Downloadable three-dimensional models
A server is configured to store a number of different models of an object in machine-ready form corresponding to a number of different three-dimensional printers having differing capabilities and/or hardware configurations. When a user at a client device or a printer requests the object, the server automatically determines a printer type and selects a suitable, corresponding machine-ready model for immediate fabrication by the printer.
1. A system comprising:
a database storing a plurality of different machine-ready models of an object, each one of the plurality of different machine-ready models based on a three-dimensional model of the object and adapted for fabricating the object on one of a number of different types of three-dimensional printers each having a predetermined configuration resulting in different slicing rules for converting the three-dimensional model into a corresponding one of the machine-ready models; and
a server coupled to the database and coupled in a communicating relationship with a data network, the server configured to respond to a request from a client for the object through the data network by identifying a type of three-dimensional printer locally associated with the client making the request,
selecting one of the machine-ready models from among the plurality of different machine-ready models of the object,
wherein the one of the machine-ready models is selected as corresponding to the type of three-dimensional printer locally associated with the client, and
transmitting the one of the machine-ready models to the client through the data network,
wherein the server is further configured to manage a print queue for the three-dimensional printer locally associated with the client and at least one additional three-dimensional printer, and
to automatically determine when a request to fabricate a selected one of the machine-ready models should be redirected to the at least one additional three-dimensional printer.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is a web server configured to select and transmit the one of the machine-ready models in response to a single action from the client.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the client is configured to automatically respond to a receipt of the one of the machine-ready models from the server by transmitting the one of the machine-ready models to the three-dimensional printer for fabrication.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the client is configured to automatically store the one of the machine-ready models on a removable memory device locally coupled to the client.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein the single action is a single mouse click from the client.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the machine-ready models include g-code for fabricating the object.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the client is a computing device coupled in a communicating relationship with the three-dimensional printer.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to receive a digital model of the object through the data network, and to create the plurality of different machine-ready models for storage in the database.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the database stores a second plurality of machine-ready models for each of a plurality of objects.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the server provides a user interface for the client to browse the plurality of objects and select one of the plurality of objects for fabrication.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to verify a printability of each one of the machine-ready models on a corresponding one of the types of three-dimensional printers.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the database stores metadata for the object.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the metadata includes one or more of a computer rendering of the object, a photograph of the object, an author comment for the object, a number of downloads for the object, a category tag for the object, and a popularity rating for the object.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the metadata includes the number of downloads for the object, wherein the number of downloads includes a number of downloads for each one of the machine-ready models for the object.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to modify a selected one of the machine-ready models according to specific configuration information for the three-dimensional printer associated with the client.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to perform a second selection of one of the machine-ready models corresponding to the at least one additional three-dimensional printer.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to manage a print queue for the client.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein the different types of three-dimensional printers include different printers from a single manufacturer.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein the different types of three-dimensional printers include printers using two or more printing technologies selected from a group including jet printing, stereolithography, fused deposition modeling, layered object manufacturing, and selective laser sintering.
20. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined configuration includes one or more hardware components of the three-dimensional printer, and wherein the one or more hardware components include one or more of a display, a heated build platform, a camera, a conveyor, and a color-mixing system.
21. The system of claim 1 wherein, when two or more of the machine-ready models are suitable for the three-dimensional printer associated with the client, selecting one of the two or more machine-ready models according to a predetermined criterion and transmitting the one of the two or more machine-ready models to the client.