AUGMENTED THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
A variety of techniques are disclosed for visual and functional augmentation of a three-dimensional printer.
1 . A device comprising:
a three-dimensional printer having a working volume;
one or more spatial sensors configured to capture data from an object being fabricated within the working volume;
a first processor configured to convert the data into a digital model of the object; and
a second processor configured to operate the three-dimensional printer to fabricate the object in a fabrication process having a number of tool instructions, and to dynamically modify one of the tool instructions for the three-dimensional printer according to the digital model.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the first processor and the second processor are the same processor.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the tool instructions are derived from a second digital model, and wherein the second processor is configured to dynamically modify one of the tool instructions based upon a comparison of the digital model to the second digital model.
4 . The device of claim 3 wherein the comparison indicates that the fabrication process has failed.
5 . The device of claim 4 wherein the second processor is configured to abort the fabrication process when the fabrication process has failed.
6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the second processor is configured to modify one of the tool instructions to avoid a collision of a tool with the digital model.
7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the second processor is configured to modify one of the tool instructions to avoid a collision of a tool with a foreign body in the working volume.
8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the second processor is configured to stop printing one part of a multi-part print when the one part has failed to print.
9 . The device of claim 8 wherein the second processor is configured to restart printing of the one part at another location within the working volume.
10 . A three-dimensional printer comprising:
a tool head to fabricate an object in a working volume;
a camera affixed to and moving with the tool head, the camera directed toward the working volume;
a processor configured to receive an image from the camera and to provide diagnostic information for operation of the three-dimensional printer based upon an analysis of the image.
11 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 wherein the diagnostic information includes a determination of a position of the tool head within the working volume.
12 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 wherein the diagnostic information includes a determination of whether the three-dimensional printer has effected a color change in build material.
13 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 wherein the diagnostic information includes a determination of whether the three-dimensional printer has effected a change from a first build material to a second build material.
14 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 wherein the diagnostic information includes an evaluation of whether a build material is extruding correctly from the tool head.
15 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 wherein the diagnostic information includes an evaluation of whether an infill for the object is being fabricated correctly.
16 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 wherein the diagnostic information includes the image.
17 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to dynamically generate a pattern for an infill.
18 . A method comprising:
beginning fabrication of an object in a first location of a working volume with a three-dimensional printer;
capturing a digital model of the object with a three-dimensional scanner;
pausing fabrication of the object;
repositioning the object to a second location within the working volume of the three-dimensional printer, thereby providing a repositioned object;
capturing a second digital model of the object with the three-dimensional scanner;
aligning the three-dimensional printer to the repositioned object; and
continuing fabrication of the object in the second location.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein aligning the three-dimensional printer to the repositioned object includes:
determining a first point on the object where a deposition of a build material paused;
analyzing the second digital model to locate a corresponding point on the repositioned object; and
positioning a tool head of the three-dimensional printer to begin depositing the build material at the corresponding point.
20 . The method of claim 18 wherein repositioning the object includes at least one of rotating the object and translating the object.
21 . The method of claim 18 further comprising generating new tool instructions to continue the fabrication.
22 . A device comprising:
a three-dimensional printer having a working volume;
a camera configured to provide a view of the working volume;
a processor configured to render an image of a digital three-dimensional model from a pose of the camera; and
a user interface for the three-dimensional printer having a display configured to display the image of the digital model within the view of the working volume, thereby providing a preview of a fabricated object based upon the digital three-dimensional model.