NETWORKED THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
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.
1 . A method for operating a three-dimensional printer coupled to a data network, the method comprising:
receiving a print job from a requester over the data network at the three-dimensional printer, the three-dimensional printer including a plurality of sensors that provide status information for a plurality of aspects of the three-dimensional printer; and
evaluating an availability of the three-dimensional printer for the print job based upon a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the availability includes evaluating the availability for the print job based upon an identity of a user associated with the print job.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the availability includes assessing the availability according to a receiving state for the three-dimensional printer.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the receiving state is selected from a group consisting of open, closed, or authenticated.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
when the three-dimensional printer is available, adding the print job to a queue for the three-dimensional printer and initiating fabrication of an object according to the queue; and
when the three-dimensional printer is not available, electronically notifying the requester that the print job has been rejected.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing information about a queue for the three-dimensional printer to the requester.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein evaluating the availability of the three-dimensional printer includes accepting the print job only if a supply of build material available for the three-dimensional printer exceeds an amount of build material required for the print job and one or more additional jobs ahead of the print job in the queue.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the availability of the three-dimensional printer includes transmitting an image of the three-dimensional printer to the requester, and receiving a manual confirmation to proceed with the print job from the requester.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the availability of the three-dimensional printer includes determining a percentage completion of a current print job at the three-dimensional printer.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the availability of the three-dimensional printer includes estimating a wait time until the three-dimensional printer will be available and transmitting the wait time to the requester.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the availability of the three-dimensional printer includes determining whether the three-dimensional printer is immediately available.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors includes a video camera directed toward a working volume of the three-dimensional printer.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors includes an optical sensor that detects obstructions within a working volume of the three-dimensional printer.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors includes a sensor that detects a quantity of build material available.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors includes a sensor that detects a presence of build material in a material supply feed.
16 . The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying one or more alternative three-dimensional printers coupled to the data network as resources available for the print job when the three-dimensional printer is not available.
17 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the three-dimensional printer is not available, identifying an alternative three-dimensional printer coupled to the data network and redirecting the requester to the alternative three-dimensional printer.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein redirecting includes automatically redirecting the print job without user intervention.
19 . The method of claim 17 wherein redirecting includes transmitting a suggestion to the requester to use the alternative three-dimensional printer.
20 . The method of claim 1 wherein the print job includes a plurality of objects, the method further comprising identifying a plurality of printers in proximity to the three-dimensional printer and allocating the plurality of objects for concurrent fabrication among the plurality of printers.
21 . The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting status information from one or more of the plurality of sensors to the requester during an execution of the print job.
22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising notifying the requester of a successful completion of the print job.
23 . The method of claim 21 further comprising notifying the requester if the print job fails to complete.
24 . The method of claim 21 wherein the status information includes at least one photograph, and wherein transmitting the status information includes submitting the at least one photograph to a social networking platform.
25 . The method of claim 24 wherein the social networking platform includes one or more of Flickr, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Facebook.
26 . The method of claim 1 further comprising securing the print job using a digital rights management technique the restricts execution of the print job to one or more predetermined three-dimensional printers, wherein evaluating the availability of the three-dimensional printer includes determining whether the three-dimensional printer is one of the one or more predetermined three-dimensional printers.
27 . A three-dimensional printer comprising:
a network interface configured to receive a print job from a requester over a data network;
a plurality of sensors that provide status information for a plurality of aspects of the three-dimensional printer; and
a processor configured to evaluate an availability of the three-dimensional printer for the print job based upon a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors.
28 . A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps of:
receiving a print job from a requester over a data network at a three-dimensional printer, the three-dimensional printer including a plurality of sensors that provide status information for a plurality of aspects of the three-dimensional printer; and
evaluating an availability of the three-dimensional printer for the print job based upon a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors.
29 - 102 . (canceled)