THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3-D) DIGITAL FINISHING ARCHITECTURE

• US 20160107392A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: LUBIN, DARA NANETTE, ST.MARTIN, KEVIN JOSEPH, VIDJAN, CAROL-LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/519,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20160107392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

Systems and methods include/use, among other components, a three-dimensional (3-D) printer creating 3-D items based on 3-D printing information, and a finishing device. The finishing device performs finishing operations on the 3-D item based on finishing information. Also, such systems and methods include a communications device, and the communications device automatically provides the 3-D printing information to the 3-D printer, provides the finishing information to the finishing device, and provides two-way status information updates between the 3-D printer and the finishing device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a three-dimensional (3-D) printer creating a 3-D item based on 3-D printing information;

a finishing device operatively connected to said 3-D printer performing finishing operations on said 3-D item based on finishing information; and

a communications device operatively connected to said 3-D printer and said finishing device, said communications device automatically providing said 3-D printing information to said 3-D printer and said finishing information to said finishing device.

2. The system according to claim 1, said finishing information comprising command signals and status signals.

3. The system according to claim 2, said status signals comprising status information of a progress of said creating said 3-D item.

4. The system according to claim 2, said command signals comprising instructions of finishing operations to be performed on said 3-D item.

5. The system according to claim 1, said communications device transmitting said finishing information from said 3-D printer to said finishing device during a time period between when said 3-D printer begins creating said 3-D item and when said 3-D printer completes creating said 3-D item.

6. The system according to claim 1, said communications device comprising one or more devices, said one or more devices being integral with at least one of:

said 3-D printer; and

said finisher device.

7. The system according to claim 1, said finishing information comprising at least one of:

dimensions of said 3-D item;

instructions to begin cycle-up of one or more finishing devices;

requests for progress status of finishing operations; and

requests for ready state, consumable supply levels, and failure status states of said one or more finishing devices.

8. A system comprising:

a three-dimensional (3-D) printer creating a 3-D item based on 3-D printing information;

a finishing device operatively connected to said 3-D printer performing finishing operations on said 3-D item based on finishing information; and

a communications device operatively connected to said 3-D printer and said finishing device, said communications device automatically providing;

said 3-D printing information to said 3-D printer and said finishing information to said finishing device; and

two-way status information updates between said 3-D printer and said finishing device.

9. The system according to claim 8, said finishing information comprising command signals and status signals.

10. The system according to claim 9, said status signals comprising status information of a progress of said creating said 3-D item.

11. The system according to claim 8, said command signals comprising instructions of finishing operations to be performed on said 3-D item.

12. The system according to claim 8, said communications device transmitting said finishing information from said 3-D printer to said finishing device during a time period between when said 3-D printer begins creating said 3-D item and when said 3-D printer completes creating said 3-D item.

13. The system according to claim 8, said communications device comprising one or more devices, said one or more devices being integral with at least one of:

said 3-D printer; and

said finisher device.

14. The system according to claim 8, said finishing information comprising at least one of:

dimensions of said 3-D item;

instructions to begin cycle-up of one or more finishing devices;

requests for progress status of finishing operations; and

requests for ready state, consumable supply levels, and failure status states of said one or more finishing devices.

15. A method comprising:

providing 3-D printing information to a three-dimensional (3-D) printer, said 3-D printer automatically creating 3-D item based on said 3-D printing information;

automatically providing finishing information to a finishing device using a special-purpose communications device, said finishing device automatically performing finishing operations on said 3-D item based on said finishing information, and said communications device being operatively connected to said 3-D printer and said finishing device; and

automatically providing two-way status information updates between said 3-D printer and said finishing device using said special-purpose communications device.

16. The method according to claim 15, said finishing information comprising command signals and status signals.

17. The method according to claim 16, said status signals comprising status information of a progress of said creating said 3-D item.

18. The method according to claim 16, said command signals comprising instructions of finishing operations to be performed on said 3-D item.

19. The method according to claim 15, said transmitting said finishing information comprising transmitting said finishing information from said 3-D printer to said finishing device during a time period between when said 3-D printer begins creating said 3-D item and when said 3-D printer completes creating said 3-D item.

20. The method according to claim 15, said communications device comprising one or more devices, said one or more devices being integral with at least one of:

said 3-D printer; and

said finisher device.