3D printing consumable allowance management system and management method

Abstract

The invention discloses a 3D printing consumable allowance management system and method, and the system comprises a consumable bearing module which is used for bearing a material disc with a readable and writable data label; the label read-write module is used for reading and updating the label information of the material tray; the consumable monitoring module is used for monitoring consumption information of consumables in the printing process in real time; the control module is used for acquiring the total amount of consumables and the accumulated consumption of the material tray from the data label through the label read-write module, and dynamically calculating the accumulated consumption of the current consumables according to the consumption information monitored by the consumables monitoring module in real time; the real-time consumable allowance of the current consumable is determined based on the total consumable amount and the current accumulated consumption amount; writing the dynamically calculated accumulated consumption into a data label of the current consumable, and updating and displaying the updated real-time consumable allowance; according to the method, the current consumption information of the consumables can be actively monitored, the real-time consumable allowance is dynamically updated and displayed, and the controllability and continuity of the printing process are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of 3D printing technology, specifically relating to a 3D printing consumable surplus management system and management method. Background Technology

[0002] 3D (Three Dimensions) printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing technology, is a technology that uses digital model files as a basis and adhesive materials to construct objects by printing layer by layer. With the continuous development of 3D printing technology, higher precision and automation requirements have been put forward for the management of printing consumables.

[0003] Currently, most mainstream 3D printers still rely on passive, post-printing monitoring for consumable inventory management. This makes it impossible to effectively predict whether consumables are sufficient before printing begins, or to continuously and accurately track the current consumable usage during printing. Users typically need to estimate or monitor whether the current consumables are sufficient to complete the printing task, which not only affects the user experience but also fails to meet the controllability requirements for consumable inventory in 3D printing scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a 3D printing consumable balance management system and method, which can actively monitor the current consumption information of consumables and dynamically update and display the real-time consumable balance, ensuring the controllability and continuity of the printing process.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a 3D printing consumables surplus management system, comprising: Consumables carrying module, used to carry material trays with readable and writable data tags; The tag reading and writing module is used to read and update the tag information of the material tray; The consumables monitoring module is used to monitor the consumption of consumables in real time during the printing process; The control module is connected to both the tag reading / writing module and the consumable monitoring module, and is configured to execute: The total amount of consumables and the cumulative consumption of the material tray are obtained from the data tags through the tag reading and writing module; During the printing process, the cumulative consumption of consumables is dynamically calculated based on the consumption information monitored in real time by the consumables monitoring module. The real-time remaining amount of consumables is determined based on the total amount of consumables and the current cumulative consumption. The dynamically calculated cumulative consumption is written into the current consumable's data tag, and the updated real-time consumable balance is displayed.

[0006] As a further improvement to this application, the surplus management system further includes a key management module that communicates with a cloud server, the key management module being configured to perform: Submit the required number of keys to the cloud server. Receive the key issued by the cloud server; In addition, the consumable information and key usage information are synchronized to the cloud server. Each material tray is assigned a unique key.

[0007] As a further improvement to this application, the tag reading and writing module is configured to perform: Obtain the key corresponding to the current material tray from the key management module; The encryption chip set in the tag reading and writing module and the obtained key are used to perform security authentication with the data tag corresponding to the current material tray; After the security authentication is passed, the tag information corresponding to the current material tray will be written into the data tag of the current material tray; Additionally, the currently written tag information is verified; if the verification matches, the writing process is complete.

[0008] As a further improvement to this application, the label information includes the consumable type, consumable color, manufacturer information, total consumable quantity, cumulative consumption, and remaining usage times of the material tray; The data tag storage area includes a plaintext area and an encrypted area, and the consumable type, consumable color, and manufacturer information of the material tray are stored in the plaintext area. The total amount of consumables, cumulative consumption, and remaining usage times of the material tray are stored in the encrypted area.

[0009] As a further improvement to this application, the control module is used to control the label reading and writing module to perform the following operations when the material tray is loaded: Read the label information of the current material tray; If the tag information of the material tray is successfully read, it is determined whether the material tray is currently scrapped based on the remaining number of uses in the tag information; If a label from a manufacturer other than the default one is read, a prompt message will be sent to the user through the user interface. If the label information of the tray is not read, the user interface remains in standby mode.

[0010] As a further improvement of this application, the remaining material management system also includes a slicing software module, which is used to calculate the theoretical consumption of each consumable required to complete the current printing model based on the slicing geometry information of the printing model.

[0011] As a further improvement of this application, the control module is used to compare the initial consumable balance of the material tray with the theoretical consumption calculated by the slicing software module before the printing task is started. If the initial consumable balance is less than the theoretical consumption, the user interface will prompt that the balance is insufficient and the printing task will be paused until the user chooses to continue printing or replace the current tray. When the user chooses to replace the current tray, the initial consumable balance of the replaced tray is compared again with the theoretical consumption calculated by the slicing software module. If the initial consumable balance is greater than or equal to the theoretical consumption, then the printing task is started.

[0012] As a further improvement of this application, the consumption information is obtained by monitoring the feed length of the consumables, and the consumables monitoring module includes an encoder that rotates synchronously with the material tray; The encoder is used to collect rotation data generated by the rotation of the material tray in real time. The rotation data is converted into the current feed length of the consumable in real time, so that the control module can dynamically calculate the cumulative consumption of the current consumable based on the current feed length. or, The consumption information is obtained by monitoring the weight change of the material tray, and the consumable monitoring module includes a pressure sensor installed in the consumable carrying module; The pressure sensor is used to monitor the weight change of the current consumable in real time, so that the control module can dynamically calculate the cumulative consumption of the current consumable based on the weight change and linear density of the current consumable. or, The consumption information is obtained by monitoring the number of rotations of the material tray, and the consumable monitoring module includes an identification element located at a fixed position on the consumable carrying module; The identification element is used to identify the readable and writable data tag of the material tray. When the readable and writable data tag rotates to the identification area of ​​the identification element, the identification element generates a corresponding identification signal, so that the control module determines the number of rotations of the material tray based on the number of current identification signals. In addition, the cumulative consumption of consumables is dynamically calculated based on the cumulative number of rotations of the tray and the current equivalent radius of the tray; The control module is used to determine the current equivalent radius of the material tray based on the total amount of consumables, the cumulative consumption, and the wire diameter parameters of the consumables.

[0013] As a further improvement of this application, the control module is used to add the cumulative consumption read from the data tag to the current cumulative consumption calculated based on the consumption information during the printing process to obtain an updated cumulative consumption. Additionally, the updated cumulative consumption is written to the encrypted area of ​​the data tag through the tag read / write module.

[0014] As a further improvement of this application, the control module is also used to calculate the ratio of the current cumulative consumption of the material tray to the total amount of consumables during the printing process; When the ratio reaches a preset threshold, it is determined that the current consumables have been used up, the data tag corresponding to the material tray is discarded, the remaining number of uses in the data tag corresponding to the material tray is set to zero, and printing continues.

[0015] As a further improvement of this application, the consumable balance management system further includes a refill control module, which is connected to the control module and the consumable carrying module. The refill control module is used to automatically refill consumables of the same type and color as the current consumables when it is determined that the current consumables have been used up. The control module is also used to detect whether the current consumable is out of stock during the printing process, and if a shortage of consumable is detected, control the consumable refill control module to automatically refill the consumable; After automatic material refilling is completed, the label information of the current material tray is read through the label reading and writing module; When the label information of the material tray is read, the updated cumulative consumption is written into the data label of the current consumable, and the updated real-time consumable balance is displayed.

[0016] Based on the above-mentioned 3D printing consumables surplus management system, this application also provides a 3D printing consumables surplus management method, the method comprising the following steps: Obtain the total amount of consumables and the cumulative consumption of the material tray from the data tag of the material tray; During the printing process, the consumption of consumables is monitored in real time; Based on the real-time monitored consumption information, the current cumulative consumption of consumables is dynamically calculated; Based on the total amount of consumables and the current cumulative consumption, determine the real-time remaining amount of consumables. The dynamically calculated cumulative consumption is written into the current consumable's data tag, and the updated real-time consumable balance is displayed.

[0017] The 3D printing consumables surplus management system and method provided in this application have the following beneficial effects: This application sets readable and writable data tags on the material tray. The tag reading and writing module reads and updates the tag information on the material tray. The consumable monitoring module is set on the printing path of the material tray or the consumable carrying module. It obtains the current consumable consumption information by monitoring at least one of the following methods: consumable feed length, weight change of the material tray, and number of rotations of the material tray. This ensures the timeliness and reliability of the consumable information collection. The control module dynamically calculates the current cumulative consumable consumption based on the real-time monitored consumption information. Then, it determines the real-time consumable balance by the difference between the total consumable amount and the cumulative consumption. At the same time, the updated cumulative consumption is written to the data tag and the real-time consumable balance is updated and displayed, allowing users to intuitively understand the remaining consumables and avoid printing interruptions due to consumable exhaustion. This improves the accuracy and convenience of consumable management and ensures the continuity of the printing process. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. For those skilled in the art, other drawings obtained from these drawings without creative effort are all within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0020] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating the submission of a key application in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this embodiment of the application.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the verification of label information in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this embodiment of the application.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of reading tray label information in a 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this embodiment of the application.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining whether a material tray is scrapped in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this application embodiment.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the comparison between the initial consumable balance and the theoretical consumption value in the 3D printing consumable balance management system provided in this application embodiment.

[0025] Figure 7 The flowchart for initiating automatic material replenishment in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in the embodiments of this application is shown.

[0026] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating the 3D printing consumable surplus management method provided in this application embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0028] To make the description of this disclosure more detailed and complete, illustrative descriptions of the implementation methods and specific embodiments of this application are provided below; however, this is not the only form of implementing or utilizing the specific embodiments of this application. The implementation methods cover the features of multiple specific embodiments and the method steps and their order for constructing and operating these specific embodiments. However, other specific embodiments can also be used to achieve the same or equivalent functions and step sequences. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0030] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or". For example, A / B can mean A or B. The word "and / or" in the text is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more. Other quantifiers should be understood similarly. The preferred embodiments described herein are only for illustration and explanation of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Furthermore, the embodiments of this application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0031] 3D (Three Dimensions) printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing technology, is a technology that uses digital model files as a basis and adhesive materials to construct objects by printing layer by layer. With the continuous development of 3D printing technology, higher precision and automation requirements have been put forward for the management of printing consumables.

[0032] Currently, most mainstream 3D printers still rely on passive, post-printing monitoring for consumable inventory management. This makes it impossible to effectively predict whether consumables are sufficient before printing begins, or to continuously and accurately track the current consumable usage during printing. Users typically need to estimate or monitor whether the current consumables are sufficient to complete the printing task, which not only affects the user experience but also fails to meet the controllability requirements for consumable inventory in 3D printing scenarios.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1-8 This application provides a 3D printing consumable balance management system and management method, which can actively monitor the current consumption information of consumables and dynamically update and display the real-time consumable balance, ensuring the controllability and continuity of the printing process.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in the embodiments of this application. The 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this application includes a consumables carrying module, a label reading and writing module, a consumables monitoring module, and a control module.

[0035] In related technologies, the material tray is usually set as a disc-shaped structure, and the printing consumables are evenly and tightly wound on the curved surface of the material tray. A certain driving structure drives the material tray and the consumables wound on the material tray to rotate, so as to realize the material supply during the printing process.

[0036] This application places the data tag on the outer wall of the material tray and uses the consumable carrying module to support the material tray with the readable and writable data tag, providing a stable installation base for the material tray and ensuring that the material tray will not shift or shake during the printing process.

[0037] Furthermore, this application places the data tags of the tag reading and writing module close to the material tray so that after the material tray is loaded into the consumable carrying module, it can quickly and accurately exchange information with the tag reading and writing module. The tag reading and writing module reads and updates the tag information of the material tray, avoiding the errors and inefficiencies caused by manual input.

[0038] As an optional implementation, this application places the consumable monitoring module on the printing path of the material tray or on the consumable carrying module, so as to accurately obtain the actual usage status of the consumables and monitor the consumption information of consumables in real time during the printing process.

[0039] For example, the required consumption information can be obtained by monitoring at least one of the following methods: the feed length of the consumable, the weight change of the trolley, or the number of rotations of the trolley, in order to adapt to different printing scenario requirements.

[0040] It is understood that the above-mentioned methods of monitoring the feed length of consumables, the weight change of the tray, or the number of rotations of the tray are all feasible. One, two, or three of these methods can be selected for monitoring according to the actual printing scenario requirements and cost requirements. All of them can effectively obtain accurate consumption information. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0041] In an optional embodiment, the above-mentioned control module is connected to the tag reading and writing module and the consumable monitoring module respectively. When the material tray is loaded or the printing equipment is turned on, the control module triggers the tag reading and writing module to obtain the total amount of consumables and the cumulative consumption of the material tray from the readable and writable data tags.

[0042] Furthermore, during the printing process, the control module continuously receives consumption information transmitted in real time from the consumables monitoring module, dynamically calculates the current cumulative consumption of consumables based on the consumption information, and then determines the current real-time consumables balance based on the total amount of consumables obtained and the real-time cumulative consumption through difference calculation.

[0043] Afterwards, the control module writes the updated cumulative consumption into the current consumable data tag, and at the same time controls the relevant display components, such as the display screen, to update and display the updated real-time consumable balance, providing users with an accurate and intuitive real-time consumable balance.

[0044] It should be noted that the total consumable quantity in the tray is a fixed data point written to the data tag when the tray leaves the factory, representing the total consumable quantity of that tray. The cumulative consumption is calculated by the consumable monitoring module during the printing process by monitoring the consumable feed length, changes in tray weight, or the number of tray rotations, etc., and then adding this information to the cumulative consumption recorded in the previous data tag of that tray. The initial value of the cumulative consumption for unused new trays can be set to 0. The real-time consumable balance is a value obtained by the control module through difference calculation based on the known total consumable quantity and the dynamically calculated cumulative consumption. This real-time consumable balance changes in real time as the cumulative consumption is updated.

[0045] Thus, this application uses a label reading and writing module to read and update the label information on the material tray, and places the consumable monitoring module on the printing path of the material tray or on the consumable carrying module, ensuring the timeliness and reliability of consumption information collection. The control module dynamically calculates the current cumulative consumption of consumables based on the real-time monitored consumption information, and then determines the real-time consumable balance by the difference between the total consumables and the cumulative consumption. At the same time, the updated cumulative consumption is written to the data label and the real-time consumable balance is updated and displayed, allowing users to intuitively grasp the remaining consumables and avoid printing interruptions due to consumables running out. This improves the accuracy and convenience of consumable management and ensures the continuity of the printing process.

[0046] As an optional implementation, the surplus management system also includes a key management module that communicates with the cloud server. This application uses the key management module to standardize the key application and issuance process, ensuring the legality and security of subsequent encrypted reading and writing of tag information.

[0047] For details, please refer to Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the submission of a key application in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this application embodiment. The key management module is configured to execute: Step S10: Submit the number of keys requested to the cloud server; Step S11: Receive the key issued by the cloud server; Step S12: And, synchronize the consumable information and key usage information to the cloud server; Each material tray is assigned a unique key.

[0048] In an optional embodiment, when the consumable production end needs to prepare data tags for a batch of new material trays, it needs to first submit the number of key requests required for this production to the cloud server through the key management module.

[0049] Furthermore, after verifying the request, the cloud server generates a number of unique keys corresponding to the key request and sends them to the key management module that made the key request. Each issued key is designated to initialize a specific material tray data tag.

[0050] In other words, when the production end writes tag information to a new material tray, it needs to use the unique key corresponding to the material tray to complete the writing.

[0051] In addition, after writing the tag information for a batch of material trays, the key management module will synchronize the consumable information corresponding to this batch of material trays, as well as the usage information of each key, such as the usage information of "used keys", to the cloud server to ensure that the cloud server can keep track of the recipients and usage of each key.

[0052] In this embodiment, the keys are uniformly generated and managed by the cloud server, ensuring the uniqueness and controllability of the keys. Furthermore, the data tag of each material tray is bound to a unique corresponding key, ensuring the authenticity and security of the consumable information.

[0053] As an optional implementation method, please refer to Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the verification of label information in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this application embodiment. The label reading and writing module is configured to perform: Step S20: Obtain the key corresponding to the current material tray from the key management module; Step S21: Securely authenticate the data tag corresponding to the current material tray using the encryption chip set in the tag reading and writing module and the obtained key; Step S22: After the security authentication is passed, write the tag information corresponding to the current material tray into the data tag of the current material tray; Step S23: And, verify the currently written tag information; if the verification is consistent, the writing is completed.

[0054] In this embodiment of the application, when the tag reading and writing module performs a write operation to the data tag of the material tray, or updates the tag information, the tag reading and writing module will obtain the key corresponding to the current material tray from the key management module.

[0055] Furthermore, the tag reading and writing module integrates a dedicated encryption chip, which uses the acquired key to perform two-way security authentication with the data tag of the current material tray.

[0056] After security authentication is passed, the tag reading and writing module will write the tag information corresponding to the current material tray into the data tag to ensure the compliance of the information writing. After the writing is completed, the tag reading and writing module will also perform reverse verification on the information stored in the data tag. Only when the verification result is consistent with the tag information to be written will the entire writing process be confirmed to be completed, so as to prevent unauthorized devices from writing or tampering with the data tag.

[0057] As an optional implementation, the label information includes at least the consumable type, consumable color, manufacturer information, total consumable quantity I0, cumulative consumption I1, and remaining usage times of the material tray.

[0058] Among them, the consumable type, consumable color, manufacturer information, and total consumable quantity are fixed values ​​determined at the factory. The usage length, cumulative consumption, and remaining usage times are label information that will be updated according to the usage status during use. The initial value of the cumulative consumption corresponding to the unused new material tray can be set to 0.

[0059] As an optional implementation, the storage area of ​​the data tag includes a plaintext area and an encrypted area, and the consumable type, consumable color, and manufacturer information of the material tray are stored in the plaintext area; The total amount of consumables, cumulative consumption, and remaining usage times of the material tray are stored in the encrypted area.

[0060] In this embodiment, the storage space inside the data tag is divided into a plaintext area and an encrypted area. Specifically, basic tag information such as the consumable type, consumable color, and manufacturer information of the material tray is stored in the plaintext area. It can be read directly without complex decryption calculations and without waiting for a complete security authentication process, thus improving the response speed of the remaining balance management system.

[0061] Furthermore, this application stores the total amount of consumables, cumulative consumption, and remaining usage times of the material tray in an encrypted area. When reading or writing data in the encrypted area, security verification in steps S20 to S23 is required, which effectively avoids the risk of malicious tampering with the total amount of consumables, cumulative consumption, and remaining usage times of the material tray.

[0062] As an optional implementation method, please refer to Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of reading tray label information in a 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this application embodiment. The control module is used to control the label reading and writing module to perform the following operations when the tray is loaded: Step S30: Read the label information of the current material tray; Step S31: If the tag information of the material tray is successfully read, determine whether the material tray is currently scrapped based on the remaining number of uses in the tag information; Step S32: If a label from a non-preset manufacturer is read, a prompt message is sent to the user through the user interface; Step S33: If the label information of the material tray is not read, the user interface remains in standby mode. In this embodiment, when the user loads the material tray or the printing device is powered on, the control module drives the label reading and writing module to read the label information of the current material tray. If the label reading and writing module successfully reads the label information, the control module determines whether the current material tray is scrapped based on the remaining usage count in the label information, so as to avoid the use of material trays that have reached the scrapping standard and affect the normal operation of the system.

[0063] Furthermore, if the label reading and writing module reads a manufacturer information in the label information that is not the manufacturer preset by the system, the control module will send a prompt message to the user through the user interface, thereby quickly identifying non-compliant consumables and avoiding printing failures caused by compatibility or quality issues of consumables from non-preset manufacturers.

[0064] If the label reading and writing module fails to read the label information of the material tray, such as if the data label is damaged or not configured, the user interface will remain in standby mode.

[0065] It should be noted that the user interface is editable by default. When in the aforementioned standby state, the user interface remains editable. However, when the label information of the material tray is successfully read and the printing preparation state is entered, the user interface will become uneditable.

[0066] As an optional implementation method, please refer to Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining whether a filament tray is obsolete in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this application embodiment. The step of determining whether the filament tray is obsolete based on the remaining usage count in the label information includes: Step S310: When the remaining number of uses in the label information is zero, it is determined that the tray corresponding to the label information has been scrapped, and a prompt message is sent to the user through the user interface; Step S311: If the remaining number of uses in the label information is not zero, it is determined that the material tray corresponding to the label information has not been scrapped. Then, the initial material balance of the material tray is determined based on the difference between the total amount of consumables in the material tray and the cumulative consumption.

[0067] In this embodiment of the application, when the label information of the material tray is successfully read and the remaining number of uses in the label information is zero, it indicates that the current material tray has been scrapped. A prompt message is sent to the user through the user interface to send a clear prompt message to the user and avoid the misuse of scrapped consumables.

[0068] Furthermore, when the label information of the material tray is successfully read and the remaining number of uses in the label information is not zero, it means that the current material tray can continue to be used. At this time, the control module uses the total amount of consumables and the cumulative consumption in the label information to calculate the difference between the total amount of consumables I0 and the cumulative consumption I1 to determine the initial consumable balance of the current material tray (T0 = I0 - I1).

[0069] As an optional implementation, the margin management system further includes a slicing software module, which is used to calculate the theoretical consumption of each consumable required to complete the current printing model based on the slicing geometry information of the printing model.

[0070] Specifically, the slicing software module slices the printing model, for example, generating slice geometry information containing details such as volume, layer thickness, and infill rate, and determining the theoretical consumption T1 of each consumable required to complete the current printing model.

[0071] Alternatively, the slicing software module can combine the currently read label information and the slicing geometry information of the printing model to calculate the theoretical consumption of each consumable required to complete the current printing model.

[0072] In this embodiment, the slicing software module performs slicing processing on the printed model, such as generating slice geometric information containing details such as volume, layer thickness, and infill rate, and determines the theoretical consumption amount T1 of each consumable required to complete the current printed model by combining the currently read label information.

[0073] It should be noted that the slicing software module mentioned above uses slicing software commonly used in the field of 3D printing technology. Its core function is to slice the printing model, generate slice geometry information, and estimate the theoretical consumption of each consumable required to complete the current printing model. The slicing software module can determine the theoretical consumption of each consumable based solely on the slice geometry information of the printing model, or it can determine the theoretical consumption of each consumable by combining the slice geometry information and the read label information. The above examples are all feasible. This application will not elaborate on the specific working principle of the slicing software here.

[0074] As an optional implementation method, please refer to Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the comparison between the initial consumable balance and the theoretical consumption value in the 3D printing consumable balance management system provided in this application embodiment. The control module is further configured to: Step S40: Before the printing task starts, compare the initial consumable balance of the material tray with the theoretical consumption calculated by the slicing software module; Step S41: If the initial consumable balance is less than the theoretical consumption, the user interface will prompt that the balance is insufficient and the printing task will be paused until the user chooses to continue printing or replace the current tray. Step S42: When the user selects to replace the current material tray, the initial consumable balance of the replaced material tray is compared again with the theoretical consumption calculated by the slicing software module; Step S43: If the initial consumable balance is greater than or equal to the theoretical consumption, then start the printing task.

[0075] In this embodiment of the application, after the control module completes the loading of the material tray, status judgment and initial consumable balance calculation, it does not directly print, but makes a prediction in advance before the actual printing to avoid the situation where the consumables run out and the printing fails during the printing process.

[0076] Specifically, before the printing task starts, the control module compares the previously determined initial consumable balance of the trolley with the theoretical consumption calculated by the slicing software module based on the label information and the geometric information of the printed model slices.

[0077] If the initial consumable balance is found to be less than the theoretical consumption after comparison, a message indicating insufficient balance will be sent to the user through the user interface and the printing task will be paused simultaneously. The user will be given the option to continue printing or replace the consumable tray. The next step will be performed after the user confirms the option to continue printing or replace the current consumable tray.

[0078] In an optional embodiment, when the user selects to replace the trolley, the control module will re-compare the initial consumable balance of the new trolley with the theoretical consumption amount to ensure that the replaced trolley can meet the printing requirements and avoid printing interruptions due to insufficient balance during the printing process.

[0079] Furthermore, if the comparison result shows that the initial consumable balance is greater than or equal to the theoretical consumption, then it is considered that the initial consumable balance of the current tray is sufficient to complete this printing, and the system will directly start the printing task.

[0080] As an optional implementation, the consumable monitoring module includes an encoder that rotates synchronously with the material tray. The encoder is used to collect rotation data generated by the rotation of the material tray in real time, so that the control module can convert the rotation data into the current feed length of the consumable in real time, and dynamically calculate the cumulative consumption of the current consumable based on the current feed length of the consumable.

[0081] It should be noted that the aforementioned synchronous rotation of the encoder with the material tray refers to a motion state in which the encoder rotates with the material tray, rather than a specific mechanical connection method between the encoder and the material tray. The encoder can achieve the purpose of synchronous rotation with the material tray through common mechanical connection methods such as direct drive, indirect drive, gear drive, and belt drive. The above examples are all feasible, and this application does not impose any restrictions on them.

[0082] In an optional embodiment, the consumables can be fed by a tray driver, a consumables conveying motor, or an extruder motor. While the consumables are being fed, the tray will rotate. The encoder can also rotate synchronously with the tray, thereby collecting the rotation data generated by the tray rotation in real time when the tray is rotating to perform the feeding action.

[0083] Furthermore, the control module converts the rotation data into the current feed length of the consumable in real time, and adds the feed length to the cumulative consumption read from the encryption area to obtain the current cumulative feed length of the consumable, that is, dynamically calculates the current cumulative consumption of the consumable.

[0084] It is understood that encoders are a widely used existing technology in the field of detection. Therefore, this application will not elaborate on the specific working principle of encoders, and those skilled in the art can select the appropriate encoder model according to the actual monitoring needs.

[0085] As an optional implementation, the consumable monitoring module includes a pressure sensor disposed on the consumable carrying module; The pressure sensor is used to monitor the weight change of the current consumable in real time, so that the control module can dynamically calculate the cumulative consumption of the current consumable based on the weight change and linear density of the current consumable.

[0086] In an optional embodiment, the present application sets a pressure sensor on the consumable carrying module and places the pressure sensor at the bottom of the tray to sense the change in the total weight of the tray. Since the consumables are continuously consumed during the printing process, the total weight will decrease synchronously with the printing process. Therefore, the pressure sensor can monitor the current weight change of the consumables in real time.

[0087] Furthermore, linear density is an inherent property of consumables, that is, the weight corresponding to a unit length of consumables. This linear density information can be directly stored in the plaintext area of ​​the data tag. After the control module obtains real-time weight change data through the pressure sensor, it divides the weight change by the linear density to obtain the actual feed length consumed by the consumables in this printing process, that is, the cumulative consumption of consumables in this printing process.

[0088] Thus, the cumulative consumption of consumables during this printing process is added to the cumulative consumption read from the encrypted area to obtain the cumulative consumption of the consumables since they were put into production.

[0089] As an optional implementation, the consumable monitoring module includes an identification element disposed at a fixed position on the consumable carrying module; The identification element is used to identify the readable and writable data tag of the material tray. When the readable and writable data tag rotates to the identification area of ​​the identification element, the identification element generates a corresponding identification signal, so that the control module determines the number of rotations of the material tray based on the number of current identification signals. Furthermore, the cumulative consumption of consumables is dynamically calculated based on the cumulative number of rotations of the tray and the current equivalent radius of the tray.

[0090] In this embodiment, the identification element is placed at a fixed position on the consumable carrying module. When the tray rotates, the data tag on the tray rotates along with the tray. When the data tag rotates to the identification area of ​​the identification element, the identification element generates a corresponding identification signal.

[0091] Furthermore, each time an identification signal is generated, it represents the completion of one rotation of the material tray. The control module counts the identification signals generated by the identification element in real time to determine the number of rotations of the material tray.

[0092] It should be noted that, as the radius of the remaining consumables on the tray gradually decreases during use, the control module needs to combine the initial total amount of consumables, the updated cumulative consumption, and the wire diameter of the consumables to reverse-calibrate the current equivalent radius, in order to avoid consumption calculation deviations caused by radius changes.

[0093] In an optional embodiment, the control module can determine the current equivalent radius of the material tray based on the total amount of consumables in the tray, the cumulative consumption, and the wire diameter parameters of the consumables.

[0094] Specifically, the current equivalent radius of the consumable can be calibrated using the principle of volume conservation. Since the initial consumable volume is the product of the total length of the consumable and the diameter of the consumable wire, and the product of the current cumulative used length of the consumable and the diameter of the consumable wire is the volume of the consumable that has been consumed, the volume of the remaining consumable can be obtained by subtracting the initial consumable volume from the volume of the consumed consumable.

[0095] Furthermore, since the remaining consumables are tightly wrapped around the core shaft of the tray, the current equivalent radius of the consumables can be deduced. Then, the control module dynamically calculates the current cumulative consumption of consumables based on the cumulative number of rotations of the tray and the current equivalent radius of the tray.

[0096] Based on this, the consumption length of each revolution of the material tray is determined by the current equivalent radius. The cumulative number of revolutions is multiplied by the corresponding consumption length per revolution to dynamically calculate the total consumption length of the current consumable in this printing. This consumption length is added to the cumulative consumption amount read from the encryption area to obtain the cumulative usage length of the current consumable. Thus, the cumulative consumption amount of the current consumable is dynamically calculated to ensure that the dynamic calculation of the cumulative consumption amount always accurately matches the actual consumption status of the consumable.

[0097] In one specific embodiment provided in this application, the identification element can be set as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader, and the data tag can be set as an RFID tag that matches the RFID reader. Alternatively, the RFID reader can also be used as a tag reading and writing module.

[0098] In this embodiment, the RFID tag is fixed to the outer circumference of the tray, ensuring that the surface of the RFID tag is not obstructed. The RFID reader is fixedly installed on the consumable carrying module. When the tray rotates, the RFID tag generates an identification signal with the RFID reader once every time it passes through the identification area of ​​the RFID reader. This identification signal is transmitted to the control module in real time. At this time, the control module can confirm the number of rotations of the tray by accumulating the identification signals.

[0099] Of course, the identification element can also be set in the form of other elements such as optical sensors, Hall sensors, infrared beam sensors, as long as it can achieve periodic identification of data tags on the material tray. This application does not impose any further restrictions on this.

[0100] In one specific embodiment, the cumulative consumption specifically refers to the feed length of the consumable. The dynamic calculation of the current cumulative consumption of the consumable refers to the feed length accumulated by the consumable during this printing process. After adding the feed length L1 of this printing with the cumulative consumption read from the encryption area, the cumulative consumption in the data tag is updated and written.

[0101] Of course, the current cumulative consumption of consumables can also refer to the weight or volume of consumables consumed during this printing process. Other quantitative methods that can accurately reflect the degree of consumable consumption are also feasible. As long as accurate monitoring and calculation of the cumulative consumption status of consumables can be achieved, they will not deviate from the scope of protection of this application, and this application does not impose any specific restrictions on them.

[0102] As an optional implementation, the control module is used to add the cumulative consumption read from the data tag to the current cumulative consumption calculated based on the consumption information during the printing process to obtain an updated cumulative consumption. Additionally, the updated cumulative consumption is written to the encrypted area of ​​the data tag through the tag read / write module.

[0103] In this embodiment, the control module first reads the cumulative consumption stored in the data tag encryption area through the tag reading and writing module. The cumulative consumption I1 is the historical total consumption data of the material tray since it was put into use.

[0104] Meanwhile, the control module calculates the cumulative consumption I2 for this printing in real time based on the consumption information collected during the current printing process. It adds the read cumulative consumption to the calculated cumulative consumption to update the cumulative consumption (I1+I2), and writes the updated cumulative consumption to the encrypted area of ​​the data tag in real time to ensure that the data tag always keeps the latest cumulative consumption status.

[0105] As an optional implementation, the control module is also used to calculate the ratio of the current cumulative consumption I1 of the material tray to the total amount of consumables I0 during the printing process; When the ratio reaches a preset threshold, it is determined that the current consumables have been used up, the data tag corresponding to the material tray is discarded, the remaining number of uses in the data tag corresponding to the material tray is set to zero, and printing continues.

[0106] In this embodiment, the control module dynamically updates the current cumulative consumption of the material tray and further calculates the ratio of the cumulative consumption to the total amount of consumables, thereby monitoring the remaining proportion of consumables.

[0107] Specifically, when the ratio of the current cumulative consumption of the material tray to the total amount of consumables reaches a preset threshold, it is determined that the current consumables have been used up, the data tag corresponding to the material tray is scrapped, and the remaining number of uses in the data tag corresponding to the material tray is set to zero.

[0108] Meanwhile, the system will not immediately stop printing when the label is discarded, but will continue to execute the current printing task, making full use of the small amount of consumables that may remain in the tray to complete the printing, thus avoiding printing model failure due to interruption.

[0109] As an optional implementation, the consumable balance management system further includes a refill control module, which is connected to the control module and the consumable carrying module. The refill control module is used to automatically refill consumables of the same type and color as the current consumables when it is determined that the current consumables have been used up.

[0110] In this embodiment of the application, a refill control module for automatic refilling is also provided to avoid printing interruption when a single roll of consumables is used up. When the control module determines that the current consumables have been used up based on the ratio of the cumulative consumption to the total amount of consumables, it completes the scrapping operation of the old material tray data tag. This scrapping operation will not interrupt the current printing job. When the refill control module detects a lack of material, it will trigger the automatic refill process.

[0111] Specifically, the refill control module queries other loaded spare refill trays, uses the tag reading and writing module to read the information in the data tags of each spare refill tray, filters according to the type and color of the consumables, and selects the consumables that are the same type and color as the current consumables for automatic refilling, so as to avoid color mixing or consumable material mismatch and realize the automatic supply of consumables.

[0112] For material trays that the label reading and writing module cannot currently read, the process can be performed based on the material tray information manually edited by the user, thus avoiding printing interruptions due to the inability to read data labels.

[0113] As an optional implementation method, please refer to Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the automatic refill process in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in this application embodiment. The control module is further configured to: Step S50: During the printing process, detect whether the current consumable is out of stock. If a shortage is detected, control the refill control module to automatically refill the consumable. Step S51: After automatic material feeding is completed, the label information of the current material tray is read through the label reading and writing module; Step S52: When the label information of the material tray is read, the updated cumulative consumption is written into the data label of the current consumable and the updated real-time consumable balance is displayed.

[0114] In an optional embodiment, a material shortage detection sensor located on the feeding path can be used to detect whether the current consumable is short of material. When a material shortage is detected, a material shortage signal is sent to the control module, which then controls the material replenishment control module to start automatic material replenishment.

[0115] Furthermore, after the automatic refill action is completed, the control module enters the tag information verification stage. The tag reading and writing module reads the information of the data tag of the currently loaded material tray. When the tag information of the replaced material tray is successfully read, the control module will calculate the updated cumulative consumption based on the new consumption information after the material tray is activated and the cumulative consumption of the material tray. The updated cumulative consumption is then written into the data tag of the current consumable and the updated real-time consumable balance is displayed.

[0116] It should be noted that during the actual printing process, the material tray data label cannot be read every time the automatic material refill is completed. There may be situations where the automatic material refill cannot be read. In such cases, the control module will not interrupt the current printing. It is necessary to prioritize ensuring the normal operation of the current printing.

[0117] As an optional implementation, the tag reading and writing module and the data tag of the material tray exchange information via wireless communication; The wireless communication methods include RFID, Bluetooth, NFC, WIFI, or ZigBee.

[0118] In this embodiment, the tag reading and writing module and the data tags on the material tray can exchange information wirelessly, avoiding the problems of wire tangling and wear caused by wired connections, and ensuring the timeliness and reliability of data exchange.

[0119] For example, it can be implemented through wireless communication methods such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Bluetooth, NFC (Near Field Communication), WIFI (Wireless Fidelity), or ZigBee (Low Power Local Area Network Protocol), without the need to consider wiring issues, thus improving the user's installation and usage experience.

[0120] It should be noted that, in addition to the wireless communication methods explicitly listed above, other wireless communication methods that can satisfy the tag reading / writing module and the data tag are also feasible. This application does not impose specific restrictions on the specific configuration of wireless communication.

[0121] Based on the aforementioned 3D printing consumables surplus management system, this application also provides a 3D printing consumables surplus management method, please refer to... Figure 8 The flowchart below shows a method for managing excess 3D printing consumables provided in this application embodiment. The elimination method includes the following steps: Step S1: Obtain the total amount of consumables and the cumulative consumption of the material tray from the data tag of the material tray; Step S2: During the printing process, monitor the consumption information of consumables in real time; Step S3: Based on the real-time monitored consumption information, dynamically calculate the current cumulative consumption of consumables; Step S4: Based on the total amount of consumables and the current cumulative consumption, determine the real-time remaining amount of consumables; Step S5: Write the dynamically calculated cumulative consumption into the data tag of the current consumable, and update the display of the updated real-time consumable balance.

[0122] For other details regarding the elimination method used to achieve the above technical solution, please refer to the description in the 3D printing consumables surplus management system provided in the above application embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0123] It should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For system-type embodiments, since they are basically similar to method embodiments, the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions in the method embodiments.

[0124] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and should all be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0125] In summary, although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, the above preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. This description is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A 3D printing consumable level management system, characterized by, The application relates to a residual quantity management system for consumables, comprising: a consumable carrying module for carrying a tray provided with a readable and writable data tag; a tag reading and writing module for reading and updating the tag information of the tray; a consumable monitoring module for monitoring the consumption information of consumables in a printing process in real time; a control module connected with the tag reading and writing module and the consumable monitoring module, wherein the control module is configured to perform the following operations: obtaining the total quantity and the cumulative consumption of consumables of the tray from the data tag through the tag reading and writing module; in the printing process, dynamically calculating the cumulative consumption of current consumables according to the consumption information monitored by the consumable monitoring module in real time; determining the real-time residual quantity of current consumables based on the total quantity and the current cumulative consumption; writing the dynamically calculated cumulative consumption into the data tag of current consumables, and updating and displaying the real-time residual quantity.

2. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 1, wherein, The residual quantity management system further comprises a key management module in communication connection with a cloud server end, wherein the key management module is configured to perform the following operations: submitting a key application quantity to the cloud server end; receiving the key issued by the cloud server end; synchronizing the consumable information and the key use information to the cloud server end; wherein each tray is provided with a unique key.

3. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 2, wherein, The tag reading and writing module is configured to perform the following operations: obtaining the key corresponding to the current tray from the key management module; carrying out security authentication on the data tag corresponding to the current tray through the encryption chip arranged in the tag reading and writing module and the obtained key; after the security authentication is passed, writing the tag information corresponding to the current tray into the data tag of the current tray; and verifying the written tag information, and completing the writing when the verification is consistent.

4. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 1, wherein, The tag information comprises the consumable type, the consumable color, the manufacturer information, the total quantity, the cumulative consumption and the residual use times of the tray; wherein the storage area of the data tag comprises a plaintext area and an encryption area, the consumable type, the consumable color and the manufacturer information of the tray are stored in the plaintext area, and the total quantity, the cumulative consumption and the residual use times of the tray are stored in the encryption area.

5. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 1, wherein, The control module is used for controlling the tag reading and writing module to perform the following operations when the tray is loaded: reading the tag information of the current tray; if the tag information of the tray is successfully read, judging whether the current tray is scrapped based on the residual use times in the tag information; if the tag information of a non-preset manufacturer is read, sending prompt information to the user through a user interface; if the tag information of the tray is not read, keeping the user interface in a standby state.

6. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 1, wherein, The residual quantity management system further comprises a slicing software module, wherein the slicing software module is used for calculating the theoretical consumption of each consumable of a printing model according to the slicing geometric information of the printing model.

7. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 6, wherein, The control module is used for comparing the initial residual quantity of the tray with the theoretical consumption calculated by the slicing software module before starting a printing task. If the initial consumable amount is less than the theoretical consumption amount, the user interface prompts that the amount is insufficient and the printing task is paused, and the user selects to continue printing or replace the current tray; When the user selects to replace the current tray, the initial consumable amount of the replaced tray is compared with the theoretical consumption amount calculated by the slicing software module again; If the initial consumable amount is greater than or equal to the theoretical consumption amount, the printing task is started.

8. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 1, wherein, The consumption amount information is obtained by monitoring the feeding length of the consumable, and the consumable monitoring module comprises an encoder rotating synchronously with the tray; The encoder is used to collect rotation data generated by the rotation of the tray in real time, The rotation data is converted into the feeding length of the current consumable in real time, so that the control module dynamically calculates the cumulative consumption amount of the current consumable according to the feeding length of the current consumable; Or, The consumption amount information is obtained by monitoring the weight change of the tray, and the consumable monitoring module comprises a pressure sensor arranged on the consumable bearing module; The pressure sensor is used to monitor the weight change of the current consumable in real time, so that the control module dynamically calculates the cumulative consumption amount of the current consumable according to the weight change of the current consumable and the linear density; Or, The consumption amount information is obtained by monitoring the rotation number of the tray, and the consumable monitoring module comprises a recognition element arranged at a fixed position of the consumable bearing module; The recognition element is used to identify the readable and writable data tag of the tray, and when the readable and writable data tag rotates to the recognition area of the recognition element, the recognition element generates a corresponding identification signal once, so that the control module determines the rotation number of the tray according to the number of current identification signals; And the cumulative consumption amount of the current consumable is dynamically calculated by the cumulative rotation number of the tray and the current equivalent radius of the tray; The control module is used to determine the current equivalent radius of the tray according to the total amount of consumables of the tray, the cumulative consumption amount and the linear diameter parameter of the consumable.

9. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 1, wherein, The control module is used to add the cumulative consumption amount read from the data tag to the current cumulative consumption amount calculated according to the consumption amount information to obtain the updated cumulative consumption amount during the printing process; And the updated cumulative consumption amount is written into the encryption area of the data tag by the label reading and writing module.

10. The 3D printing consumable level management system of claim 1, wherein, The control module is also used to calculate the ratio of the cumulative consumption amount of the current tray to the total amount of consumables during the printing process; When the ratio reaches a preset threshold, it is judged that the current consumable is used up, the corresponding data tag of the tray is scrapped, the remaining use times in the corresponding data tag of the tray are set to zero, and the printing is continued.

11. The 3D printing consumable level management system of any of claims 1-10, wherein, The consumable amount management system further comprises a replenishment control module, and the replenishment control module is connected with the control module and the consumable bearing module; The replenishment control module is used to select the same type of consumable as the current consumable and the same color of consumable to automatically replenish when it is judged that the current consumable is used up; The control module is also used to detect whether the current consumable is out of stock during the printing process, and if it is detected that the consumable is out of stock, the replenishment control module is controlled to automatically replenish. After the automatic refilling is completed, the label information of the current tray is read through the label reading and writing module; And when the label information of the tray is read, the updated cumulative consumption is written into the data label of the current consumable, and the updated real-time consumable remaining amount is displayed.

12. A 3D printing consumable level management method, characterized by, The method is applied to the 3D printing consumable remaining amount management system of any one of claims 1-11, and the method comprises the following steps: Obtain the total amount of consumables and the cumulative consumption of the tray from the data label of the tray; In the printing process, the consumption information of the consumables is monitored in real time; According to the real-time monitored consumption information, the cumulative consumption of the current consumables is dynamically calculated; Based on the total amount of consumables and the current cumulative consumption, the real-time consumable remaining amount of the current consumables is determined; The dynamically calculated cumulative consumption is written into the data label of the current consumables, and the updated real-time consumable remaining amount is updated and displayed.

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