3D Print Job Scheduling for Desired Completion Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current management systems for 3D printing lack the ability to efficiently schedule and complete image forming processes at user-designated desired times, leading to potential delays and inefficiencies in material collection.
Innovation Solution
A management apparatus with a data acquiring unit, a desired-time acquiring unit, and an assigning unit that acquires and assigns image formation tasks to 3D printers to ensure completion at the desired time, utilizing a management server to predict necessary print times and adjust schedules as needed to meet user-defined deadlines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If image formation tasks are assigned to 3D printers without considering desired completion times, then the system operation is simple, but the image forming process cannot be completed at user-designated times leading to delays
Solution Approach 1:
The management apparatus acquires desired time information in advance before assigning image formation tasks to 3D printers. By knowing the target completion time beforehand, the system can calculate required start times and durations, then proactively schedule tasks to ensure on-time completion without adding complex real-time adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by monitoring the actual progress of image forming processes and comparing it against the desired completion times. This feedback mechanism allows the management apparatus to adjust scheduling decisions dynamically while maintaining overall schedule integrity, resolving the contradiction between timely completion and system simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If the management apparatus adjusts schedules to meet desired times, then completion time accuracy improves, but the scheduling system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The management apparatus performs preliminary calculations of task duration and start time based on desired completion times before actual execution. By pre-determining schedules with precise timing considerations, the system achieves accurate completion times without requiring complex real-time scheduling algorithms during task execution
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduling system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow it to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining precision. The management apparatus can modify schedules based on actual printer status, task priority, and resource availability, achieving precise completion times through flexible rather than rigid scheduling mechanisms
3Productivity
If multiple image formation tasks are scheduled simultaneously, then printer utilization rate increases, but the difficulty of meeting desired completion times increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management apparatus segments the scheduling of multiple image formation tasks by analyzing their individual desired completion times, durations, and resource requirements. By dividing the overall scheduling problem into discrete task-level decisions, the system can optimize printer utilization while ensuring each task's timing requirements are independently satisfied
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to monitor the status of simultaneously scheduled tasks and adjust future scheduling decisions accordingly. By incorporating real-time information about task progress and printer availability, the management apparatus maintains high utilization rates while reliably meeting desired completion times through iterative optimization
Data Source
AI summary
A management apparatus includes a data acquiring unit, a desired-time acquiring unit, an assigning unit, and a data output unit. The data acquiring unit acquires image data expressing at least one of a three-dimensional image and an image. The desired-time acquiring unit acquires desired time information associated with the image data. The desired time information indicates a desired time for completing an image forming process for forming the image. The desired time is expressed as at least one of a time point and a time frame. The assigning unit assigns image formation of the image data to an image forming apparatus that performs the image forming process such that the image forming process is completed at the desired time indicated by the desired time information. The data output unit outputs the image data toward the image forming apparatus assigned by the assigning unit.