Web-based design tools for three-dimensional printing

• US 9,022,770 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MakerBot Industries, LLC (Ultimaker BV)
• Inventors: Pettis, Nathaniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hohenbrink, Jr., Lawrence D
• Application Number:
  US13/556,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 264/401, 264/40.1, 425/130, 425/131.1, 425/135, 425/144, 425/174.4, 425/375, 700/98, 700/118, 700/204
• US Class Current: 425/375
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/10 Pre-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 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 70/00 Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer

Abstract

Three-dimensional fabrication resources are improved by adding networking capabilities to three-dimensional printers and providing a variety of tools for networked use of three-dimensional printers. Web-based servers or the like can provide a single point of access for remote users to manage access to distributed content on one hand, and to manage use of distributed fabrication resources on the other.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a print server coupled through a data network to a plurality of three-dimensional printers, the print server configured to receive status information from each one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers and to manage a print queue for each one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers according to one or more criteria from a remote user requesting a print job;

a database coupled in a communicating relationship with the print server and configured to store print queue data and status information for each one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers, wherein the stored print queue data and status information are used by the print server to manage the print queue; and

a web server configured to provide a virtual workspace for the remote user to access capabilities of the print server, the virtual workspace including a web-based design interface that permits the user to create and modify a model, to search one or more remote databases of printable objects, and to manage subscriptions to one or more syndicated content sources, the web server further configured to receive a user command to fabricate the model, wherein the print server is configured to automatically select a first model from one of the syndicated content sources and direct the first model to a user-specified one of the three-dimensional printers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the virtual workspace includes a search tool for searching one or more databases of printable objects.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the virtual workspace includes a queue management tool for managing one or more pending prints.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the virtual workspace includes a status tool for receiving a user specification of one or more preferences for receiving status updates.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the one or more preferences include notification by electronic mail.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the one or more preferences include notification by instant text message.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the virtual workspace includes a tool for managing one or more subscriptions to content.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the web server automatically selects one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers to fabricate the model according to the user command.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the web server automatically selects one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers according to one or more user criteria for prioritization of resources.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the web server receives a manual user selection of one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers to fabricate the model.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of three-dimensional printers include a fused deposition modeling printer.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of three-dimensional printers include a stereolithography printer.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the web server displays status information from one or more sensors of the plurality of three-dimensional printer.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more sensors include a temperature sensor.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the web server is configured to provide queue information for each of the plurality of the three-dimensional printers.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a queue for one of the plurality of the three-dimensional printers is stored locally at the one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein a queue for one of the three-dimensional printers is allocated between the database and a local memory of one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the web server is configured to display a video feed from at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.

19. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second database coupled in a communicating relationship with the print server, the second database storing printable content for the plurality of three-dimensional printers.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the web server includes a search tool for the printable content.