3D Printer Schedule Control for Material and Maintenance Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack an efficient method for managing multiple three-dimensional shaping devices, particularly in terms of coordinating shaping times and material usage across these devices.
Innovation Solution
A control device that communicates with multiple three-dimensional shaping devices, displaying time information, operation information including shaping times, and remaining material amounts, allowing for efficient management by adjusting schedules to prevent overlapping maintenance times and optimizing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple three-dimensional shaping devices are managed without a unified control system, then each device can operate independently, but coordination between devices becomes difficult and maintenance scheduling becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple shaping device management functions into a single control device that displays and coordinates schedules for multiple devices. The control device aggregates shaping schedules, maintenance schedules, and material usage information from multiple shaping devices into one unified display interface, enabling centralized coordination while maintaining individual device independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device serves multiple functions: it displays shaping schedules for multiple shaping devices, shows maintenance schedules, monitors material usage across devices, and provides a unified interface for managing all devices. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate management systems for each device.
2Productivity
If shaping schedules for multiple devices are managed separately, then each device's operation is simple to track, but overlapping maintenance times and inefficient resource utilization occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control device provides real-time feedback by displaying the current status, shaping schedule, and maintenance schedule of multiple shaping devices in one interface. This allows operators to see when devices are being used and when maintenance is scheduled, enabling them to avoid scheduling conflicts and optimize resource allocation based on current device availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system displays maintenance schedules in advance along with shaping schedules, allowing operators to plan and coordinate maintenance activities before they occur. This preliminary viewing of schedules enables proactive scheduling adjustments to prevent overlapping maintenance times and ensure optimal resource utilization.
3Quantity of substance
If detailed operation information and material usage are tracked for each device, then material management improves, but the complexity of monitoring and coordinating multiple devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device combines material usage information from multiple shaping devices into a single unified display. Instead of requiring separate tracking systems for each device, the control device aggregates material consumption data, showing the remaining amount of materials for each device in one interface, thereby simplifying monitoring while maintaining detailed tracking accuracy.
4Ease of operation
If a unified control system is implemented to coordinate multiple shaping devices, then scheduling efficiency and resource utilization improve, but the system complexity and initial setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control device acts as an intermediary between multiple shaping devices and operators. It receives schedule and status information from various devices, processes this information centrally, and presents it in a unified, easy-to-understand display. This intermediary role simplifies the interface for operators while enabling coordinated management of multiple devices without requiring complex direct communication between all devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device communicating with a plurality of three-dimensional shaping devices is provided. The control device includes a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, time information indicating a time, operation information including information indicating a shaping time of a model in each of the three-dimensional shaping devices, and remaining amount information indicating a remaining amount of a material used in the three-dimensional shaping device selected from the plurality of three-dimensional shaping devices. The display control unit displays the operation information corresponding to the time information, and the display control unit displays the time information in a specified scale or a specified time zone.