System for controlling and/or regulating a plurality of machines

1 . A system for controlling and/or regulating a plurality of machines, said system comprising:

a plurality of control units designed to communicate with the plurality of machines and to transmit to the plurality of machines a data packet which includes an instruction for carrying out a work task, wherein each of the plurality of control units is designed to carry out a computing step for determining the instruction for the plurality of machines, wherein each computing step is configured to have an identifier assigned thereto indicating which of the plurality of machines the computing step is intended, and wherein after determination of a current utilization of the plurality of control units, each computing step is executed by each of the plurality of control units dynamically adapted to the current utilization;

a licensing unit designed to provide a plurality of floating licenses combined in a license pool available to the plurality of machines such that each of the plurality of machines uses one of the plurality of the floating licenses required for carrying out the work task, with each one of the used plurality of floating licenses being awarded when an authorization to carry out the work task exists; and

a communicative connection connecting the plurality of control units, the licensing unit and the plurality of machines.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the authorization is a certain technical requirement comprising a maintaining of a certain speed or an ability to carry out a certain type of 3D printing.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a bus system, a wireless system or a mixed bus and wireless system for communicatively connecting the control unit, the licensing unit and the at least one of the plurality of machines.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of machines includes a communication hub or is connected to a communication hub, with the communication hub designed for bundled transmission of machine-specific data, thereby reducing a communication load, preventing an overload of the bus system, and ensuring a real-time capability, as the transmission of data packets is not delayed.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of control units is configured to execute a defined computing step from a number of computing steps or a plurality of defined computing steps from the number of computing steps.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of control units is designed to receive machine-specific data via a data provision unit of at least one of the plurality of machines.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the licensing unit is designed to provide pay-per-use licenses and the authorization exists when a payment has been made.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the machines is designed to produce a three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control units control the plurality of machines in an m:n relationship.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of control units is specialized to suit particular tasks.

11 . A method for operating a system for controlling and/or regulating a plurality of machines, said method comprising:

transmitting with a plurality of control units a data packet to the plurality of machines, with the data packet including an instruction for carrying out a work task, wherein each of the plurality of control units is designed to carry out a computing step for determining the instruction for the plurality of machines, wherein each computing step is configured to have an identifier assigned thereto indicating which of the plurality of machines the computing step is Intended, and wherein after determination of a current utilization of the plurality of control units, each computing step is executed by each of the plurality of control units dynamically adapted to the current utilization;

providing with a licensing unit a plurality of floating licenses combined in a license pool available to the plurality of machines such that each of the plurality of machines uses one of the plurality of the floating licenses required for carrying out the work task, with each one of the used plurality of floating licenses being awarded when an authorization to carry out the work task exists; and

communicatively connecting the plurality of control units, the licensing unit, and the plurality of machines.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting a setpoint value for at least one actuator to the at least one of the plurality of machines.