RU2811418C1 - Automatic control system for process of 3d printing full cycle products - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: 3D printing.

SUBSTANCE: full-cycle automatic production systems in the field of 3D printing. The system consists of: a monitoring panel, a reporting module, a slicing control module, a video camera control module, a block for managing orders for 3D printing of products, a block for 3D printing of products, their packaging and shipping, a module for creating orders for 3D printing, a module for editing orders for 3D printing, module for determining the possibility of printing loaded 3D models, module for determining supporting structures, module for determining the cost of 3D printing, module for calculating order lead time, module for determining delivery methods and costs, module for order payment, module for planning production cycles, module for transferring data for order execution; order status data receiving module, control board, order data receiving module; a module for transmitting order status data, 3D printers, video cameras, a robotic manipulator, a warehouse for empty transport containers, a module for determining printing errors via video stream, a warehouse for damaged products, a module for determining the dimensions of transport containers, a module for sending data to transport companies, a warehouse for transport containers for shipment, devices for sealing transport containers and devices for gluing transport labels.

EFFECT: ability to print more than one product on one 3D printer and the ability to send the printed physical product to a given location in automatic mode, reducing the time to start the process of printing 3D models in an order and to assemble printed products and transfer them to transport companies for delivery to the customer.

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Description

The invention relates to full-cycle automatic production systems in the field of 3D printing technology and can be used to automate the process of receiving an order for the manufacture of a product on a 3D printer, printing it and sending it to the customer without human intervention.

A remote control system and a method for controlling a 3D printing machine are known [CN 106584831 A, 04/26/2017]. The remote control system includes a personal computer; cloud terminal; Android board; Wi-Fi module; main control panel; communication board; 3D printing machine.

The disadvantages of the system for remote control of the 3D printing process are: the inability to print more than one product on one 3D printer in automatic mode, since starting a new print requires removing the previous product, and in this case this can only be done manually; inability to obtain a physically printed product automatically, since the necessary funds are not available for this operation.

There is a known control system for a 3D printer [belongs to the organization Electrical Systems Siberia LLC, https://es-electro.ru/novosti/sistema_upravleniya_3d_printerom/], which has a control cabinet, a remote control with a graphic operator panel, servomotors, limit switches, posts emergency stop, cable set. Additionally, the control system can be connected to: ventilation and air filtration system equipment, aspiration system equipment; raw material preparation equipment, raw material supply equipment, sensors for monitoring parameters and availability of raw materials, process control sensors, work area safety system. The devices communicate with each other using the Ethernet protocol.

The disadvantages of the 3D printer control system are: the inability to remotely receive a task for 3D printing of a product, since there is no necessary interface for this; the inability to print more than one product on one 3D printer in automatic mode, since starting a new print requires removing the previous product, and in this case this can only be done manually; inability to receive a physically printed product in a given location automatically.

The closest system for the same purpose to the claimed invention in terms of the set of features is the system for 3D printing [“RaiseCloud”, https://cloud.raise3d.com/], which is designed to control multiple 3D printers, remotely control and monitor the state of printing, informing about the progress of printing. The system includes: a monitoring panel, a reporting module, a module for viewing the status of 3D printers online, a 3D printer control module, a print job sending module, a slicing control module, and a video camera control module. This system is accepted as a prototype.

The disadvantages of the prototype are: the inability to print more than one product on one 3D printer in automatic mode, since starting a new print requires removing the previous product, and in this case this can only be done manually; inability to receive a physically printed product in a given location automatically.

The objective of the present invention is to eliminate the shortcomings of the prototype, and in particular, to provide the ability to print more than one product on one 3D printer in automatic mode and the ability to send the printed physical product to a given location in automatic mode.

As a rule, 3D printing of products is ordered in a single copy or in small batches for testing, so the speed of the start of the operation and the speed of delivery to the client are key. In known systems for printing more than one product on a single printer, packaging the printed products and sending them to the client is only possible using manual labor, which takes a lot of time.

The solution to this problem is relevant due to the increasing demand for additive manufacturing with minimal 3D printer downtime and quick receipt of the printed product by the client.

The problem was solved due to the fact that the known system for 3D printing, including a monitoring panel, a reporting module, a slicing control module, a video camera control module, according to the invention, additionally contains an order control unit for 3D printing of products, designed to generate control signals and displaying data from the block for 3D printing of products, their packaging and shipping, which is associated with it, while the control block for orders for 3D printing of products contains

module for creating orders for 3D printing, made with the ability to add a 3D model, its characteristics, personal data of the customer and delivery address of the order, module for editing orders for 3D printing, made with the ability to change the parameters of a previously created order;

module for determining the possibility of printing loaded 3D models, which receives data from the modules for creating orders for 3D printing and editing orders for 3D printing, implementing algorithms for checking the compliance of a 3D model for the possibility of printing it on a 3D printer according to the specified characteristics and associated with the module for determining supporting structures , in which the necessary supporting elements are attached to the 3D model during printing;

module for determining the cost of 3D printing, which receives final data about the 3D model from the module for determining supporting structures, and implements an algorithm for calculating the cost depending on the size of the product and the percentage of its fullness, printing material, urgency of production, and from it the data is transferred to the module for calculating lead time order, and from it the data is transferred to the module for determining delivery methods and costs, which implements algorithms for calculating the cost of each available order delivery method depending on the territorial location of the customer and the estimated delivery time, and the customer is given the opportunity to choose the option that suits him, from which the data is transferred in the order payment module, made with the ability to pay for the order online;

production cycle planning module, which receives order payment data from the order payment module and implements algorithms for integrating a new or adjusted order for 3D printing of products into the production cycles of 3D printers, taking into account their workload and order characteristics;

a data transfer module for order fulfillment, which receives data on the characteristics of the 3D model, internal number of the 3D printer, print start time, delivery method and address from the production cycle planning module;

module for receiving data on the status of the order, receiving data from the block of 3D printing of products, their packaging and shipping and sending them to the monitoring panel, made with the ability to display information about the status of the order in graphical form, manage the characteristics of the layers of the 3D model using a control module connected to it slicing, display the printing process in real time using a video camera control module connected to it, and generate a set of information on orders and visualize them using a reporting module connected to it, while the monitoring panel is connected to the production cycle planning module for exchanging data on changes status of orders and their implementation;

in this case, the block for 3D printing of products, their packaging and dispatch contains a control board, designed to coordinate the operation of devices connected to it, to which a module for receiving order data and a module for transmitting data about the order status are connected;

3D printers are also connected to the control board, which produce 3D printing of products, while the 3D model and printing parameters are transferred from the control board to them, and from the 3D printers data on the current state of 3D printing is sent to the control board:

Also connected to the control board are video cameras, the viewing direction of which is directed to the tables of 3D printers, and are made with the ability to transmit video images to the control board, to which a robotic manipulator is connected, made with the ability to recognize and capture objects in the surrounding world, which receives data from the control board about the need to carry out operations of transferring objects of the material world from one designated place to another, which are empty transport containers located in a warehouse of empty transport containers, printed products and products during printing of which an error occurred, recognized using the error detection module from the video stream, the signals from which arrive at the control board, and are placed by a robotic manipulator in the warehouse of damaged products;

Also connected to the control board is a module for determining the size of transport packaging, which implements algorithms for calculating the volume of all printed products within one order and selecting the transport container necessary for their placement, and a module for sending data to transport companies, which transmits data about the sender’s address, recipient’s address and time , when you can pick up transport containers from the warehouse of transport containers for shipment, which are moved there by a robotic manipulator, while the control board is connected to a device for sealing transport containers, into which the robotic manipulator places the transport container with the printed products of one order located in it, and is connected with a device for gluing transport labels, where a robotic manipulator moves the sealed transport container.

Distinctive features of the proposed system are the introduction of an order control unit for 3D printing of products; unit for 3D printing of products, their packaging and shipping; module for creating orders for 3D printing; module for editing orders for 3D printing; module for determining the possibility of printing loaded 3D models; module for determining supporting structures; module for determining the cost of 3D printing; module for calculating order lead time; module for determining delivery methods and costs; order payment module; production cycle planning module; data transmission module for order fulfillment; module for receiving order status data; control board; module for receiving order data; module for transmitting order status data; 3D printers; video cameras; robot manipulator; warehouse of empty transport containers; module for detecting printing errors using a video stream; warehouse of damaged goods; module for determining the size of transport packaging; module for sending data to transport companies; warehouse for shipping containers; device for sealing transport containers; device for gluing transport labels. as well as new connections between blocks and modules of the system.

Distinctive features, together with the known ones, make it possible to achieve: the ability to print more than one product on one 3D printer in automatic mode; the ability to send a printed physical product to a given location automatically; reducing the time to start the process of printing 3D models in an order; reducing the time for assembling printed products and transferring them to transport companies for delivery to the customer.

In fig. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an automatic process control system for 3D printing of full-cycle products.

In fig. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the control unit for orders for 3D printing of products.

In fig. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of a block for 3D printing of products, their packaging and dispatch.

The automatic process control system for 3D printing of full-cycle products (Fig. 1) includes an order control unit for 3D printing of products 1, designed to generate control signals and display data from the 3D printing of products, packaging and shipping unit 2, which is connected to it. The control unit for orders for 3D printing of products 1 (Fig. 2) contains a module for creating orders for 3D printing 3, made with the ability to add a 3D model, its characteristics, personal data of the customer and delivery address of the order, and a module for editing orders for 3D printing 4, made with the ability to change the parameters of a previously created order.

The control unit for orders for 3D printing of products 1 contains a module for determining the possibility of printing loaded 3D models 5, which receives data from the modules for creating orders for 3D printing 3 and editing orders for 3D printing, which implements algorithms for checking the compliance of a 3D model for the possibility of printing it in 3D printer according to the specified characteristics and associated with the module for determining supporting structures 6, in which the necessary elements supporting it during printing are attached to the 3D model.

The control unit for orders for 3D printing of products 1 contains a module for determining the cost of 3D printing 7, which receives final data about the 3D model from the module for determining supporting structures 6, and implements an algorithm for calculating the cost depending on the size of the product and the percentage of its occupancy, the printing material, the urgency of production , and from it the data is transferred to the module for calculating the order lead time 8, and from it the data is transferred to the module for determining delivery methods and costs 9, which implements algorithms for calculating the cost of each available order delivery method depending on the territorial location of the customer and the estimated delivery time and the customer is given the opportunity to choose the option that suits him, from which the data is transferred to the order payment module 10, made with the ability to pay for the order online.

The order control unit for 3D printing of products 1 contains a production cycle planning module 11, which receives order payment data from the order payment module 10 and implements algorithms for integrating a new or adjusted order for 3D printing of products into the production cycles of 3D printers, taking into account their workload and characteristics order, and a data transfer module for order fulfillment 12, which receives data on the characteristics of the 3D model, internal number of the 3D printer, print start time, delivery method and address from the production cycle planning module 11.

The control unit for orders for 3D printing of products 1 contains a module for receiving data on the status of the order 13, which receives data from the block for 3D printing of products, packaging and shipping 2 and sends them to the monitoring panel 14, which is configured to display information about the status of the order in graphical form , manage the characteristics of the layers of the 3D model using the slicing control module connected to it 15, display the printing process in real time using the video camera control module connected to it 16, and generate a set of information on orders and visualize them using the reporting module connected to it 17 , while the monitoring panel 14 is connected to the production cycle planning module 11 to exchange data on changes in the status of orders and their execution.

In this case, the 3D printing unit for products, their packaging and shipping 2 (Fig. 3) contains a control board 18, designed to coordinate the operation of devices connected to it, to which a module for receiving order data 19 and a module for transmitting order status data 20 are connected.

3D printers 21 are connected to the control board 18, which produce 3D printing of products, while the 3D model and printing parameters are transferred from the control board 18 to them, and from the 3D printers 21 data on the current state of 3D printing is sent to the control board 18.

Video cameras 22 are connected to the control board 18, the viewing direction of which is directed to the tables of 3D printers 21, and are made with the ability to transmit video images to the control board 18, to which a robotic manipulator 23 is connected, made with the ability to recognize and capture objects in the surrounding world, to which the data is received from the control board 18 about the need to carry out operations of transferring objects of the material world from one designated place to another, which are empty transport containers located in the warehouse of empty transport containers 24, printed products and products during printing of which an error occurred, recognized using the error detection module via video stream 25, the signals from which are sent to the control board 18, and placed by the robotic manipulator 23 in the warehouse of damaged products 26.

Connected to the control board 18 is a module for determining the size of a transport container 27, which implements algorithms for calculating the volume of all printed products within one order and selecting the transport container necessary for their placement, and a module for sending data to transport companies 28, which transmits data about the sender’s address, the recipient’s address and the time when you can pick up transport containers from the warehouse of transport containers for shipment 29, which are moved there by a robotic manipulator 23.

The control board 18 is connected to a device for sealing transport containers 30, into which the robot manipulator 23 places the transport container with the printed products of one order in it, and is connected to a device for gluing transport labels 31, where the robot manipulator 23 moves the sealed transport container.

The system works as follows.

The order control unit for 3D printing of products 1 is implemented entirely in software. Block 3D printing of products, their packaging and shipping 2 is implemented at the hardware level with algorithms included in some modules and control board 18. Data exchange is established between blocks 1 and 2 using modules 12, 13, 19 and 20.

The control unit for orders for 3D printing of products 1 is placed in the public domain on the Internet, which users can access at any time and perform a number of actions aimed at generating, tracking and receiving an order for printing 3D models. The user creates a new order using module 3, in which he loads a 3D model, indicates its characteristics, personal data of the customer and the delivery address of the order. Then this data is transferred to block 5, which determines the possibility of printing the loaded 3D model based on the characteristics of the installed 3D printers 21. Afterwards, the data is transferred to the module for determining supporting structures 6, where supporting structures are added to the loaded 3D model for high-quality printing. Then this data is transferred to the 3D printing cost determination module 7, whose built-in algorithms calculate the cost of products and the order as a whole. The data is then transferred to the order lead time calculation module 8, which calculates the minimum time in which the order can be completed. From it, the data is transferred to the module for determining delivery methods and costs 9, in which the user can select his preferred delivery option. Then the data is transferred to the order payment block 10, in which the user pays for the order and, if payment is successful, the order data is transferred to the production cycle planning module 11.

If the user needs to adjust the order, he can use the module for editing orders for 3D printing 4, where it is possible to change the parameters of the 3D model and the delivery address. However, after the changes are made, a check will be repeated to ensure compliance with the print, determine the supporting structures, recalculate the cost of printing, lead time, possible method and cost of delivery. If the cost turns out to be higher than previously paid, the user in order payment module 10 will be asked to pay the difference. If the cost is lower, a request for a refund will be received. And the updated data will be transferred to the production cycle planning module 11.

In the production cycle planning module 11, a new or adjusted order for 3D printing of products is integrated into the production cycles of 3D printers 21, taking into account their workload and order characteristics. Then the updated production cycle is transmitted to the data transmission module for order fulfillment 12, from where the data is transmitted to the 3D printing of products, packaging and sending unit 2, where they are received by the order data receiving module 19. Then this data is transmitted to the control board 18.

The control board 18 receives video images from video cameras 22, the lens of which is directed at the tables of 3D printers 21 and films the process of printing products. This video stream is analyzed by the module for determining printing errors based on video stream 25 for non-compliance with the stated parameters of the model using intelligent machine learning algorithms. If an error is detected, the printing process is stopped and a control signal is sent to the robotic arm 23, which moves the defective product to the warehouse of damaged products 26.

When the printing process is completed, the size of the transport container is determined using module 27 and the robotic manipulator 23 moves the finished product into it. If the order contains several products, then as they are manufactured, they are moved by the robotic manipulator 23 into a transport container stored in the warehouse of empty transport containers 24. When the transport container becomes filled with the necessary products, the robotic manipulator 23 moves it to a device for sealing the transport container 30, which seals it. The robotic arm 23 then moves the shipping container to a shipping label applicator 31, which affixes reference information labels to the shipping container for delivery to the user. Then the transport container is moved by the robotic arm 23 to the warehouse of transport containers for shipment 29. Then the module for sending data to transport companies 28 sends a request to the transport company about the need to pick up the order and deliver it to the address specified by the client.

At the same time, during the execution of the order, the user can monitor the progress of its execution. From the control board 18, data is transmitted to the order control unit for 3D printing of products using the order status data transmission module 20 and the order status data receiving module 13. On the monitoring panel 14, the user can see in real time how his order is being processed via video stream , which processes the video camera control module 16, and stop the printing process if it independently notices an error. Then this data is immediately transferred to the production cycle planning module 11, where it is rebuilt taking into account the printing stop. The user can also control the characteristics of the 3D model layers using the slicing control module 15 in real time. And can build a visual report on the status of order fulfillment, estimated lead time and delivery using the reporting module 17.

The advantage of the proposed system is the ability to print more than one product on one 3D printer in automatic mode, the ability to send the printed physical product to a given location in automatic mode; in a significant reduction in the time for starting the process of printing 3D models in an order and for assembling printed products, and their transfer to transport companies for delivery to the customer.

Claims (1)

Automatic control system for the process of 3D printing of products of a full cycle, including a monitoring panel, a reporting module, a slicing control module, a video camera control module, characterized in that it contains a control unit for orders for 3D printing of products and an associated unit for 3D printing of products, their packaging and dispatch , the control unit for orders for 3D printing of products is designed to generate control signals and display data from the unit for 3D printing of products, their packaging and shipping and contains a module for creating orders for 3D printing, made with the ability to add a 3D model, its characteristics, personal data of the customer and address order delivery, a module for editing orders for 3D printing, made with the ability to change the parameters of a previously created order, a module for determining the possibility of printing loaded 3D models, connected to modules for creating orders for 3D printing and editing orders for 3D printing, implementing algorithms for checking the compliance of the 3D model with the possibility of printing it on a 3D printer according to the specified characteristics, the module for determining the possibility of printing loaded 3D models is connected to a module for determining supporting structures, in which the necessary elements supporting it during printing are attached to the 3D model and which is connected to a module for determining the cost of 3D printing, which implements the cost calculation algorithm depending on the size of the product and the percentage of its fullness, printing material, urgency of production, connected to a module for calculating order lead time, which is connected to a module for determining delivery methods and costs, which implements cost calculation algorithms for each available order delivery method depending on the territorial location of the customer and the estimated delivery time and in which the customer is given the opportunity to choose the delivery option that suits him, the module for determining delivery methods and costs is connected to the order payment module, made with the ability to pay for the order online and connected to the production cycle planning module, which implements algorithms for integrating new or adjusted orders for 3D printing of products during production cycles of 3D printers, taking into account their workload and order characteristics and connected to a data transfer module for order fulfillment, receiving data on the characteristics of the 3D model, internal number of the 3D printer, print start time, method and delivery address from the module planning production cycles, also the control unit for orders for 3D printing of products contains a module for receiving data on the status of the order, which receives data from the block of 3D printing of products, their packaging and shipping and sends them to a monitoring panel, made with the ability to display information about the status of the order in graphical form , manage the characteristics of the 3D model layers using the slicing control module connected to it, display the printing process in real time using the video camera control module connected to it, and generate a set of information on orders, and visualize them using the reporting module connected to it, when in this case, the monitoring panel is connected to the production cycle planning module for exchanging data on changes in the status of orders and their execution, while the block for 3D printing of products, their packaging and dispatch contains a control board, made with the ability to coordinate the operation of devices connected to it, to which the receiving module is connected order data and a module for transmitting data about the status of the order, 3D printers intended for 3D printing of products are also connected to the control board, while from the control board a 3D model and printing parameters are transferred to them, and from 3D printers data on the current state of 3D printing, video cameras are also connected to the control board, the viewing direction of which is directed to the tables of 3D printers and made with the ability to transmit video images to the control board, to which a robotic manipulator is connected, connected to warehouses of empty shipping containers, shipping containers for shipping and damaged products , made with the ability to recognize, capture and transfer objects of the material world from one designated place to another, which are empty transport containers located in a warehouse of empty transport containers, printed products and products during printing of which an error occurred, recognized using the error detection module video stream connected to the control board, placed by the robotic manipulator in the warehouse of damaged products; also connected to the control board is a module for determining the size of transport packaging, which implements algorithms for calculating the volume of all printed products within one order and selecting the transport container necessary for their placement, and a sending module data to transport companies, which transmits data about the sender's address, the recipient's address and the time when it is possible to pick up the transport container from the warehouse of transport containers for shipment, which are moved there by a robotic arm, while the control board is connected to a device for sealing the transport container, into which The robot manipulator places the shipping container with the printed products of one order in it, and is connected to a device for gluing shipping labels, where the robot manipulator moves the sealed transport container.