Mobile 3-D Service Part Printing
First Claim
1. A method for mobile three-dimensional (3-D) printing of a component of a machine, the method comprising:
- determining a distance between a transport and a customer based on, at least, positioning information provided by a positioning system;
determining a route for the transport to travel to the customer based on, at least, the distance between the transport and the customer;
printing, at least in part, the component of the machine using a 3-D printer while the transport travels along the route, the 3-D printer being associated with the transport and travelling with the transport along the route.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for mobile three-dimensional (3-D) printing of a component of a machine is disclosed. The method includes determining a distance between a transport and a customer based on, at least, positioning information provided by a positioning system. The method further includes determining a route for the transport to travel to the customer based on, at least, the distance between the transport and the customer. The method further includes printing, at least in part, the component of the machine using a 3-D printer while the transport travels along the route, the 3-D printer being associated with the transport and travelling with the transport along the route.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for mobile three-dimensional (3-D) printing of a component of a machine, the method comprising:
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determining a distance between a transport and a customer based on, at least, positioning information provided by a positioning system; determining a route for the transport to travel to the customer based on, at least, the distance between the transport and the customer; printing, at least in part, the component of the machine using a 3-D printer while the transport travels along the route, the 3-D printer being associated with the transport and travelling with the transport along the route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for mobile three-dimensional (3-D) printing of a component of a machine, the system comprising:
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a transport for delivering the component to a customer; a positioning system for providing positioning information associated with a location of the customer; a controller configured to; receive the positioning information from the positioning system; determine a distance between the transport and the customer using the position signals; and determine a route for the transport to travel to the customer; and a 3-D printer associated with the transport, configured to travel with the transport along the route, and configured to print the component while travelling along the route. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing a component of a machine to a customer by optionally utilizing three-dimensional (3-D) printing of the component, the method comprising:
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receiving an order for the component from the customer, the customer at a customer location; determining availability of a manufactured component at a part storage location; determining a first transportation route if the manufactured component is available at the part storage location, the first transportation route being between the customer location and the part storage location; determining a second transportation route, the second transportation route being between the customer location and a printing transport, the printing transport being associated with a 3-D printer and capable of travelling with the 3-D printer, the 3-D printer capable of printing a printed component for use as the component; determining if the printing transport travelling along the second route will arrive at the customer location at an earlier time than a transport travelling along the first route; printing, at least in part, the printed component using the 3-D printer while the printing transport travels along the second route if the printing transport travelling along the second route will arrive at the customer location at an earlier time than the transport travelling along the first route. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification