Multi-User Virtual Print Tray Management for 3D Fabrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies do not provide a collaborative environment for multi-user interaction and management of three-dimensional (3D) printers, limiting efficient use and collaboration in fabrication processes.
Innovation Solution
An interactive platform that supports multi-user access to virtual print trays, allowing users to position, modify, and manage computerized models within a shared workspace, with identity-based control and interaction dependent on user identity, enabling secure and efficient management of fabrication resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a shared virtual workspace is provided for multi-user access to fabrication resources, then collaboration and efficiency are improved, but control and security over individual user data and operations become more difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the shared workspace into user-specific virtual print trays, where each user has isolated control over their submitted models while still accessing the common fabrication resources. This segmentation allows collaborative resource sharing while maintaining individual data security and operational control.
2Productivity
If multiple users can interact with multiple objects in virtual print trays simultaneously, then resource utilization increases, but system complexity and difficulty of managing user interactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a management facility as an intermediary between multiple users and the fabrication resources. This intermediary coordinates user submissions, manages virtual print trays, handles queue allocation, and controls access to fabrication resources, thereby enabling high resource utilization while keeping the system manageable through centralized coordination.
3Productivity
If automatic positioning of computerized models is implemented in virtual print trays, then processing time and efficiency are improved, but flexibility in user control over model placement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic positioning where computerized models can be automatically positioned by the management facility to optimize fabrication efficiency, while simultaneously allowing users to manually adjust model positions within the virtual print tray if desired. This dynamic approach provides both automated efficiency and user-controlled flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An interactive platform supports multi-user participation in a shared virtual workspace to prepare and schedule virtual print trays for printing on a three-dimensional (3D) printer or other fabrication resource. Computerized models may be automatically positioned within the print tray, manually positioned within the print tray, or some combination of these. After objects are placed in the virtual workspace users may be given identity-based control of the print tray including, e.g., identity-specific capabilities for viewing, modifying or removing objects within the print tray. This permits improved control over aspects of interest to particular users including, e.g., security, object orientation, priority, fabrication speed, fabrication cost, and so forth within a shared fabrication environment.