JP6570441B2 - System and control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for presenting information on a control device that forms a three-dimensional object.

  A control device that forms a three-dimensional object that is a three-dimensional object based on model data is generally called a 3D (3-dimensional) printer, and in recent years, 3D printers have been rapidly spread. The technique related to the three-dimensional structure is also called additive manufacturing. On the other hand, a 2D (2-dimensional) printer is a printing device that performs planar printing on paper (sheet) or the like.

  The 3D printer itself has existed for a long time, but it was only used in some industries and applications because it is a large-scale device, requires special / special equipment and materials, and is difficult to handle. . Due to recent technological innovations, various modeling methods such as a hot melt lamination method (FDM) have been devised and put into practical use. As other modeling methods, there are an optical modeling method (STL), a powder sintering method (SLS: Selective Laser Sintering), an inkjet method, and the like. Furthermore, it is widely provided from inexpensive 3D printers that can be handled by general consumers to high-performance commercial 3D printers for companies in the manufacturing industry and various industries.

  When a user intends to purchase a 3D printer, the user selects a 3D printer model from the product list displayed on the website of the manufacturer or agency of the 3D printer, and confirms the specifications on the details screen of the selected model. At this time, in order to make it easier to select a model that meets the user's wishes, a narrowing search is performed from the product list based on conditions specified by the user. Thereafter, the user inquires about the purchase of the 3D printer under consideration from the inquiry form on the website, and the user purchases the 3D printer by consulting with the person in charge of the manufacturer or the agent.

  Further, as an optional product different from the 3D printer main body, additional equipment for performing post-processing and processing for supporting the operation of the 3D printer by a modeling method is required. For example, in the case of the optical modeling method, the modeled object is made up in a semi-cured state in which the modeled object is partially cured. After the modeling, cleaning is performed to remove excess resin attached to the surface of the modeled object, and after the cleaning is completed, a final curing process is performed on the modeled object. That is, in the stereolithography method, it is essential to use additional equipment such as a cleaning device that cleans the modeled object and a post-cure apparatus that performs a finishing curing process on the modeled object. On the other hand, although an uninterruptible power supply may be used in preparation for a power failure that may occur during a long modeling time with a 3D printer, the use of the uninterruptible power supply is not essential.

  Patent Document 1 describes a system that presents an optimal product that is determined according to the usage history of a printer that a user uses. In this system, when calculating the average number of sheets per month, the number of printed sheets for each sheet size can be used to recommend to the user an image forming apparatus and optional products corresponding to the number of printed sheets for each sheet size.

JP 2003-108344 A

  For a 3D printer, a system is assumed in which a user specifies conditions relating to the 3D printer such as a modeling method, a type of modeling material, and a price, and information such as a model that meets the conditions is presented. However, in actual purchases, after meeting with the person in charge of the manufacturer or agency, as a result, additional equipment will be purchased together with the 3D printer, which may require more purchase costs than originally planned. Can happen. In addition, there may be a case where the installation site requirements (area, environment, etc.) are not satisfied. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to refer to the product catalog in order to obtain information on additional equipment that is essential or recommended for the 3D printer, which is troublesome. Patent Document 1 does not consider a 3D printer. Moreover, it is not a mechanism for presenting device information that satisfies the conditions specified by the user, including additional equipment.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for presenting information on a control device that satisfies a user-specified condition in consideration of additional equipment that performs necessary processing during or after modeling in a control device such as a 3D printer. And

In order to solve the above-described problems, the system of the present invention includes a specifying unit that allows a user to specify one or more conditions in order to present information of a control device that forms a three-dimensional object, and the one or more specified Presenting means for presenting information of the control device that satisfies the condition, wherein the presenting means includes the control device and additional equipment for performing necessary processing during or after modeling in the control device. In the case where one or more conditions are satisfied, information on the control device is presented, and the designation means includes the type of modeling material used for modeling in the control device, the size of the object that can be modeled, and the modeled object It is possible to specify the conditions for at least one of the usage pitch, the method of modeling, and the stacking pitch indicating the width of the modeling material to be output .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the additional equipment which performs a process required during modeling after modeling with a control apparatus, such as 3D printer, can be considered, and the information of the control apparatus which satisfy | fills the conditions specified by the user can be shown.

It is a figure which shows the example of the system configuration | structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of information processing function hardware constitutions. It is a figure which shows the example of the software of this system, and hardware constitutions. It is a figure which shows an example of 3D printer display screen UI. It is a figure which shows an example of the table for managing the product data. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing by a narrowing execution unit 352. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the narrowing-down process by the area of an installation place. It is a figure which shows an example of 3D printer detailed screen UI. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for displaying an essential additional equipment 810 and a recommended additional equipment 820 on the 3D printer details screen 800 in the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for displaying an essential additional equipment 810 and a recommended additional equipment 820 on the 3D printer details screen 800 in Embodiment 2. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display flow of a display screen 400 for 3D printer information.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The network 101 is a network such as an intranet or a local area network (LAN). The computer 102 is a client computer in which control software for instructing the 3D printer 104 or the like is installed. The computer 103 includes a Web browser that can connect to an external Web service and operate a Web application.

  The 3D printer 104 is an example of a control device that forms a three-dimensional object that is a three-dimensional object based on model data. The additional equipment 105 is an apparatus or equipment that performs necessary processing during or after the modeling by the 3D printer 104. Examples of apparatuses that perform processing necessary after modeling include a cleaning apparatus that cleans a modeled object modeled by the 3D printer 104, and an apparatus that cleans the modeling table of the 3D printer 104. Moreover, as an example of a device that performs necessary processing during modeling, an uninterruptible power supply for continuing modeling when a power failure occurs during modeling, and an air conditioning facility for preparing the environment of the installation location of the 3D printer and so on. The computer 106 is a management device on which the 3D printer management application 340 operates.

  The computers 102, 103, and 106 include types such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, and a smartphone. The 3D printer 104 and the computers 102, 103, and 106 can exchange information with each other via the network 101. The network 101 may be a wireless network such as a wireless LAN. The network 101 may be a public network such as the Internet as long as information can be transmitted and received. The control software includes control software for instructing the 3D printer 104 and control software for instructing the additional equipment 105, and each may be installed in a different computer.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of information processing functions of the computers 102, 103, 106, the 3D printer 104, and the additional equipment 105. In the 3D printer 104 and the additional equipment 105, the configuration of an embedded computer shown in FIG. 3 described later corresponds to the hardware of the information processing function shown in FIG.

  A user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) 201 inputs and outputs information and signals through a display, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, buttons, and the like. Computers without these hardware can also be connected and operated from other computers by remote desktop or remote shell.

  The network interface 202 is connected to a network such as a LAN and communicates with other computers and network devices. The ROM 204 stores a built-in program and data. The RAM 205 is a temporary memory area. The secondary storage device 206 is an HDD or a flash memory. The CPU 203 executes a program read from the ROM 204, RAM 205, secondary storage device 206, and the like. The above units 201 to 206 are connected via an internal bus 207.

  The 3D printer 104 further includes a hardware configuration corresponding to the modeling method. The hardware configuration according to the modeling method is specifically the engine unit of the 3D printer 104. The engine unit has hardware corresponding to a modeling method controlled by the CPU in addition to a storage device such as a CPU, ROM, and RAM. For example, in the case of the hot melt lamination method, the hardware includes a print head (head, extruder), a motor that drives the stage and print head in the X, Y, and Z axis directions, a heater that heats the nozzles of the print head, cooling and intake air And fans for exhaust. Other modeling methods include, for example, an optical modeling method, a powder burning method, and an ink jet method. The 3D printer 104 includes a plurality of sensors (not shown) for detecting the status. A specific example of the sensor is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature status of the printer head.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration and a hardware configuration of the system according to the first and second embodiments.

  In the present embodiment, a description is given of a configuration in which processing commands for a 3D printer and additional equipment are created, management of the 3D printer and additional equipment, and access to the Web server unit 351 of the computer 106 are performed by different computers. However, a configuration in which each process is processed by one computer may be adopted.

  First, the configuration of the computer 102 will be described. The control software 301 is software that is installed in the computer 102 and executed. The control software 301 is software including a setting for modeling and a function for generating a control command executed by the 3D printer. As software that generates control commands for the 3D printer, for example, software called a slicer is available.

  The control software 301 also includes a function for setting the additional equipment 105, a function for generating a control command for executing processing in the additional equipment 105, and the like. The function for generating the control command for the 3D printer and the function for generating the control command for the additional equipment may be included in different control software. When the control software 301 does not have a function for generating a control command for additional equipment, the 3D printer may instruct the additional equipment to perform processing.

  The setting information 302 is setting information related to modeling set by the control software 301 or the like. The setting items related to modeling include, for example, the model name of a 3D printer used for modeling, the temperature of a component such as a print head, the type and name of a material to be used, and a filling pattern.

  The 3D model data 303 is model data that represents an object that the user desires to model with a three-dimensional shape. The 3D model data 303 is data represented by, for example, STL (Stereo Lithography) that is a file format for storing data representing a three-dimensional shape.

  The control command 304 is a control command generated by the control software 301 based on the 3D model data 303 or the like. The control command 304 includes a control command for modeling an object by the 3D printer 104 and a control command for executing post-processing or the like with additional equipment. As a control command for the 3D printer 104, for example, a format in which a command of a machine tool called G code (G-code) is extended for a 3D printer is used. Based on the setting information 302, the control software 301 converts the 3D model data 303 into a control command (3D printer) 304 that can be executed by the 3D printer 104.

  Note that the control command of the 3D printer generated by the control software 301 includes not only an object which is a modeling part represented by 3D model data but also information related to modeling of support (support structures) necessary for modeling.

  Next, the configuration of the computer 103 will be described. The web browser 310 transmits a request message to the web server unit 351 that provides the web service. Thereafter, the web browser 310 receives the response message transmitted from the web server unit 351 and displays a screen based on the received data. Thereby, the user can browse the product data of the 3D printer and the additional equipment that match the input conditions.

  Next, the configuration of the 3D printer 104 will be described. The embedded computer 320 is a computer embedded in the 3D printer 104. The embedded computer 320 is specialized in necessary functions as compared with general-purpose computers, and is manufactured at an inexpensive cost by cutting unnecessary functions, performance, and parts. Note that the embedded computer 320 may be a general-purpose computer depending on functions and performance required for the 3D printer.

  The control application 321 is an application executed on the embedded computer 320. The control application 321 includes a UI 325, an API (Application Programming Interface) 326, and a hardware control unit 327.

  The UI 325 includes a combination of a display that displays only a few lines of characters and a hardware operation button for an inexpensive one, and a display with a touch panel for an expensive one. The state of the 3D printer is confirmed based on the display content of the UI 325, and a desired process is instructed to the 3D printer by operating the UI 325.

  The API 326 accepts transmission and reception of commands and data from the external computers 102 and 106. A command is transmitted from the external computer 102 or 106 to the 3D printer control application 321 via the API 326 to control the 3D printer 104.

  The hardware control unit 327 operates each unit constituting the hardware (not shown) according to a command received via the UI 325 or API 326 or a command issued by the 3D printer control application 321 and executes an output of a modeled object. . The hardware constituting the 3D printer differs depending on the modeling method.

  The 3D printer control command 304 generated by the control software 301 is sent to the control application 321 via the network 101 and the API 326. At this time, the control command 304 may be sent via the computer 106. When the 3D printer 104 does not include a network interface, the control command 304 may be sent to the control application 321 via a storage device such as a USB memory.

  The control application 321 interprets the control command 304 based on an output command from the UI 325 or the API 326, and executes modeling by causing the hardware control unit 327 to operate each part of the hardware.

  The error information 323 is an error in the 3D printer 104 that, when a specific state or failure is detected according to the definition unique to the 3D printer 104, output management such as the content and notification method is performed according to the definition of the 3D printer 104 It is information which shows. Instead of outputting an error from the 3D printer 104, an error in the 3D printer 104 may be detected by a management application that operates on the computer 106 based on status information included in device information 324, which will be described later.

  The device information 324 is device information of the 3D printer 104 including identification information and status information of the 3D printer 104. The device information 324 includes information for determining the operating state and operating rate of the 3D printer. The information for determining the operating state includes 3D printer status (operating, preparing, waiting, sleeping, error, etc.) and status log information. The information for determining the operation rate includes a status log, history information including a power-on time, an operation time, and an error (failure) occurrence time.

  The device information 324 will be described by taking, as an example, information that can be acquired by a common protocol in multiple types of 3D printers defined by IPP (Internet Printing Protocol). IPP is a protocol for performing transmission / reception of printing (modeling) data operating on a general-purpose communication protocol, monitoring of a modeling apparatus, and the like. Other protocols with equivalent information acquisition definitions can be substituted. The present invention can also use device information defined by other protocols in addition to IPP, and the device information 324 may include information defined by those protocols. Thus, for example, information defined by IPP that is not supported by the model or status information that is not defined by IPP can be analyzed by the 3D printer management application 340.

  In this embodiment, the device information 324 is acquired from the 3D printer 104 by the management application 340. However, the device information 324 may not necessarily be acquired from the 3D printer 104, for example, the device information 324 may be acquired from the computer 102.

  Next, the configuration of the additional equipment 105 will be described. The embedded computer 330 is a computer incorporated in the additional equipment 105. The embedded computer 330 is specialized in necessary functions as compared with general-purpose computers, and is manufactured at an inexpensive cost by cutting unnecessary functions, performance, and parts. The embedded computer 330 may be a general-purpose computer depending on the functions and performance required for the additional equipment.

  The control application 331 is an application that is executed on the embedded computer 330. The control application 331 includes a UI 335, an API (Application Programming Interface) 336, and a hardware control unit 337. The additional equipment 105 may not have a UI 335 or an API 336. In the case of inexpensive additional equipment, the user starts the additional equipment by switching the power source. Of course, like the 3D printer 104, the hardware control unit 327 may operate each part of the hardware by interpreting the control command 304 by a processing command from the UI 325 or the API 326.

  The device information 332 is device information including identification information and operation information of the additional equipment 105. The device information may be any protocol as long as it can be acquired. The device information 332 includes information that can specify the operating state and operating rate of the additional equipment. For example, the information that can identify the operating state includes, for example, the status of the additional equipment (operating, preparing, waiting, sleeping, error, etc.) and status log information. The information with which the operation rate can be specified includes the time when the power is turned on, the time during operation, the time during which a failure occurs, the number of times of use, and the like.

  In this embodiment, the device information 332 is acquired from the additional equipment 105 by the management application 340. However, the device information 332 does not necessarily have to be acquired from the additional equipment 105, for example, the device information 332 may be acquired from the computer 102.

  Next, the configuration of the computer 106 will be described. The computer 106 includes a management application 340, a display application 350, and a database 360. In this embodiment, the management application 340, the display application 350, and the database 360 will be described as a configuration provided in one computer. However, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which they are arranged in different computers. .

The management application 340 is an application that acquires device information, error information, and the like from the 3D printer 104 and the additional equipment 105 and manages them, and is executed on the computer 106.
The management application 340 includes a data acquisition unit 341, a data management unit 343, and a data transmission unit 345.

  The data acquisition unit 341 includes an interface that acquires device information, error information, and the like from the 3D printer 104 and the additional equipment 105. The data acquisition unit 341 acquires various types of information from the 3D printer 104 and the additional equipment 105 periodically or according to a predetermined schedule. Note that the management application 340 may acquire information input from the computer screen UI by the user as device information of the 3D printer 104 and the additional equipment 105.

  The data management unit 343 manages information on the 3D printer to be managed, error information 323 and device information 324 on the management target device acquired by the data acquisition unit 341. The data management unit 343 stores information on management-target additional equipment and device information 332 on management-target additional equipment acquired by the data acquisition unit 341. Further, the data management unit 343 manages the identification information of the user who has been registered in advance, the information of the 3D printer owned by the user, and the information of the additional equipment.

  The data transmission unit 345 transmits 3D printer information in response to the request. For example, the data transmission unit 345 returns information on a specified 3D printer when receiving information on a specific 3D printer, and returns a list of 3D printers to be managed otherwise. Furthermore, the data transmission part 345 transmits the information of an additional installation according to a request | requirement. For example, the data transmission unit 345 returns the information on the specified additional equipment when receiving information on the specific additional equipment, and returns the list of additional equipment to be managed otherwise.

  The display application 350 is an application that displays 3D printer information on the UI screen in response to a request from the Web browser 310 or the like, and is executed on the computer 106. The display application 350 includes a Web server unit 351, a narrowing execution unit 352, a product data API 353, and a management target device API 355.

  The Web server unit 351 operates as a Web server and provides a Web page such as a 3D printer information display screen 400 shown in FIG. The 3D printer information display screen 400 shown in FIG. 4 displays information about the 3D printer. The Web server unit 351 has a function as an HTTP service that receives a request message from the Web browser 310 as a client and executes processing according to the request message. Specifically, the Web server unit 351 receives a URL as a request message, analyzes the URL, and calls the corresponding Web application together with the request according to the request. Here, the request message is specifically an HTTP request message and can include a parameter value from a Web browser associated with the URL.

  The narrowing execution unit 352 performs 3D printer narrowing processing according to the conditions set by the narrowing condition setting unit 420 or the narrowing conditions dynamically created by the program, and information on the 3D printers that satisfy the conditions is sent to the Web browser 310. return.

  The product data API 353 acquires 3D printer and additional equipment information from the product data 361 in the database 360.

  The management target device API 355 includes an interface that calls the data transmission unit 345 of the management application 340 and acquires information on a 3D printer and additional equipment managed by the data management unit 343 of the management application 340.

  In the database 360, product data 361 of the 3D printer 104 and the additional equipment 105 is managed. Each product data may be updated by an administrator from a screen UI provided by a web browser (not shown) in this embodiment. The product data 361 is detailed information on the 3D printer and additional equipment.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a 3D printer information display screen UI provided by the computer 106. The display screen 400 can be viewed by accessing the web server unit 351 provided in the computer 106 from the web browser 310 of the computer 103.

  The display screen 400 includes a list display unit 410 that displays a list of data held by the computer 106 and a narrowing-down condition setting unit 420 that narrows down the necessary 3D printers from the displayed 3D printers.

  The list display unit 410 displays a list of 3D printers registered in the database 360. When the narrowing condition is input to the narrowing condition setting unit 420, a 3D printer that matches the set narrowing condition is displayed on the list display unit 410. Note that the display method of the list display unit 410 may always display all 3D printers and gray out 3D printers that do not meet the filtering conditions.

  The narrowing-down condition setting unit 420 is a field for allowing the user to specify narrowing-down conditions for narrowing down the 3D printers displayed on the list display unit 410. The following items exist in the narrowing-down conditions, and the user designates one or more conditions among them. As a method for inputting narrowing conditions, a text box may be prepared so that it can be freely input, or a check box and a drop-down may be prepared so that the user can select.

Manufacturer: 3D printer manufacturer name.
Application: Classification according to usage of objects that are modeled by a 3D printer. For example, “design confirmation”, “design / function evaluation”, “jig / mold / production equipment”, and the like.
Material: Classification based on materials of modeling materials that can be used for modeling with a 3D printer. Examples include “resin”, “rubber”, “gypsum”, and “metal”.
Material characteristics: Classification based on the characteristics of materials that can be used by 3D printers. For example, “heat resistance”, “durability”, “impact resistance”, “transparency” and the like can be mentioned.
Lamination pitch: A lamination pitch that can be selected by a 3D printer.
Modeling method: Classification of 3D printer modeling method. For example, “thermal melting lamination method”, “optical modeling method”, “powder sintering method”, “inkjet method” and the like can be mentioned.
Modeling size: The size of an object that can be modeled by a 3D printer.
Modeling speed: Information on the speed at which the 3D printer models the modeled object. For example, head speed information can be given.
Noise level: Information on the loudness (dB) produced by the 3D printer during modeling.
Support material: Information on the necessity of the support material when creating a model. Or information on availability of water-soluble support materials.
Whether or not a hollow structure can be produced: Information on whether or not a hollow structure can be created.
Number of heads: Number of 3D printer heads.
Color: Single color, two colors, color information. Alternatively, information on whether or not a modeled object of a specified color can be modeled by selecting a color (transparent, white, blue, red, etc.).
Price: The purchase price of a 3D printer.
Installation site environment: Information related to the installation site environment required when installing a 3D printer. Based on the conditions specified here, additional equipment for adjusting the environment of the installation location includes, for example, air conditioning equipment and equipment for removing or reducing vibration.
Area of installation location: Information on the area of the location required to install and use the 3D printer.

  In the present embodiment, the narrowing-down conditions that allow the conditions of “maker”, “use”, “material”, “stacking pitch”, “modeling size”, “price”, and “installation area” to be input are illustrated in FIG. In addition, about the area of an installation place, it is good also as information regarding the space required for utilization of a 3D printer or additional equipment. In that case, not only the area but also the height information is included.

  It should be noted that the conditions for the additional equipment may be specified to narrow down the 3D printer. The conditions regarding the additional equipment include, for example, the type of processing performed by the additional equipment such as cleaning and curing, and the type of additional equipment. Further, the item of the narrowing condition may be selectable by the user himself, or a plurality of patterns may be prepared according to the narrowing characteristics using a tab. For example, you may prepare the narrowing-down item according to each characteristic for every manufacturer or modeling method.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a table for managing product data 361 of the 3D printer and additional equipment in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 shows information necessary for narrowing down the 3D printer display screen shown in FIG. Items that are not shown in FIG. 5 may be added to the product data 361 according to narrowing conditions that can be set. A display screen UI shown in FIG. 4 to be described later is provided using the information in the table shown in FIG.

  First, a table for managing the product data 361 of the 3D printer will be described with reference to FIG.

  Name 501 is a 3D printer name. The 3D printer can be uniquely identified by the 3D printer name. If the 3D printer name is not unique, a separate ID column may be prepared. Maker 502 is a manufacturer name of the 3D printer. The modeling method 503 is information representing the type of modeling method of the 3D printer. The application 504 is information indicating the use application of the object that is modeled by the 3D printer. The stacking pitch 505 is information on the stacking pitch that can be printed by the 3D printer. The maximum modeling size 506 is information on the maximum size that can be modeled by the 3D printer. The price 507 is the price of the 3D printer. The main body size 508 is the size of the 3D printer. The essential additional equipment 509 is information on the type 522 of the additional equipment that is required when the 3D printer is introduced. The recommended additional equipment 510 is Type 522 information of the additional equipment recommended to be purchased together when the 3D printer is introduced. The recommended installation area 511 is information on the area of a place recommended when introducing the 3D printer. This is information that takes into consideration the area required for opening and closing a 3D printer that requires opening and closing of a cover or the like for maintenance or the like. The recommended installation area 511 is information indicating an area that is also considered for the installation of additional equipment.

  Next, a table for managing the product data 361 of the additional equipment will be described with reference to FIG.

  Name 521 is an additional equipment name. The additional equipment name can be uniquely identified by the additional equipment name. If the incidental device name is not unique, a separate ID column may be prepared. Type 522 is information representing the type of additional equipment. For example, there are “cleaning device” “ultrasonic cleaning device” “curing device” “uninterruptible power supply” and the like. A price 523 is a price of the additional equipment. The processable size 524 is a size that can be processed by the additional equipment. The value of the processable size 524 is set in the additional equipment for performing the post-processing of the modeled object modeled by the 3D printer. The main body size 525 is the size of the additional equipment.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the narrowing down execution unit 352. In this embodiment, the computer 106 performs a narrowing process based on a request from the web browser 310. However, the web server unit 351 transmits information necessary for the narrowing process to the web browser 310, and the browser side dynamically You may narrow down.

  In step S601, the product data API 353 is called to obtain a product data list of 3D printers that are display candidates.

  In S602, a narrowing condition for narrowing down the product data of the 3D printer acquired in S601 is acquired. The refinement condition is a condition set by the refinement condition setting unit 420.

  In step S <b> 603, the management target device API 355 is called, and information on the 3D printer managed by the management application 340 is acquired.

  In S604 to S606, processing for narrowing down products that meet the conditions from the product list is performed for each narrowing item that meets the specified conditions. In S605, the 3D printer narrowing process is executed using the product data of the 3D printer acquired in S601 described above, the narrowing condition acquired in S602, and the information of the 3D printer to be managed acquired in S603. The narrowing process is performed for each narrowing item with respect to the product data of the 3D printer acquired in S601. When the processes for all the designated items are completed, the process proceeds to S607.

  In the present embodiment, the installation area narrowing process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this embodiment, the product data of the 3D printer acquired in S601 is narrowed down for each narrowing item, but the SQL that satisfies the narrowing condition is created and information is directly acquired from the database 360. May be.

  In step S607, the Web server unit 351 generates screen information including 3D printer information as a result of the narrowing down, and outputs the screen information to the Web browser.

  In FIG. 7, the installation area reduction process will be described as a specific example of the reduction process of S605. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing for narrowing down the installation area. In S701 to S708, the process is executed for all 3D printers in the 3D printer list acquired in S601.

  In S702, if the recommended installation area 511 information is registered in the acquired 3D printer information, the process proceeds to S706. If the recommended installation area 511 information is not registered, the recommended installation area 511 is calculated. The process proceeds to S703.

  In S703, when the information of the required additional equipment 509 is registered in the acquired 3D printer information, the process proceeds to S704, and the information of the additional equipment is acquired from the product data API 353. If the information of the required additional equipment 509 is not registered, the process proceeds to S704.

  In S704, a product data list of additional equipment is acquired.

  In S705, when product data of the additional equipment is acquired in the main body size 508 of the 3D printer and S704, the recommended installation area is calculated based on the information of the main equipment size 525 of the additional equipment. Specifically, the area of a place required for the use of the 3D printer and additional equipment is added up. Here, the calculated recommended installation area is information in consideration of a space required for opening and closing a 3D printer that requires opening and closing of a cover or the like for maintenance or the like. Specifically, it is calculated by a method such as adding a predetermined area that can open and close the cover or the like.

  In S706, the recommended installation area 511 of the 3D printer information or the recommended installation area calculated in S705 is compared with the installation area set in the narrowing-down conditions. As a result of the comparison, when the recommended installation area exceeds the set value under the narrowing-down condition, the process proceeds to S707, and the 3D printer is deleted from the display candidates of the 3D printer. If the recommended installation area does not exceed the set value under the narrowing conditions, the process proceeds to the next process.

  Note that the recommended installation area may be calculated so as to be executed regardless of the presence / absence of information on the recommended installation area 511 of the product data of the 3D printer by using a setting screen (not shown) in this embodiment. Further, in this embodiment, the 3D printer 104 and the required additional equipment 509 are the calculation target of the installation area, but it is possible to select only the 3D printer 104 or the recommended additional equipment 510 to be included in the calculation target. May be.

  Further, FIG. 7 shows the flow of the narrowing process based on the installation area. However, the narrowing process based on the purchase price may be performed. It is determined whether or not the sum of the purchase price of the 3D printer and the purchase price of the additional equipment satisfies the purchase price specified by the user.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a 3D printer details screen 800 displayed when a specific 3D printer displayed on the list display unit 410 of the 3D printer information display screen 400 is selected. Information on the additional equipment 105 related to the selected 3D printer 104 is displayed. Here, the additional equipment that is indispensable to use and the recommended additional equipment are displayed separately.

  In this embodiment, when a 3D printer displayed on the list display unit 410 of the 3D printer information display screen 400 is selected, the screen transitions to the 3D printer details screen 800. However, the information may be displayed by another method. . For example, information on the additional equipment may be displayed on the tool tip when the cursor is moved to the 3D printer of the list display unit 410.

  The required additional equipment 810 is a space for displaying additional equipment that is indispensable when the selected 3D printer is introduced. In this embodiment, spec information 811 and an image 812 of the corresponding additional equipment are displayed. If there is no essential additional equipment, the essential additional equipment 810 may not exist.

  The recommended additional equipment 820 is a space for displaying the additional equipment that can be installed when the selected 3D printer is installed. In this embodiment, the specification information 821 and the image 822 of the corresponding additional equipment are displayed. If there is no recommended additional equipment, the recommended additional equipment 820 may not exist.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for displaying the required additional equipment 810 and the recommended additional equipment 820 on the 3D printer details screen 800. This is a flow until the Web server unit 351 receives a request from the Web browser 310 and returns a response.

  In S901, the product data API 353 is called to obtain a product data list of additional equipment.

  In S902, a list of additional equipment is created. The list of additional equipment is a list for storing information on the additional equipment to be displayed, and is held in the RAM 205 of the computer 106.

  In S903, the required additional equipment 509 is acquired from the information of the selected 3D printer, and if a value exists, the process proceeds to S904. If no value exists, the process proceeds to S905.

  In S904, the additional equipment that matches the conditions is searched from the product data of the additional equipment acquired in S901, and added to the list prepared in S902. The search adds to the list additional equipment that meets the conditions that the required additional equipment 509 of the 3D printer matches Type 522 and the maximum modeling size 506 of the 3D printer is smaller than the processable size 524 of the additional equipment.

  In S905, the recommended additional equipment 509 is acquired from the information of the selected 3D printer, and if a value exists, the process proceeds to S906. If no value exists, the process proceeds to S907.

  In S906, the additional equipment that matches the conditions is searched from the product data of the additional equipment acquired in S901, and added to the list prepared in S902. Here, the additional equipment that satisfies the condition that the recommended additional equipment 509 of the 3D printer matches the Type 522 and the maximum modeling size 506 of the 3D printer is smaller than the processable size 524 of the additional equipment is added to the list.

  In step S907, the web server unit 351 generates screen information based on the list of additional equipment and transmits the screen information to the web browser.

  In the present embodiment, a 3D printer that meets the conditions including additional equipment that performs necessary processing during or after the modeling of the 3D printer is presented based on the conditions specified by the user. In particular, he presented information on the area required for installing and using 3D printers, and information on additional equipment that was essential to use. Thereby, it is possible to present information on the control device that satisfies the conditions specified by the user in consideration of the additional equipment.

(Example 2)
In Example 1, narrowing down based on additional equipment and display of the 3D printer details screen 800 were performed. However, in an environment where a 3D printer has already been introduced, there are cases in which replacement or additional purchase of a 3D printer or additional equipment is performed. In such a case, the user must compare the product specifications of the installed product with each other and further select the product by taking into consideration the usage situation so far, which takes much time and effort.

  In the second embodiment, the 3D printer information display screen 400 and the 3D printer details screen 800 are displayed in consideration of the 3D printer owned by the user and additional equipment. In the second embodiment, the user can easily select a 3D printer and additional equipment required by the user. The second embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for displaying the required additional equipment 810 and the recommended additional equipment 820 on the 3D printer details screen 800 illustrated in FIG. In the present embodiment, information to be displayed on the required additional equipment 810 and the recommended additional equipment 820 is dynamically determined in consideration of information on the additional equipment already owned by the user. Here, only a different part from FIG. 9 is demonstrated.

  In S1001 to S1005, the process is repeated by the number of additional facilities added to the list prepared in S902.

  In S1002, the management target device API 355 is called, and the device information 332 of the additional equipment that is the management target of the Name 521 is acquired. At this time, information on additional equipment that matches the identification information of the user who specified the condition via the information display screen 400 of the 3D printer is acquired.

  In S1003, it is determined whether or not the user has the additional equipment regarding the additional equipment information acquired in S1002. If the user has the additional equipment, the process proceeds to S1004. On the other hand, if the user does not have the additional equipment, the process proceeds to S1005.

  In S1004, the additional equipment is deleted from the list.

  Note that instead of the processing of S1003 or in addition to the processing of S1003, processing different from S1003 for determining whether or not the additional equipment is to be replaced may be executed. For example, using the operation information included in the device information 332, when the operation rate of the additional facility is a certain level or more, the additional facility may be deleted from the list.

  When the process is completed for all the additional equipments on the list, the processes of S1001 to S1005 are terminated, and the process proceeds to S907.

  In the present embodiment, when the user does not have the additional equipment to be managed, information on the additional equipment is presented. This makes it easier for the user to select additional equipment to purchase.

(Example 3)
In the second embodiment, the information about the additional equipment owned by the user is not presented. In the present embodiment, when the operating rate of a 3D printer and additional equipment owned by the user is equal to or higher than a certain level, such information is presented.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of displaying the 3D printer information display screen 400. This is a flow until the Web server unit 351 receives a request from the Web browser 310 and returns a response corresponding to the request.

  In S1101, the product data API 353 is called to obtain a list of product data of the 3D printer.

  In S1102, the management target device API 355 is called, and the device information 324 of the 3D printer managed by the management application 340 is acquired.

  In S1103, if the information of the 3D printer to be managed can be acquired in S1102, the process proceeds to S1104. If there is no 3D printer to be managed, the process proceeds to S1112.

  In step S1104, an empty list for storing information on 3D printer replacement candidates for the 3D printer is created. This list is held in the RAM 205 of the computer 106.

  In step S1105, regarding the information on the management target 3D printer acquired in step S1102, it is determined whether the operation rate of these 3D printers exceeds a threshold value or a 3D printer exists. For a 3D printer whose operating rate exceeds the threshold, information on the 3D printer is added to the list created in S1104 in S1106. If there is no 3D printer whose operating rate exceeds the threshold, the process proceeds to S1107.

  In this embodiment, the operating rate is calculated using the status included in the device information 324 of the 3D printer acquired from the 3D printer. For example, the operation rate can be obtained by dividing the time during which the status is in operation by the total time. Here, the total time may be 24 hours or may be the time when the 3D printer is activated. The calculation method of the operating time may use a standardized monitoring system, or may be set for each user.

  In S1107, if there is a printer in which errors occur more than a certain number of times within a certain period among the managed 3D printers acquired in S1102, the process proceeds to S1108 and information on the 3D printer is added to the list. If there is no printer that causes a specific number of errors within a certain period, the process advances to step S1109.

  Note that values such as the threshold value, the period, and the number of times used in S1105 and S1107 may be determined in advance by a program, or may be set by a user by preparing a setting screen (not shown).

  If it is determined in step S1109 that 3D printer information is included in the list, the process advances to step S1110. If the list is empty, the process advances to step S1112.

  In step S1110, information about each narrowed item is acquired from the device information added to the list, and a narrowing condition is created.

  In S1111, the filtering execution unit 352 executes the filtering process on the 3D printer list acquired in S1101 based on the filtering condition created in S1110.

  In step S1112, screen information for displaying a list of 3D printers is generated by the list display unit 410 of the display screen 400 for 3D printer information, and is output to the Web browser. Here, the list of 3D printers is a list of 3D printers acquired in S1101 and narrowed down according to the status of the managed 3D printer.

  In this embodiment, the operation rate of the 3D printer is used when determining whether or not to display 3D printer information as a replacement target. For additional equipment, the narrowing may be determined using the operating rate. Thereby, the user can grasp the 3D printer to be replaced, and can easily select the 3D printer to purchase.

(Other examples)
The present invention includes an apparatus or system configured by appropriately combining the above-described first, second, and third embodiments and a method thereof.

  Here, the present invention is an apparatus or system that is a main body that executes one or more software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. Further, a method for realizing the above-described embodiment executed by the apparatus or system is also one aspect of the present invention. The program is supplied to the system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and the program is read and executed by one or more computers (CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus. That is, as one aspect of the present invention, the program itself or various storage media readable by a computer storing the program are included. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

103, 106 Computer 350 Display application 351 Web server part 352 Narrowing execution part

Claims (10)

A designation means for causing the user to designate one or more conditions in order to present information of a control device for modeling a three-dimensional object;
Presenting means for presenting information on a control device that satisfies one or more of the specified conditions, and the presenting means adds a control device and processing necessary during or after modeling in the control device When the equipment satisfies one or more of the specified conditions, present the information of the control device ,
The designation means is a stacking pitch indicating the type of modeling material used for modeling in the control device, the size of the object that can be modeled, the intended use of the modeled object, the method of modeling, and the width of the modeling material to be output. It is possible to specify a condition for at least one of the above .   When the condition regarding the purchase price is designated, the presenting means presents information about the control device and the control device satisfying the designated condition by the sum of the prices of the control device and the additional equipment essential for modeling in the control device. The system according to claim 1.   When the condition relating to the area of the place necessary for the use of the control device is specified, the presenting means calculates the total area of the place necessary for the use of the control device and the additional equipment essential for modeling in the control device. The system according to claim 1, wherein information on a control device that satisfies a specified condition is presented. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the presenting means distinguishes and presents an essential additional facility and a recommended additional facility in addition to the information of the control device. Having a first management means for managing the usage status of a control device to be managed via a network;
The presenting means presents information on a control device that satisfies a first condition based on a usage state managed by the first management means, which is different from a condition designated by the designation means. Item 5. The system according to any one of Items 1 to 4 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the presenting unit presents information on the control device as a replacement target when the usage status of the control device to be managed satisfies the first condition. Having a second management means for managing the usage status of the additional equipment to be managed via the network;
In addition to the information on the control device, the presenting means is information on additional equipment satisfying a second condition based on a usage situation managed by the second management means, which is different from the condition designated by the designation means. system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that presenting. A third management means for managing information on the additional equipment held by the user;
The presenting means presents information on additional equipment not owned by the user based on information managed by the third management means in addition to information on the control device. The system of any one of thru | or 7 . The additional equipment, air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the power supply is at least one of the cleaning device and the curing device. A designation step for allowing the user to designate one or more conditions in order to present information of a control device for modeling a three-dimensional object;
A presentation step of presenting information on the control device that satisfies the specified one or more conditions, and in the presentation step, the control device and an addition for performing a process necessary during or after modeling in the control device When the equipment meets one or more of the specified conditions, information on the control device is presented ,
In the designation step, the type of modeling material used for modeling in the control device, the size of the object that can be modeled, the intended use of the modeled object, the modeling method, and the stacking pitch indicating the width of the modeling material to be output control method for a system characterized by capable der Rukoto be specified conditions for at least one of.

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