3D Printer Filament Consumption Tracking to Prevent Print Downtime

Solution Overview

Problem

Undetected errors in three-dimensional printing processes, particularly filament jams in semi-professional printers, lead to unnecessary material consumption, prolonged downtime, and reduced sustainability due to unproductive printing times and misprints, with no reliable detection of filament availability during the process.

Innovation Solution

A method using an electronic computing device to determine filament consumption based on weight measurements and print job data, providing consumption information and timely alerts to prevent downtime and ensure sufficient filament availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If filament availability is not monitored, then the printing process continues uninterrupted, but material is wasted and downtime increases due to undetected filament exhaustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating filament consumption before the printing process starts and monitoring it during printing. The electronic computing device determines how much filament will be consumed based on the print job parameters, and alerts the user in advance when filament will be exhausted, allowing proactive replacement before the printing process is interrupted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring filament consumption during the printing process and comparing it against the calculated consumption. The electronic computing device receives information about actual filament usage and provides real-time feedback to the user through alerts when filament levels become critical, enabling timely intervention to prevent material waste and downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If filament consumption is not tracked, then the printing process runs without interruption, but downtime increases due to unexpected filament exhaustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating filament consumption before the printing process starts and monitoring it during printing. The electronic computing device determines how much filament will be consumed based on the print job parameters, and alerts the user in advance when filament will be exhausted, allowing proactive replacement before the printing process is interrupted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring filament consumption during the printing process and comparing it against the calculated consumption. The electronic computing device receives information about actual filament usage and provides real-time feedback to the user through alerts when filament levels become critical, enabling timely intervention to prevent material waste and downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If no consumption information is provided to the user, then the system operates simply, but the user cannot plan filament replacement and production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidconsumption information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring filament consumption during the printing process and comparing it against the calculated consumption. The electronic computing device receives information about actual filament usage and provides real-time feedback to the user through alerts when filament levels become critical, enabling timely intervention to prevent material waste and downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic computing device acts as an intermediary between the printing device and the user. It collects data from the printing device about filament consumption, processes this information by comparing actual consumption against calculated consumption, and translates it into actionable alerts for the user, bridging the information gap and enabling informed decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4582241A1Method for operating a three-dimensional printing device by means of an electronic computing device, computer program product, computer-readable storage medium and electronic computing device

Publication Date: 2025.07.09 SIEMENS AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a three-dimensional printing device (10) by means of an electronic computing device (16), comprising the steps of: providing at least one weight (20) of at least one filament (14) on at least one filament roll (12) by means of the electronic computing device (16); generating a print job for the three-dimensional printing device (10) by means of the electronic computing device (16); determining at least one filament consumption of the at least one filament (14) as a function of the print job by means of the electronic computing device (16); and outputting consumption information (22) for the print job as a function of the determined filament consumption and as a function of the provided weight (20) by means of the electronic computing device (16).Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium and a three-dimensional printing device (10).