DRAG-AND-DROP INTERFACE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING QUEUE MANAGEMENT
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 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, the print server coupled in a communicating relationship with one or more content sources of three-dimensional objects suitable for fabrication with one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers; and
a processor configured to execute a user interface for the print server, the user interface including a first display area showing available fabrication resources including the plurality of three-dimensional printers and a second display area showing one or more objects available from the one or more content sources, wherein the user interface includes a tool for requesting a fabrication of one of the one or more objects by dragging one of the one or more objects from the second display area to the first display area.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a video feed from at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface displays a status for at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
4 . The system of claim 3 wherein the status includes an availability of the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein the availability includes an estimated wait time until the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is available.
6 . The system of claim 3 wherein the status includes a percentage completion of a current print job on the one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is a fused deposition modeling printer.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is a stereolithography printer.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the print queue for at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is stored on the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the print queue for at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is stored on the print server.
11 . 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, the print server coupled in a communicating relationship with one or more content sources of three-dimensional objects suitable for fabrication with one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers; and
a processor configured to execute a user interface for the print server, the user interface including a first display area showing the print queue for one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers and a second display area showing one or more objects available from the one or more content sources, wherein the user interface includes a tool for requesting a fabrication of one of the one or more objects at the one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers by dragging one of the one or more objects from the second display area to the first display area.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the user interface includes a video feed from at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
13 . The system of claim 11 wherein the user interface displays a status for at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
14 . The system of claim 13 wherein the status includes an availability of the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein the availability includes an estimated wait time until the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is available.
16 . The system of claim 13 wherein the status includes a percentage completion of a current print job on the one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
17 . The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is a fused deposition modeling printer.
18 . The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is a stereolithography printer.
19 . The system of claim 11 wherein the print queue for at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is stored on the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers.
20 . The system of claim 11 wherein the print queue for at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional printers is stored on the print server.