Parsing a multidimensional object for printing in various runs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9846556-B2
Application number	US-201514812021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2015
Priority date	Jul 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A first complexity estimate may be generated for a first portion of a multidimensional object. The first complexity estimate may be for use in estimating a complexity of the first portion of the multidimensional object. A printing capability may be determined for the multidimensional printer. The multidimensional printer may be for use in printing the multidimensional object. The printing capability may be compared with the first complexity estimate. A first failure probability estimate may be generated based on the comparing. The failure probability estimate may be for use in determining a likelihood that the multidimensional printer will print the first portion with an accuracy that exceeds an accuracy threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a computing device having a processor and a memory;
wherein the memory stores program instructions, the program instructions executable by the processor cause the system to:
generate a first complexity estimate of a first portion of a multidimensional object, the first complexity estimate for use in estimating a complexity of the first portion of the multidimensional object;
determine a printing capability of a multidimensional printer, the multidimensional printer for use in printing the multidimensional object;
compare the printing capability with the first complexity estimate; and
generate a first failure probability estimate, the failure probability estimate for use in determining a likelihood that the multidimensional printer will print the first portion with an accuracy that exceeds an accuracy threshold;
generate a second complexity estimate of a second portion of the multidimensional object;
compare the printing capability with the second complexity estimate;
generate, based on the comparing the printing capability with the second complexity estimate, a second failure probability estimate;
determine that the second failure probability estimate exceeds the accuracy threshold;
generate, based on at least the determining that the second failure probability estimate exceeds the accuracy threshold, at least one parsing point, the parsing point defining a printing boundary between the first and second portions of the multidimensional object; and
in response to the generating at least one parsing point, cause the multidimensional printer to print, in a first run, the second portion of the multidimensional object, wherein the first run begins or stops at the parsing point.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions executable by the processor further cause the system to cause the multidimensional printer to print, in a second run, the first portion of the multidimensional object, wherein the printing begins or stops at the parsing point.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the generating the parsing point is based on at least determining a capability of attaching the first portion to the second portion.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the first complexity estimate is based on at least one of the following: a texture of the first portion, a thickness of the first portion, a quantity of start and stop movements required of a printer head of the multidimensional printer to print the first portion, degrees of movement required of the printer head to print the first portion, or a filament type, the filament being a medium utilized to print the multidimensional object.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the printing capability is based on at least one of the following: a make and model of the multidimensional printer, individual components of the multidimensional printer, a history of whether the multidimensional printer has exceeded a satisfaction threshold in printing the multidimensional object, or a filament suitability, wherein the filament suitability corresponds to whether the multidimensional printer is capable of printing the multidimensional object using a particular filament.

6. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code comprising computer readable program code configured for:
generating a first complexity estimate of a first portion of a multidimensional object, the first complexity estimate for use in estimating a complexity of the first portion of the multidimensional object;
determining a printing capability of a multidimensional printer, the multidimensional printer for use in printing the multidimensional object;
comparing the printing capability with the first complexity estimate;
generating, based on the comparing, a first failure probability estimate, the failure probability estimate for use in determining a likelihood that a multidimensional printer will print the first portion with an accuracy that exceeds an accuracy threshold;
generating a second complexity estimate of a second portion of the multidimensional object;
comparing the printing capability with the second complexity estimate;
generating, based on the comparing the printing capability with the second complexity estimate, a second failure probability estimate;
determining that the second failure probability estimate exceeds the accuracy threshold;
generating, based on at least the determining that the second failure probability estimate exceeds the accuracy threshold, at least one parsing point, the parsing point defining a printing boundary between the first and second portions of the multidimensional object; and
in response to the generating at least one parsing point, printing in a first run, by the multidimensional printer, the second portion of the multidimensional object, wherein the printing begins or stops at the parsing point.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein the generating of the first complexity estimate is based on at least one of the following: a texture of the first portion, a thickness of the first portion, a quantity of start and stop movements required of a printer head of the multidimensional printer to print the first portion, degrees of movement required of the printer head to print the first portion, or a filament type, the filament being a medium utilized to print the multidimensional object.

8. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein the printing capability is based on at least one of the following: a make and model of the multidimensional printer, individual components of the multidimensional printer, a history of whether the multidimensional printer has exceeded a satisfaction threshold in printing the multidimensional object, or a filament suitability, wherein the filament suitability corresponds to whether the multidimensional printer is capable of printing the multidimensional object using a particular filament.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Cudak Gary D
• Dean David G
• Hardee Christopher J
• Nuzzo John P
• Trzyna Matthew A
• Weber John M

Classifications

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• G06F3/1296

  Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling · CPC title

• G06F3/1234

  Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting (G06F3/1261 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/126

  Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device · CPC title

• G06K15/408

  Handling exceptions, e.g. faults (computer driven error handling and recovery for a printer G06F3/1234) · CPC title