process quality, it can be ensured that corresponding data or data records related to the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device cannot be transmitted via the data connection, through which the data or data records could be modified, stolen, etc.

[0020] As can be clearly seen from the above, the manufacturing environment can have a local network environment, for example via a LAN network or an Ethernet network. However, in this case, as indicated, the corresponding data or data records are not transmitted directly or indirectly from the external data storage device to the specific additive manufacturing device via the local network environment, but using the at least one separate or discrete data connection. According to the method, a separate or discrete data connection is therefore used that is not connectable or not connected to the corresponding local network environment. Therefore, a data connection is provided for transmitting the corresponding data or data records from the external data storage device to the specific additive manufacturing device via a separate or discrete data connection, thereby independently of the specific local network environment.

[0021] According to the method, a specific separate or discrete data connection can be established between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device via at least one gateway device connected or formed between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device. According to the method, at least one gateway device connected or formed between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device can therefore be used. Therefore, the corresponding gateway device can be connected or connected to the specific external data storage device on the one hand, so that data or data records can be transferred from the specific external data storage device to the gateway device, and can be connected or connected to the specific additive manufacturing device on the other hand, so that data or data records can be transferred from the gateway device to the specific additive manufacturing device.

[0022] Of course, in all cases, a bidirectional data transfer between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device via respective individual or discrete data connections is conceivable.

[0023] The specific gateway device may be equipped with at least one data storage device, so that data or data records transmitted from the external data storage device to the specific gateway device can be temporarily stored in the specific gateway device. Thus, the specific gateway device may be involved as having a buffer function, for example assuming a host and / or spooler function for the additive manufacturing device connected to the gateway device.

[0024] The corresponding data storage device may be or may include, for example, a volatile data storage device (e.g., a RAM data storage device), a DRAM data storage device, an SRAM data storage device, an SDRAM data storage device, an MRAM data storage device, or a non-volatile data storage device (e.g., a ROM data storage device, a PROM data storage device, an EPROM data storage device, or an EEPROM data storage device).

[0025] The specific gateway device may also be equipped with a control device implemented in hardware or software for controlling and organizing the additive manufacturing process of the additive manufacturing device connected thereto. Therefore, according to the method, the manufacturing process of the additive manufacturing device connected to the specific gateway device may be controlled and / or organized by the correspondingly designed control device of the specific gateway device.

[0026] As described above, the process of forming a separate or discrete data connection between the specific additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device can be implemented by a gateway device according to the method. According to the method, a gateway device can be used, which is designed to form a network environment that is separate from the local network environment of the manufacturing environment (if a local network environment is provided). In particular, a gateway device can be used, which is designed to form a data connection to the external data storage device via the network environment that is separate from the local network environment.

[0027] According to the method, a firewall device implemented in hardware or software can be used or provided. For example, a corresponding firewall device can be connected or formed between the gateway device and the specific external data storage device. Due to the use or provision of the firewall device, the security of the data connection formed between the corresponding gateway device and the specific external data storage device can be improved.

[0028] The firewall device and the gateway device may form an integrated component group implemented in hardware and / or software; therefore, a component group may be implemented in hardware and / or software, which includes a gateway device and a firewall device.

[0029] According to the method, a virtual private network may be formed or used between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device. Since a corresponding virtual private network is formed or used, a closed communication network is formed, thereby improving the security of the data connection formed between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device.

[0030] According to the method, in particular by means of a corresponding gateway device, a corresponding virtual private network can be formed. Therefore, according to the method, a gateway device can be used, which is designed to form a virtual private network between the at least one additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device. In this way, the security of the data connection formed between the corresponding gateway device and the specific external data storage device can be improved.

[0031] According to the method, a wired and / or wireless data connection can be formed between the at least one additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device. Therefore, the data connection between the additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device can be a wired data connection or a wireless data connection. The wired data connection between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device is usually established via a wired network structure; the corresponding wired network structure can, for example, be formed by a corresponding gateway device, or can include such a gateway device. The wireless data connection between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device is usually established via a wireless network structure; the corresponding wireless network structure can, for example, be formed by a corresponding gateway device, or can include such a gateway device. The wireless data connection can, for example, be formed via a mobile communication standard, in particular 4G or 5G, or via an Internet standard, in particular TCP / IP, or such a standard can be used. The standard for mobile communication can also explicitly be a so-called third generation mobile communication standard, thus the LTE standard or an extension thereof, such as LTE-Advanced or 4G.

[0032] According to the method, a wired or wireless connection may be formed between the at least one additive manufacturing device and the gateway device, and a wired or wireless data connection may be formed between the gateway device and the external data storage device. Alternatively or additionally, according to the method, a wireless data connection may be formed between the at least one additive manufacturing device and the gateway device, and / or a wireless data connection may be formed between the gateway device and the external data storage device.

[0033] According to the method, if a corresponding gateway device is provided, the corresponding gateway device can also communicate with at least one external communication partner, or can be connected to at least one external communication partner for data communication. For example, the external communication partner can be the manufacturer of the corresponding gateway device and / or the provider of the specific external data storage device and / or the provider of the data or data records stored in the specific external data storage device. As described above, for example, the latter can be the manufacturer of the specific additive manufacturing device in the manufacturing environment and / or the developer of specific components for additive manufacturing in the manufacturing environment and / or the developer of specific structural data related to the components for additive manufacturing in the manufacturing environment. Therefore, a data connection to at least one external communication partner can be formed via the corresponding gateway device, for example, in order to control and / or monitor the operation of at least one additive manufacturing device in the manufacturing environment.

[0034] According to the method, a corresponding separate or discrete data connection can be formed or used, and the separate or discrete data connection is encryptable or encrypted. Due to the formation or use of the corresponding encryptable or encrypted data connection, the security of the data connection formed between the specific additive manufacturing device and the specific external data storage device can be improved. Specifically, the security of the data connection formed between the corresponding gateway device (if a gateway device is provided) and the specific external data storage device can be improved by forming or using the corresponding encryptable or encrypted data connection. In principle, any encryption method can be considered for encryption.

[0035] According to the method, a corresponding gateway device can be used, which is designed to encrypt the corresponding individual or discrete data connection. Therefore, the data connection between the corresponding gateway device and the specific data storage device can be encrypted by the corresponding gateway device. To this end, the corresponding gateway device can be equipped with an encryption device implemented in hardware and / or software.

[0036] According to the method, at least one authentication data record can be provided via the specific external data storage device, the authentication data record containing component-specific parameters and / or system-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters authenticated by a provider for an additive manufacturing process for at least one specific component with defined component characteristics. The corresponding authentication data record typically contains all necessary system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters, which are necessary for the additive manufacturing of a specific component with defined component characteristics. In other words, all system-specific and / or component-specific and / or process-specific information for the additive manufacturing of a specific component with defined component characteristics, i.e. in particular machine-readable control information for open-loop or closed-loop control of the operation of an additive manufacturing device for performing an additive manufacturing process for additive manufacturing of a specific component with defined component characteristics, is present in the corresponding authentication data record.

[0037] Thus, each component to be manufactured or produced may provide its own certification data record. This is therefore a specific case, since system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters are necessary to provide a characteristic component property, and thus a specific component property may be associated with a specific system-specific parameter and / or component-specific parameter and / or process-specific parameter, such that only a specific combination of system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters allows a reliable and reproducible additive manufacturing of a component with the specific component property. It is therefore clear that the at least one certification data record typically contains a specific combination of system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters for producing a specific component with a defined component property.

[0038] The specific combination of corresponding parameters contained in the at least one certification data record here generally relates to a specific additive manufacturing process for a specific component, which has defined component characteristics that can be executed by a specific additive manufacturing device. Therefore, the at least one certification data record generally contains a combination of system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters, which are tailored to a specific additive manufacturing process that can be executed by a specific additive manufacturing device, wherein the parameter combination allows reliable and repeatable additive manufacturing of components with defined component characteristics. Therefore, if these components are based on different additive manufacturing processes and / or the operation of different additive manufacturing devices, the certification data records for the manufacture of components with the same defined component characteristics may differ from each other in terms of at least one system-specific parameter and / or component-specific parameter and / or process-specific parameter.

[0039] The specific additive manufacturing process for manufacturing the specific component with defined component properties can be performed without user intervention, in particular fully automatically, solely based on the at least one authentication data record. Thus, at least one additive manufacturing process can be used fully automatically, in particular without user intervention, by means of an additive manufacturing device, based on the at least one authentication data record, for additive manufacturing of at least one specific component with defined component properties.

[0040] The respective certification data record may also contain machine-readable control information, in particular for fully automatic, open-loop or closed-loop control of the operation of the at least one additive manufacturing device, in order to additively manufacture the at least one component to be additively manufactured according to the at least one certification data record. For example, the respective control information may be a specific machine code (G-code) for a specific additive manufacturing device. The respective control information may be described directly or indirectly by respective system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters contained in the at least one certification data record.

[0041] The corresponding certification data record may also include system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters certified by the provider for the additive manufacturing process for preparing the or at least one specific component with defined component properties. Thus, the user himself does not need any knowledge about the corresponding preparation measures, since all the "knowledge" required for this purpose can be contained in the at least one certification data record.

[0042] The at least one measure for preparing the additive manufacturing process applied on the basis of the corresponding authentication data record can include, for example, measures for preparing the building material to be used within the scope of the additive manufacturing process (the additive manufacturing process is used for the additive manufacturing of components with specific component properties), in particular temperature control, drying, inerting, etc. (in the case of building materials). The selection of the measures is usually based on the specific additive manufacturing process to be applied, or on the specific building material to be used within the scope of the execution of the specific additive manufacturing process to be applied. For example, a powder (bed) additive manufacturing process requires different preparatory measures compared to a non-powder (bed) additive manufacturing process.

[0043] The corresponding certification data record may also contain system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters certified by the provider for carrying out the or at least one additive manufacturing process. Thus, the user himself does not need to have any knowledge of the processing measures, because all the "knowledge" required for this purpose can be contained in the at least one certification data record.

[0044] The at least one processing measure of the additive manufacturing process may include finishing measures for the additively manufactured components within the scope of the additive manufacturing process, in particular mechanical and / or thermal post-treatment of the additively manufactured components, such as mechanical surface treatment at least in some parts to produce specific surface properties, thermal treatment at least in some parts to produce specific mechanical properties, etc. The selection of the measure is usually based on the additive manufacturing process to be specifically applied, or on the construction materials to be specifically used within the scope of execution of the additive manufacturing process to be specifically applied. For example, components manufactured by a powder (bed) based additive manufacturing process require different finishing measures than components not manufactured by a powder (bed) based additive manufacturing process. Similarly, metal components may require different surface processing measures compared to plastic components.

[0045] For all embodiments, the respective gateway device is formed as a network device, i.e. in particular a router, or may form part of such a network device. In particular, a router designed to form a wireless data connection via a mobile communication standard, in particular LTE, 4G or 5G, may be considered. For example, information for identifying the gateway device, the router or the additive manufacturing device equipped with them may be assigned to the respective router via a network card, a SIM card or the like. All comments relating to the gateway device also apply to the router; therefore, the router may include, for example, a firewall device implemented in hardware and / or software and / or a data storage device implemented in hardware and / or software.

[0046] The corresponding gateway device, i.e. in particular the corresponding router, can be arranged or formed on or in the additive manufacturing device. Therefore, the corresponding gateway device, i.e. in particular the corresponding router, can be structurally integrated in the additive manufacturing device. The corresponding structural integration can be realized, for example, in such a way that a receiving area or space, such as a chamber-like or shaped receiving area or space in which the corresponding gateway device or router is arranged or formed, is arranged or formed on or in a housing part of the specific additive manufacturing device, such as on or in a substrate. The corresponding receiving area or space can be closed (optionally completely closed) at least in some parts to protect the corresponding gateway device or router from external influences. The corresponding receiving area or space can be realized by a fastening interface, i.e. in particular a mechanical fastening interface, which allows a (mechanically) stable fastening of the corresponding gateway device or router.

[0047] Thus, in addition to specific functional components for performing additive manufacturing operations, a correspondingly configured additive manufacturing device may also include a gateway device or router, which may vary depending on the specific configuration of the additive manufacturing operation or the additive manufacturing process that can be implemented thereby, through which a separate data connection to an external data storage device can be formed or established. This can in particular be implemented in an automatable or automated manner so that the specific additive manufacturing device independently establishes or maintains a data connection to or together with an external data storage device via an integrated gateway device. The corresponding data connection can be implemented as a VPN tunnel or in its manner.

[0048] In this regard, it is convenient to consider a gateway device or router designed to form a wireless data connection via a standard for mobile communications, in particular LTE, 4G or 5G. In this way, the data connection between the specific additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device can be formed, established or maintained by a separate data connection that is completely independent of the local network environment. This means a significant increase in security, for example against data theft, and since, as mentioned above, the data connection can be independently established and maintained by the additive manufacturing device in an automatable or automated manner, the setup of the additive manufacturing device is simplified, since it is neither necessary nor desirable to integrate the data connection into an existing (local) network environment.

[0049] Thus, a correspondingly configured additive manufacturing device may only have one power connection; a connection in the form of a socket or a network cable or the like, for example, is not necessary.

[0050] A second aspect of the invention relates to a manufacturing environment comprising at least one additive manufacturing device and possibly a local network environment. The manufacturing environment is characterized in that a gateway device is designed to form a separate data connection to an external data storage device, via which data or data records related to the operation of the additive manufacturing device are transmitted from the external data storage device (i.e., in particular an external data storage device located outside the local network environment of the manufacturing environment (if a local network environment is provided)) to the at least one additive manufacturing device of the manufacturing environment.

[0051] The gateway device may be configured in the manner described above and structurally integrated into the additive manufacturing device.

[0052] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a communication or data transmission system, comprising:

[0053] A manufacturing environment, including at least one additive manufacturing device and possibly a local network environment;

[0054] an external data storage device in which data or data records related to the operation of the additive manufacturing device may be stored or stored;

[0055] A gateway device is designed to form a data connection, which is separate or discrete, in particular if a local network environment is provided, the data connection is separate or discrete from the local network environment, and through which data or data records related to the operation of the additive manufacturing device are transmitted from the external data storage device to the at least one additive manufacturing device of the manufacturing environment.

[0056] The gateway device may be configured in the manner described above and structurally integrated into the additive manufacturing device.

[0057] All aspects in connection with the method according to the first aspect of the invention are equally applicable to the manufacturing environment according to the second aspect of the invention and to the communication or data transmission system according to the third aspect of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The invention will be explained in more detail based on exemplary embodiments in the drawings, in which:

[0059] Figure 1 , 2 Schematic diagrams of manufacturing environments according to exemplary embodiments are respectively shown.

[0060] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a manufacturing environment 1 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The manufacturing environment 1 includes one or more additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n. For example, the additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n may be FDM or FFF devices.

[0062] The manufacturing environment 1 also includes a gateway device 3, which is designed to form a data connection 5, which is in particular separated or discrete from the local network environment 4 (optional) of the manufacturing environment, such as a company network, and through the gateway device 3, data or data records related to the operation of the additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n are transmitted from the external data storage device 6 to the additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n of the manufacturing environment 1.

[0063] therefore, Figure 1 The exemplary configuration shown in may be referred to or equivalently considered as a communication system formed by or including additive manufacturing devices 2 . 1 - 2 . n , a gateway device 3 and an external data storage device 6 .

[0064] A method for operating at least one additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n of a manufacturing environment 1, which can be used Figure 1 The method is particularly used to control at least one additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n of a manufacturing environment 1.

[0065] The specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n is operated according to the method based on data or data records DS related to the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n. In principle, the corresponding data or data record DS may be or may include any data or data record that directly or indirectly controls the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n. Thus, the corresponding data or data record DS may be specific system-specific parameters, i.e. specific parameters related to at least one configuration of the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n, and / or component-specific parameters, i.e. specific parameters related to at least one component produced by the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n, and / or process-specific parameters, i.e. specific parameters related to at least one process executable by the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n.

[0066] According to the method, the corresponding data or data records DS are provided by or retrieved from an external data storage device 6 which does not form part of the network of the manufacturing environment 1. Therefore, the external data storage device 6 is not connected to the local network environment 4 of the manufacturing environment 1. Therefore, it is not possible to form a data connection between the external data storage device 6 and the local network environment 4 of the manufacturing environment.

[0067] The external data storage device 6 in the exemplary embodiment is a network storage device, that is, specifically, an external server device (eg, a cloud server device). Therefore, the external data storage device 6 can be connected to the Internet.

[0068] The provider may provide the corresponding data or data record DS. For example, the provider may be a manufacturer of a specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n of the manufacturing environment 1 and / or a developer of a specific component for additive manufacturing in the manufacturing environment 1 and / or a developer of specific structural data of a specific component for additive manufacturing in the manufacturing environment 1. The corresponding provider may be a natural person or a legal person, which, for example, seeks to prevent the corresponding data or data record DS from being transmitted via a network connection located outside its control, such as via the local network environment 4 of the manufacturing environment 1, in order to avoid unnecessary modifications of the corresponding data or data record DS and / or theft of the corresponding data or data record DS.

[0069] Subsequently, the external data storage device 6 may be under the control of the provider of the respective data or data record DS. Thus, the provider of the respective data or data record DS may control access to the data or data record DS stored in the external data storage device 6 and / or the modification of the data or data record DS stored in the external data storage device 6; thus, for example, the provider of the respective data or data record DS may grant an access and / or modification authorization to access and / or modify the data or data record DS stored in the external data storage device 6. The respective access or modification authorization may be subject to specific authorization and / or restriction criteria; thus, for example, the respective access or modification authorization may be granted or restricted locally and / or temporarily and / or in another way, so that the right to access or modify the data or data record DS stored in the specific external data storage device 6 is granted only if specific authorization and / or restriction criteria are met - in this respect, payment criteria (i.e. a specific fee for accessing the data or data record DS stored in said specific external data storage device 6) - also refers to the granting of the right to access or modify the data or data record DS stored in the specific external data storage device 6.

[0070] For the transmission of data or data records DS between the external data storage device 6 and the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n, it is essential that a separate or discrete data connection 5 is used for this purpose. Therefore, the transmission of the corresponding data or data record DS from the external data storage device 6 to the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n is carried out via a separate or discrete data connection between the external data storage device 6 and the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n, i.e., in particular, independently of the data connection of the local network environment 4, via which the data or data record DS is transmitted from the external data storage device 6 to the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n. The separate or discrete data connection 5 between the external data storage device 6 and the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n is isolated or shielded from all other possible data connection possibilities of the manufacturing environment 1, i.e., in particular, from the local network environment 4; therefore, there is no possibility of connection between the specific separate or discrete data connection 5 and other data connections of the manufacturing environment 1, i.e., in particular, the local network environment 4. Thus, the individual or discrete data connections formed between a particular additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6 are independent data connections.

[0071] This means that the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n is connectable or connectable to the external data storage device 6 only via a single or discrete data connection 5 and vice versa. Therefore, the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n is not connected to other possibly provided data connection possibilities of the manufacturing environment 1, in particular the local network environment 4.

[0072] Due to the use of a separate or isolated data connection between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6, the method is improved with respect to the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n, because, for example with respect to the required components and process quality, it can be ensured that the corresponding data or data records DS related to the operation of the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n cannot be transmitted via the data connection, through which the data or data records could be modified, stolen, etc.

[0073] The individual or discrete data connection 5 between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6 is established in an exemplary embodiment via a gateway device 3 connected or formed between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6. According to the method, a gateway device 3 is used, which is connected or formed between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6. Thus, the gateway device 3 can be connected or connected on the one hand to the external data storage device 6 so that data or data records DS can be transmitted from the external data storage device 6 to the gateway device 3, and on the other hand to the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n so that data or data records can be transmitted from the gateway device 3 to the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n.

[0074] Of course, in all cases, a bidirectional data transmission between the specific additive manufacturing device 2 . 1 - 2 . n and the external data storage device 6 via a separate or discrete data connection 5 is conceivable.

[0075] The gateway device 3 may be equipped with at least one data storage device 7, so that data or data records DS transmitted from the external data storage device 6 to the gateway device 3 can be temporarily stored in the gateway device 3. Therefore, the gateway device 3 can be designed to have the function of a buffer, for example to assume the host and / or spooler function for the additive manufacturing device connected to the gateway device.

[0076] The gateway device may also be equipped with a control device 8 implemented in hardware and / or software for controlling and organizing the additive manufacturing process of the additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n associated therewith. Thus, according to the method, the manufacturing process of the additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n connected to the gateway device may be controlled and / or organized by the correspondingly designed control device 8 of the gateway device 3.

[0077] As mentioned above, the described separate or discrete data connection 5 formed between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6 can be implemented via the gateway device 3. Therefore, the gateway device 3 used can be designed to form a network environment 9 separated from the local network environment 4. Specifically, the gateway device 3 can be designed to form a data connection 5 to the external data storage device 6 via the network environment 9 separated from the local network environment 4.

[0078] According to the method, a firewall device 10 implemented in hardware and / or software can be used. For example, the firewall device 10 can be connected or formed between the gateway device 3 and the external data storage device 6. Due to the use or provision of the firewall device 10, the security of the data connection 5 formed between the gateway device 3 and the external data storage device 6 can be improved.

[0079] In an exemplary embodiment, the firewall device 10 and the gateway device 3 form, for example, an integrated component set implemented in hardware and / or software.

[0080] According to the method, a virtual private network 11 can be formed between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6. Since the corresponding virtual private network 11 is formed, thereby forming a closed communication network itself, the security of the data connection 5 formed between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6 is improved.

[0081] The gateway device 3 can form a corresponding virtual private network 11 .

[0082] The individual or discrete data connections 5 between the specific additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6 can be formed as wired and / or wireless data connections. The wired data connection 5 is usually established via a wired network structure, which can be formed by the gateway device 3 or can include the gateway device 3, for example. The wireless data connection is usually established via a wireless network structure, which can be formed by the gateway device 3 or can also include the gateway device 3. For example, the wireless data connection can be formed via a mobile data communication standard, in particular 4G or 5G, or via an Internet standard, in particular TCP / IP, or such a standard can be used.

[0083] The gateway device 3 can also optionally communicate with at least one external communication partner 12 or can be connected to at least one external communication partner 12 for data communication. The external communication partner 12 can be, for example, the manufacturer of the gateway device 3 and / or the provider of the external data storage device 6 and / or the provider of the data or data records DS stored in the external data storage device 6. As mentioned above, the latter can be the manufacturer of a specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and / or the developer of a specific component for additive manufacturing in the manufacturing environment 1 and / or the developer of specific structural data of a component for additive manufacturing in the manufacturing environment 1. Therefore, a data connection 13 is connected to at least one external communication partner 12, for example in order to control and / or monitor the operation of at least one additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n, the data connection 13 can be formed via the gateway device 3.

[0084] According to the method, a respective encryptable or encrypted individual or discrete data connection 5 can be formed or used. Due to the formation or use of the respective encryptable or encrypted data connection 5, the security of the data connection formed between the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1-2.n and the external data storage device 6 is improved. In particular, if a gateway device is provided, the security of the data connection formed between the respective gateway device and the specific external data storage device can be improved by forming or using the respective encryptable or encrypted data connection. In principle, any encryption method can be considered for encryption.

[0085] The gateway device 3 may be designed to encrypt individual or discrete data connections 5. Thus, individual or discrete data connections 5 between the gateway device 3 and the external data storage device 6 may be encrypted by the gateway device 3. For this purpose, the gateway device 3 may be equipped with an encryption device implemented in hardware and / or software.

[0086] According to the method, an authentication data record can be provided via an external data storage device 6, the authentication data record containing component-specific parameters and / or system-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters authenticated by a provider for an additive manufacturing process of at least one specific component with defined component characteristics. The corresponding authentication data record typically contains all necessary system-specific parameters and / or component-specific parameters and / or process-specific parameters, which are necessary for the additive manufacturing of the specific component with defined component characteristics. In other words, all system-specific and / or component-specific and / or process-specific information for the additive manufacturing of the specific component with defined component characteristics, that is to say, in particular machine-readable control information for open-loop or closed-loop control of the operation of the additive manufacturing device for performing the additive manufacturing process for additive manufacturing of the specific component with defined component characteristics, is present in the corresponding authentication data record.

[0087] As mentioned above, the local network environment 4 of the manufacturing environment 1 is optional. Therefore, the above comments also apply to the configuration of the corresponding manufacturing environment 1 without the local network environment 4. In this configuration of the manufacturing environment 1, the secure transmission of data or data records DS from the external data storage device 6 to the specific additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n can be achieved by using separate or discrete data connections 5 between the specific additive manufacturing devices 2.1-2.n.

[0088] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a manufacturing environment 1 according to another exemplary embodiment is shown.

[0089] according to Figure 2The exemplary embodiment shown shows that the corresponding gateway device 3 can be designed as a network device, ie in particular a router, or can form a part of such a network device, wherein the gateway device 3 is structurally integrated in the additive device 2 . 1 .

[0090] In particular, a router designed for forming a wireless data connection via a mobile communication standard, in particular LTE, 4G or 5G, can be considered as a gateway device 3. The respective router can be assigned information for identifying the router or the additive manufacturing device 2.1 equipped with the router, for example via a network card, a SIM card, etc. It is obvious that the respective router can include, for example, a firewall device 10 implemented in hardware and / or software and / or a data storage device 7 implemented in hardware and / or software. In principle, a corresponding control device 8 can also be envisaged.

[0091] As mentioned above, the corresponding router can be structurally integrated into the additive manufacturing device 2.1, so as to be arranged or formed on or in the additive manufacturing device 2.1. The corresponding structural integration can be achieved in the following way, for example, on a housing part (not shown) of a specific additive manufacturing device 2.1, for example on or in a substrate, a receiving area (not shown) or space is arranged or formed, for example, a receiving area or space is arranged to form a chamber or shape of the corresponding router. The corresponding receiving area or space can be closed at least in some parts (optionally completely closed) to protect the router from external influences. The corresponding receiving area or space can be realized by a fastening interface, that is, in particular a mechanical fastening interface, which allows a (mechanically) stable fastening of the router.

[0092] The respective configuration of the additive manufacturing device 2.1, in addition to the specific functional components for performing the additive manufacturing operation, may vary depending on the specific configuration of the additive manufacturing operation 2.1 or the additive manufacturing process that can be performed, so the respective configuration of the additive manufacturing device 2.1 may include a gateway device 3 or a router, through which a separate data connection to or with the external data storage device 6 can be formed or established. This can be implemented in particular in an automatable or automated manner so that the specific additive manufacturing device 2.1 independently establishes or maintains a separate data connection to or with the external data storage device 6 via the integrated gateway device 3 or router. The respective data connection can be implemented as a VPN tunnel or in other ways.

[0093] In this regard, a gateway device 3 or a router can be considered, which is designed to form a wireless data connection via a standard for mobile communication (especially LTE, 4G or 5G). In this way, the data connection between a specific additive manufacturing device 2.1 and an external data storage device 6 can be formed, established or maintained completely independently of a separate data connection of the local network environment 4. This means a significant increase in security, for example against data theft, and, since, as described above, the data connection can be independently established and maintained by the additive manufacturing device 2.1 in an automatable or automated manner, the setting of the additive manufacturing device 2.1 is simplified, because it is neither necessary nor desirable to integrate this data connection into the existing (local) network environment 4.

[0094] Thus, a correspondingly configured additive manufacturing device 2.1 may only have one power connection; for example, a connection in the form of a socket or a network cable or the like is not necessary.

Claims

1. A method for operating an additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) in a manufacturing environment (1), the manufacturing environment (1) comprising at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n), characterized in that: transmitting data related to the operation of the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) from an external data storage device (6) to the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) via a separate data connection (5), wherein the separate data connection (5) is a wireless data connection; wherein the separate data connection between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device is established via at least one gateway device forming part of the additive manufacturing device, and the gateway device is connected or formed between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device; wherein the wireless data connection is formed via a mobile communication standard; The wireless data connection is independently established and maintained in an automated manner by the gateway device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The manufacturing environment (1) has a local network environment (4), and the separate data connection (5) is a data connection separate from the local network environment (4).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that A separate data connection (5) is used, which is not connectable or not connected to the local network environment (4).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one gateway device (3) is used, which is designed to form a network environment (9) that is separate from a local network environment (4) of the manufacturing environment (1).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that At least one gateway device (3) is used, and the at least one gateway device (3) is designed to form a data connection with the external data storage device through a separate network environment (9).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A firewall device (10) is used which is connected or formed between the at least one gateway device (3) and the external data storage device (6).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that A virtual private network is formed between the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) and the external data storage device (6).

8. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that At least one gateway device (3) is used, and the at least one gateway device (3) is designed to form a virtual private network between the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) and the external data storage device (6).

9. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that A data connection to an external communication partner (12) is formed via the at least one gateway device (3) in order to control and / or monitor the operation of at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n).

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that A network storage device is used as an external data storage device (6).

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Use a separate data connection that can be encrypted or encrypted (5).

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that An authentication data record is provided via an external data storage device (6), the authentication data record containing component parameters and / or system parameters and / or process parameters authenticated by a provider for an additive manufacturing process of at least one component for defined component properties.

13. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that A gateway device (3) is used, which is structurally integrated into the additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n).

14. A manufacturing environment (1), comprising at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n), characterized in that: The gateway device (3) is designed to form a separate data connection (5) with an external data storage device (6), and data related to the operation of the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) is transmitted from the external data storage device (6) to the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) of the manufacturing environment (1) through the gateway device (3), wherein the separate data connection (5) is a wireless data connection; wherein the separate data connection between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device is established via at least one gateway device forming part of the additive manufacturing device, and the gateway device is connected or formed between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device; wherein the wireless data connection is formed via a mobile communication standard; The wireless data connection is independently established and maintained in an automated manner by the gateway device.

15. The manufacturing environment according to claim 14, characterized in that: The gateway device (3) is structurally integrated into the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n).

16. A communication system comprising: A manufacturing environment (1), the manufacturing environment (1) comprising at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n); an external data storage device (6), wherein the external data storage device (6) stores data related to the operation of the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n); a gateway device (3), the gateway device (3) being designed to form a single data connection (5), through which data related to the operation of the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) is transmitted from the external data storage device (6) to the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n) of the manufacturing environment (1), wherein the single data connection (5) is a wireless data connection; wherein the separate data connection between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device is established via at least one gateway device forming part of the additive manufacturing device, and the gateway device is connected or formed between the additive manufacturing device and the external data storage device; wherein the wireless data connection is formed via a mobile communication standard; The wireless data connection is independently established and maintained in an automated manner by the gateway device.

17. The communication system according to claim 16, characterized in that: The gateway device (3) is structurally integrated into the at least one additive manufacturing device (2.1-2.n).

Images