3D Printer Job Scheduler for Consumable Material Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional (3D) printers often experience modeling failures due to consumable material shortages during multi-object modeling jobs, leading to interruptions and waste, as existing methods require complete cartridge replacement before resuming, which delays job execution and wastes remaining material.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that receives the available consumable material amount and selectively prioritizes or modifies modeling targets to ensure the required consumable material is within the available amount, allowing for partial or modified job execution based on available resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the modeling of a plurality of objects is performed as a single job, then the total time of modeling is reduced, but the required amount of consumable material increases, leading to a higher possibility of material shortage and job interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides a large modeling job into multiple sub-jobs that can be executed separately. When consumable material is insufficient for the entire job, the system automatically segments the job into smaller portions that can be completed with available material, allowing partial completion and resumption later without wasting material or time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables partial execution of the modeling job by calculating the maximum number of objects that can be modeled with the available consumable material. It then executes only that portion of the job, rather than requiring complete material availability for all objects before starting, thus improving productivity while avoiding interruptions.
2Reliability
If cartridge replacement is performed before resuming modeling, then material shortage is prevented, but job execution is delayed and remaining material is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of consumable material requirements for each object in the job queue before execution. It identifies which objects can be completed with available material and schedules them for immediate execution, avoiding the need for urgent cartridge replacement and reducing job delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers remaining consumable material by saving the job state and material usage information. When material is exhausted, instead of discarding the remaining material in the cartridge, the system pauses the job and resumes it later with a new cartridge, fully utilizing the remaining material before replacement.
3Reliability
If the entire job is executed with available material, then no material shortage occurs, but some objects may not be modeled due to insufficient material
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the job execution plan based on real-time consumable material status. It continuously monitors material consumption and automatically modifies the number of objects to be modeled, ensuring reliable completion of the selected objects while maximizing productivity by executing as many objects as possible with available material.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by tracking actual material consumption during job execution and comparing it with predicted consumption. This feedback allows the system to accurately determine when material will be exhausted and adjust the job scope accordingly, ensuring complete modeling of selected objects without interruption.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention receives an available amount of a consumable material available for use in modeling by a control apparatus configured to model a three-dimensional object using the consumable material, and selects, in a case where a plurality of objects is designated as a modeling target to be modeled by the control apparatus and a setting for the modeling by the control apparatus is designated and a required amount of the consumable material required for the modeling of the plurality of objects by the control apparatus according to the setting is larger than the received available amount, one or more of the plurality of objects as a modeling target such that the required amount of the consumable material required for the modeling by the control apparatus according to the setting is within the available amount.