Parsing a multidimensional object for printing in various runs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9977631-B2
Application number	US-201514819517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2015
Priority date	Jul 29, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

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 computer-implemented method, comprising:
generating, by a processor within a multidimensional printer, a first complexity estimate of a first portion of a multidimensional object, the generating of the first complexity estimate includes generating a first real number value of one or more physical structures that are within the first portion of the multidimensional object, the real number value is a score indicating how complex the one or more physical structures are;
determining a printing capability of the multidimensional printer, multidimensional printer for use in printing the multidimensional object;
comparing the printing capability with the first complexity estimate; and
generating, by the processor and based on the comparing, 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.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a second complexity estimate of a second portion of the multidimensional object;
comparing the printing capability with the second complexity estimate; and
generating, based on the comparing the printing capability with the second complexity estimate, a second failure probability estimate.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
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.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising, printing in a second run, by the multidimensional printer, the first portion of the multidimensional object, wherein the printing begins or stops at the parsing point.

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

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the first complexity estimate is based on a texture of the first portion, a thickness of the first portion, and a quantity of start and stop movements required of a printer head of the multidimensional printer to print the first portion.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the first complexity estimate is based on degrees of movement required of a printer head to print the first portion, and a filament type, the filament being a medium utilized to print the multidimensional object.

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

9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to:
generate, one or more complexity estimates for a first portion and a second portion of a multidimensional object based on a physical structure of the first portion and the second portion, the generating of the one or more complexity estimates includes numerically scoring one or more features of the first portion and the second portion to indicate how complex the first portion and the second portion are;
determine a printing capability of a multidimensional printer, the multidimensional printer for use in printing the multidimensional object;
compare the printing capability with the one or more complexity estimates to determine whether the multidimensional printer can print the multidimensional object given the one or more complexity estimates;
generate, based on the comparing, one or more failure probability estimates, the one or more failure probability estimates includes determining a likelihood that the multidimensional printer will print the first portion and the second portion with an accuracy that exceeds an accuracy threshold; and
cause the multidimensional printer to print the first portion in a first run and print the second portion in a second run based at least on the whether the multidimensional printer will print the first portion and the second portion with the accuracy that exceeds the accuracy threshold.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06F3/126

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

• G06F3/1234

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

• G06K15/408

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

• G06F3/1244

  Job translation or job parsing, e.g. page banding · CPC title

• G06F3/121 Primary

  Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted · CPC title