Optimizing 3D printing using segmentation or aggregation
US9636871B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
3D printing may be optimized by segmenting input jobs and/or combining parts of input jobs together. In an embodiment, a user-defined metric is received associated with each input job and this is used in scheduling input jobs to optimize latency and/or throughput of the 3D printing process, along with the printing envelope and other characteristics of the 3D printers used. In various embodiments, the scheduling may comprise dividing a 3D object into a number of parts and then scheduling these parts separately and/or combining 3D objects, or parts of 3D objects, from various input jobs to be printed at the same time on the same 3D printer. In various embodiments, the scheduling is repeated when a new input job is received and changes made during printing. In various embodiments, a user may submit an updated version of an input job which is already in the process of being printed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.