Cooperative manufacturing using mobile machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190117-A1
Application number	US-201614987320-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jan 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An embodiment of a computer program product for manufacturing an object includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving instructions to manufacture an object by a three-dimensional (3D) printing operation; determining a manufacturing plan for performing the 3D printing operation, the manufacturing plan prescribing a plurality of operational stages to be performed cooperatively by a plurality of independently operable mobile machines, providing instructions to the plurality of mobile machines, each of the plurality of mobile machines configured to perform at least one of the plurality of operational stages, and manufacturing the object by the plurality of mobile machines according to the manufacturing plan.

First claim

1 . A computer program product for manufacturing an object, the computer program product comprising:
a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising: receiving instructions to manufacture an object by a three-dimensional (3D) printing operation; determining a manufacturing plan for performing the 3D printing operation, the manufacturing plan prescribing a plurality of operational stages to be performed cooperatively by a plurality of independently operable mobile machines; providing instructions to the plurality of mobile machines, each of the plurality of mobile machines configured to perform at least one of the plurality of operational stages; and manufacturing the object by the plurality of mobile machines according to the manufacturing plan.

2 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mobile machines are configured to wirelessly communicate with one another via a peer-to-peer network.

3 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mobile machines communicate with and are directed by a central controller according to the manufacturing plan.

4 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein determining the manufacturing plan includes identifying one or more stages that can be performed in parallel by separate mobile machines.

5 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein determining the manufacturing plan includes decomposing the object into a plurality of constituent components, and identifying components that can be manufactured in parallel by separate mobile machines.

6 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises monitoring the object during the manufacturing by comparing measurements of the object to specifications prescribed by the instructions, and in response to detecting a difference between the measurements and the specifications that is greater than a selected amount, automatically directing one of the plurality of mobile machines to correct the object.

7 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises monitoring the plurality of mobile machines during the manufacturing, and in response to detecting that a first mobile machine is not operating as expected, automatically directing a second mobile machine to replace the first mobile machine.

8 . (canceled)

9 . (canceled)

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . (canceled)

14 . (canceled)

15 . A system for manufacturing an object, the system comprising:
a plurality of independently operable mobile machines, each of the plurality of mobile machines configured to perform an aspect of a three-dimensional (3D) printing operation; and a processing device configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of mobile machines, the processing device configured to perform a method comprising: receiving instructions to manufacture an object by a three-dimensional (3D) printing operation; determining a manufacturing plan for performing the 3D printing operation, the manufacturing plan prescribing a plurality of operational stages to be performed cooperatively by the plurality of mobile machines; providing instructions to the plurality of mobile machines, each of the plurality of mobile machines configured to perform at least one of the plurality of operational stages; and manufacturing the object by the plurality of mobile machines according to the manufacturing plan.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of mobile machines are configured to wirelessly communicate with one another via a peer-to-peer network.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of mobile machines communicate with and are directed by a central controller according to the manufacturing plan.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein determining the manufacturing plan includes identifying one or more stages that can be performed in parallel by separate mobile machines.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises monitoring the object during the manufacturing by comparing measurements of the object to specifications prescribed by the instructions, and in response to detecting a difference between the measurements and the specifications that is greater than a selected amount, automatically directing one of the plurality of mobile machines to correct the object.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises monitoring the plurality of mobile machines during the manufacturing, and in response to detecting that a first mobile machine is not operating as expected, automatically directing a second mobile machine to replace the first mobile machine.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Dow Eli M
• Fitzsimmons Thomas D
• Garrett Tynan J
• Metruck Emily M
• Stocker Iv Charles J

Classifications

• G05B19/4099

  Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing · CPC title

• G05B2219/35134

  3-D cad-cam · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• G05B2219/49007

  Making, forming 3-D object, model, surface · CPC title

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title