Systems and methods for on-demand manufacturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016335708-A1
Application number	US-201514709457-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2015
Priority date	May 11, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for on-demand manufacturing. According to certain embodiments, the on-demand manufacturing system has a digital parts library and a pop-up factory. The digital parts library is configured to store manufacturing information of at least one part, and to receive an order for manufacturing one of the at least one part. The pop-up factory is housed in a mobile unit. The pop-up factory has a network connection, a 3D printer, and post-production equipment. The network connection is configured to receive the order and manufacturing information from the digital parts library over a network. The 3D printer is configured to print the part based on the manufacturing information. The post-production equipment is configured to finish the 3D-printed part based on the manufacturing information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An on-demand manufacturing system, the system comprising:
a digital parts library configured to:
store manufacturing information for at least one part, and
receive an order for manufacturing one of the at least one part; and
a pop-up factory housed in a mobile unit, the pop-up factory comprising:
a network connection configured to receive the order and manufacturing information from the digital parts library over a network;
a 3D printer configured to print the part based on the manufacturing information; and
post-production equipment configured to finish the 3D-printed part based on the manufacturing information.

2 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the digital parts library includes a manufacturing information input interface configured to receive the manufacturing information.

3 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the digital parts library is further configured to:
list a plurality of pop-up factories available for manufacturing the part; indicate a wait time for each of the plurality of pop-up factories; receive a customer selection of a pop-up factory from the plurality of pop-up factories to manufacture the part; and send the order to the selected pop-up factory.

4 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the part is an assembly including multiple components, the 3D printer is further configured to print each of the multiple components, and the post-production equipment is further configured to assemble the printed components into the part.

5 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the pop-up factory is situated at one of a parts user work site, a parts dealer branch, a parts manufacturing facility, a parts distribution center, and a third-party location.

6 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the pop-up factory further comprises a mixer configured to develop 3D-printable material for the 3D printer based on the manufacturing information.

7 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the pop-up factory further comprises a CNC machine configured to create additional features on the 3D-printed part.

8 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the digital parts library is configured to transmit the manufacturing information to the pop-up factory in encrypted digital files.

9 . The on-demand manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing information comprises one or more of specifications of the part, 3D profiles of the part, 3D printing instructions, CNC programs, and instructions to finish the 3D-printed part.

10 . A method of operating an on-demand manufacturing system comprising a pop-up factory and a digital parts library, the method comprising:
situating the pop-up factory at a desired location, the pop-up factory comprising a 3D printer and post-production equipment; receiving by the digital parts library an order for manufacturing a part; requesting manufacturing information for the part by the pop-up factory from the digital parts library; streaming the manufacturing information from the digital parts library to the pop-up factory; printing the part by the 3D printer based on the manufacturing information; and finishing the 3D-printed part based on the manufacturing information.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the desired location is one of a parts user work site, a parts dealer branch, a parts manufacturing facility, a parts distribution center, and a third-party location.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving by the digital parts library the order for manufacturing the part further comprises:
listing a plurality of pop-up factories available for manufacturing the part; indicating a wait time for each of the plurality of pop-up factories; receiving a customer selection of a pop-up factory from the plurality of pop-up factories to manufacture the part; sending the order information to the selected pop-up factory.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein streaming the manufacturing information from the digital parts library to the pop-up factory comprises:
streaming the manufacturing information in encrypted digital files.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the pop-up factory further comprises a mixer, the method further comprising:
developing 3D-printable material for the 3D printer by the mixer based on the manufacturing information.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pop-up factory further comprises a CNC machine, the method further comprising:
creating additional features on the 3D-printed part by the CNC machine based on the manufacturing information.

16 . A pop-up factory for on-demand manufacturing, the pop-up factory comprising:
a mobile unit configured to house:
a network connection configured to receive an order for manufacturing a part and manufacturing information for the part from a digital parts library, the digital parts library being configured to store the manufacturing information and receive the order from a customer;
a 3D printer configured to print the part based on the manufacturing information; and
post-production equipment configured to finish the 3D-printed part based on the manufacturing information.

17 . The pop-up factory of claim 1 , wherein the part is an assembly including multiple components, the 3D printer is further configured to print each component of the multiple components, and the post-production equipment is further configured to assemble the printed components into the part.

18 . The pop-up factory of claim 1 , further comprising a mixer configured to develop 3D-printable material for the 3D printer based on the manufacturing information.

19 . The pop-up factory of claim 1 , further comprising a CNC machine configured to create additional features on the 3D-printed part based on the manufacturing instructions.

20 . The pop-up factory of claim 1 , further comprising testing equipment configured to test the finished part.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Delvecchio Stacey M
• SWANSON Judith
• Conklin Debra
• Carlberg James Roger

Classifications

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• G06Q30/0635 Primary

  replenishment orders; recurring orders · CPC title

• Y02P90/30

  Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing · CPC title

• G06Q50/04

  Manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/25

  Housings, e.g. machine housings · CPC title