Additive Manufacturing Job Segmentation Across Multiple Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The time-consuming nature of 3D printing processes as the complexity of items increases, necessitating a method to efficiently manage additive manufacturing jobs across multiple printers to optimize production time and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A system that detects service requirements and capabilities of additive manufacturing printers, identifies suitable printers for each job segment, and assigns segments to optimize workload distribution, allowing concurrent execution across multiple printers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single additive manufacturing printer is used to execute the entire job, then the complexity of items can be handled, but the production time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides an additive manufacturing job into multiple segments that can be executed by different printers. The system identifies suitable printers for each segment based on service requirements and capabilities, then assigns segments to multiple printers concurrently. This segmentation allows complex jobs to be distributed across multiple printers, reducing overall production time while maintaining the ability to handle complex items through careful segment assignment.
2Productivity
If multiple additive manufacturing printers are used concurrently, then production time is reduced, but workload distribution and printer selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a job management system that acts as an intermediary between the additive manufacturing job and multiple printers. This system detects service requirements for the job, identifies suitable printers based on their capabilities, and assigns segments automatically. By introducing this intermediary layer, the system manages the complexity of coordinating multiple printers while enabling concurrent execution to improve productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic printer selection and segment assignment based on real-time service requirements and printer capabilities. The system can adaptively identify suitable printers for each segment and adjust assignments to optimize workload distribution. This dynamic approach allows the system to handle multiple printers efficiently without requiring fixed, complex predetermined arrangements.
3Speed
If workload is concentrated on specific printers, then execution speed may be optimized for certain segments, but premature wear occurs on those printers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different segments of the job to different printers based on their specific capabilities and current workload states. Instead of concentrating all segments on a single optimized printer, the system distributes segments across multiple printers with varying characteristics. This approach maintains execution speed by matching segments to suitable printers while preventing premature wear through workload distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by assigning only specific segments of the job to each printer rather than concentrating entire jobs on single printers. This partial assignment strategy allows printers to work on different portions of the job concurrently, optimizing execution speed for each segment while distributing the overall workload to prevent any single printer from experiencing excessive use and premature wear.
Data Source
AI summary
Executing an additive manufacturing job by a plurality of additive manufacturing printers, including: detecting service requirements for the additive manufacturing job; detecting service capabilities for the plurality of additive manufacturing printers; identifying, for each of a plurality of segments of the additive manufacturing job, one or more additive manufacturing printers capable of servicing the segment of the additive manufacturing job in dependence upon the service requirements for the additive manufacturing job and the service capabilities for the plurality of additive manufacturing printers; and assigning each segment of the additive manufacturing job to one of the additive manufacturing printers identified as being capable of servicing the segment of the additive manufacturing job, wherein two or more of the additive manufacturing printers are each assigned at least one distinct segment of the additive manufacturing job.