Multi-Printer Additive Manufacturing for Large-Part Layer Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional additive manufacturing systems face challenges in efficiently producing large volume parts due to the trade-off between part volume and fabrication time, as building meter-sized parts can take days.
Innovation Solution
The system employs multiple printer agents with intersecting workspaces, allowing for the division of layers into regions assigned to each printer agent, optimizing the printing process by determining toolpaths and minimizing collisions and printing time through a method that considers the hardware, software, and user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional additive manufacturing systems are used to build large volume parts, then the part volume can be increased, but the fabrication time increases significantly (taking days)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large volume part into multiple layers and assigns different regions of each layer to multiple printer agents. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different regions, significantly reducing fabrication time while maintaining the ability to produce large volume parts. The workspace is divided into regions, and each printer agent is responsible for specific regions, enabling simultaneous printing operations.
2Productivity
If multiple printer agents are used to reduce fabrication time, then productivity increases, but the complexity of coordinating the agents and managing their workspaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator as an intermediary component that manages multiple printer agents. The coordinator receives toolpath data, determines appropriate regions for each agent, and coordinates their operations to avoid collisions. This centralized mediation simplifies the complexity by providing a single point of control rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination between agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves workspace conflicts by utilizing the temporal dimension - different printer agents operate at different times within the same physical space. The coordinator schedules agents to print different regions sequentially when necessary, transforming a spatial coordination problem into a temporal scheduling problem, thereby reducing system complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If printer agents are arranged with intersecting workspaces to optimize coverage, then the ability to print large parts improves, but the risk of collisions between agents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary collision prediction by analyzing the toolpath data before execution. The coordinator determines the regions assigned to each printer agent in advance, ensuring that their paths do not intersect. This preventive approach allows the system to maintain intersecting workspaces for optimal coverage while guaranteeing collision-free operation through预先 planning of agent trajectories and region assignments.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a method of determining regions for an additive manufacturing system comprising a plurality of printer agents, wherein each of the printer agents is associated with a workspace, and wherein the printer agents are arranged so that at least one pair of adjacent printer agents has intersecting workspaces, the method comprising: identifying a layer of a part; determining a plurality of separate regions associated with the layer, wherein each region is assigned to one of the printer agents; and outputting the plurality of regions.