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 device 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 one or more sensors for each one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers and the print server configured to manage a print queue for each one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers;
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; and
a web server configured to provide a user interface over the data network to a remote user, the user interface adapted to present the status information and the print queue data for one or more of the plurality of three-dimensional printers to the user and the user interface adapted to receive a print job from the remote user for one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to store a plurality of print jobs submitted to the web server in a log and to provide an analysis of print activity based on the log.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the print queue is managed according to one or more criteria from the remote user for the print job.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors include at least one video camera, the user interface adapted to present a video feed from the at least one video camera to the remote user through the user interface.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of a heat sensor, a volume flow rate sensor, a sound sensor, a light sensor, and a weight sensor.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the print queue includes one or more print jobs for one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers and the print queue is stored in the database.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the print queue includes one or more print jobs for one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers and the print queue is stored locally at the one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the print queue includes a plurality of print jobs for one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers and the print queue is allocated between the database and a local memory of the one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the print server stores a predetermined alternative three-dimensional printer to execute the print job from the remote user in the event of a failure by the one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the print server maintains exclusive control over at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the print server submits the print job to a first available one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein the user interface is adapted to receive a manual selection of one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers from the remote user to execute the print job.
13. The device of claim 1 wherein the user interface is adapted to receive a batch print job from the remote user, the batch print job including a plurality of related print jobs.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the user interface is further adapted to receive a specification of permissible allocations of the plurality of related print jobs among the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
15. The device of claim 1 wherein the user interface is adapted to display a current tool path of one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers that executes the print job.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein the user interface is adapted to display a three-dimensional model depicting a current state of completion of an object fabricated according to the print job.
17. The device of claim 1 wherein the status information presented in the user interface includes an image of a working volume of one of the three-dimensional printers that is executing the print job.
18. The device of claim 1 wherein the status information presented in the user interface includes a video image of a working volume of one of the three-dimensional printers that is executing the print job.