THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING IMPROVEMENTS
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`PATENTS
`MBOT-0030-P60
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`EFS Web
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`BACKGROUND
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`[0001] The invention relates to three-dimensional fabrication, and more specifically to
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`various systems and methods to improve three-dimensional printing and devices for same.
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`SUMMARY
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`[0002] Techniquesare disclosed for three-dimensionalprinting.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0003] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be
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`apparent from the following description of particular embodimentsthereof, as illustrated in the
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`accompanying drawings. The drawingsare not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
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`placed uponillustrating the principles of the invention.
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`[0004] Fig. 1 is a block diagram ofa three-dimensionalprinter.
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`[0005] Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a conveyer for an automated build process.
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`[0006] Fig. 3 depicts a networked three-dimensional printing environment.
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`[0007] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method for using a three-dimensional printer, such as
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`any of the three-dimensional printers described above, when coupled to a data network.
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`[0008] Fig. 5 depicts a user interface for management of networkedprinting.
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`[0009] Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method for operating a three-dimensionalprinter coupled
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`to a network.
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`[0010] Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a method for operating a three-dimensionalprinter coupled
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`to a network.
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`[0011] Fig. 1X showsa three-dimensional scanning accessory case for a mobile phone.
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`[0012] Fig. 2X showsa printer with adjustable deposition angle.
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`[0013] Fig. 3X showsa rotatable printer.
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`[0014] Fig. 4X is an exploded view of an extruder assembly.
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`[0015] Fig. 5X showsvarious views of an extruder assembly.
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`[0016] Fig. 6X showsa variable build volume.
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`[0017] Fig. 7X showsa tagged cartridge of build material.
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`[0018] Fig. 8X showsan extruder depositing build material.
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`[0019] Fig. 9X showsan extruder depositing fill material.
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`[0020] Fig. 10X showsa processfor allocating fabrication resources.
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`[0021] Fig. 11X showsa build platform with an anchoring feature.
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`[0022] Fig. 12X showsbuild material deposited into an anchoring feature.
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`[0023] Fig. 13X showsa tool with a pressure transducer.
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`[0024] Fig. 14X showsa tool with cooling fans.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0025] Described herein are devices and methods for using networked three-dimensional
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`printers. It will be understood that while the exemplary embodiments below emphasize
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`fabrication techniques using extrusion, the principles of the invention may be adapted to a wide
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`variety of three-dimensional fabrication processes, and in particular additive fabrication
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`processes including without limitation selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, three-
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`dimensionalprinting, and the like. All such variations that can be adapted to use with a
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`networked fabrication resource as described herein are intendedto fall within the scopeofthis
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`disclosure. It should also be understood that any reference herein to a fabrication process such as
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`printing or three-dimensionalprinting is intended to refer to any andall such additive fabrication
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`process unless a different meaningis explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context. Thus
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`by way of example and notoflimitation, a three-dimensional printer (or simply “printer’”’) is now
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`described that may be used in a networked three-dimensional printing environment.
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`[0026] Fig. 1 is a block diagram ofa three-dimensionalprinter. In general, the printer
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`100 mayinclude a build platform 102, a conveyor 104, an extruder 106, an x-y-z positioning
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`assembly 108, and a controller 110 that cooperate to fabricate an object 112 within a working
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`volume 114 of the printer 100.
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`[0027] The build platform 102 may include a surface 116 thatis rigid and substantially
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`planar. The surface 116 may support the conveyer 104 in order to provide a fixed, dimensionally
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`and positionally stable platform on which to build the object 112.
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`[0028] The build platform 102 may include a thermal element 130 that controls the
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`temperature of the build platform 102 through one or more active devices 132 suchasresistive
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`elements that convert electrical current into heat, Peltier effect devices that can create a heating
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`or cooling effect, or any other thermoelectric heating and/or cooling devices. Thus the thermal
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`element 130 may be a heating element that provides active heating to the build platform 102, a
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`cooling element that provides active cooling to the build platform 102, or a combination ofthese.
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`The heating element 130 may be coupled in a communicating relationship with the controller
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`110 in order for the controller 110 to controllably impart heat to or remove heat from the surface
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`116 of the build platform 102. Thus the thermal element 130 may includean active cooling
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`elementpositioned within or adjacent to the build platform 102 to controllably cool the build
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`platform 102.
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`[0029] It will be understood that a variety of other techniques may be employed to
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`control a temperature of the build platform 102. For example, the build platform 102 may use a
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`gas cooling or gas heating device such as a vacuum chamberorthe like in an interior thereof,
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`which may be quickly pressurized to heat the build platform 102 or vacated to cool the build
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`platform 102 as desired. As another example, a stream of heated or cooled gas may be applied
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`directly to the build platform 102 before, during, and/or after a build process. Any device or
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`combination of devices suitable for controlling a temperature of the build platform 102 may be
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`adapted to use as the thermal element 130 described herein.
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`[0030] The conveyer 104 may be formedof a sheet 118 of material that movesin a path
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`120 through the working volume 114. Within the working volume 114, the path 120 may pass
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`proximalto the surface 116 of the build platform 102 — that is, resting directly on or otherwise
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`supported by the surface 116 -- in order to provide a rigid, positionally stable working surface for
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`a build. It will be understood that while the path 120 is depicted as a unidirectional arrow, the
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`path 120 maybebidirectional, such that the conveyer 104 can movein either of two opposing
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`directions through the working volume 114. It will also be understoodthat the path 120 may
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`curve in any of a variety of ways, such as by looping underneath and aroundthe build platform
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`102, over and/or underrollers, or around delivery and take up spools for the sheet 118 of
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`material. Thus, while the path 120 maybe generally (but not necessarily) uniform through the
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`working volume 114, the conveyer 104 may movein any direction suitable for moving
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`completed items from the working volume 114. The conveyor may include a motoror other
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`similar drive mechanism (not shown) coupled to the controller 110 to control movementof the
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`sheet 118 of material along the path 120. Various drive mechanisms are shown and described in
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`further detail below.
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`[0031] In general, the sheet 118 may be formed ofa flexible material such as a mesh
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`material, a polyamide, a polyethylene terephthalate (commercially available in bi-axial form as
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`MYLAR), a polyimide film (commercially available as KAPTON), or any other suitably strong
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`polymeror other material. The sheet 118 may havea thickness of about three to seven
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`thousandths of an inch, or any other thickness that permits the sheet 118 to follow the path 120
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`of the conveyer 104. For example, with sufficiently strong material, the sheet 118 may have a
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`thickness of one to three thousandths of an inch. The sheet 118 may instead be formed of
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`sections of rigid material joined by flexible links.
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`[0032] A working surface of the sheet 118 (e.g., an area on the top surface of the sheet
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`118 within the working volume 114) maybetreated in a variety of mannersto assist with
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`adhesion of build material to the surface 118 and/or removal of completed objects from the
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`surface 118. For example, the working surface may be abradedor otherwisetextured (e.g., with
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`grooves, protrusions, and the like) to improve adhesion between the working surface and the
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`build material.
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`[0033] A variety of chemical treatments may be used on the working surface of the sheet
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`118 of material to further facilitate build processes as described herein. For example, the
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`chemical treatment may include a deposition of material that can be chemically removed from
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`the conveyer 104 by use of water, solvents, or the like. This may facilitate separation of a
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`completed object from the conveyer by dissolving the layer of chemical treatment between the
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`object 112 and the conveyor 104. The chemical treatments may include deposition of a material
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`that easily separates from the conveyer such as a wax, mild adhesive,or the like. The chemical
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`treatment may include a detachable surface such as an adhesivethat is sprayed on to the
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`conveyer 104 prior to fabrication of the object 112.
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`[0034] In one aspect, the conveyer 104 may be formedofa sheet of disposable, one-use
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`material that is fed from a dispenser and consumed with each successive build.
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`[0035] In one aspect, the conveyer 104 may include a numberofdifferent working areas
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`with different surface treatments adapted for different build materials or processes. For example,
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`different areas may havedifferent textures (smooth, abraded, grooved,etc.). Different areas may
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`be formed of different materials. Different areas may also haveor receive different chemical
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`treatments. Thus a single conveyer 104 may be usedinavariety of different build processes by
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`selecting the various working areas as neededor desired.
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`[0036] The extruder 106 may include a chamber 122 in an interior thereof to receive a
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`build material. The build material may, for example, include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
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`(“ABS”), high-density polyethylene (“HDPL’’), polylactic acid, or any other suitable plastic,
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`thermoplastic, or other material that can usefully be extruded to form a three-dimensionalobject.
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`The extruder 106 mayinclude an extrusion tip 124 or other opening that includes an exit port
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`with a circular, oval, slotted or other cross-sectional profile that extrudes build material in a
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`desired cross-sectional shape.
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`[0037] The extruder 106 may include a heater 126 to melt thermoplastic or other
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`meltable build materials within the chamber 122 for extrusion through an extrusion tip 124 in
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`liquid form. While illustrated in block form, it will be understood that the heater 124 may
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`include, e.g., coils of resistive wire wrapped about the extruder 106, one or more heating blocks
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`with resistive elements to heat the extruder 106 with applied current, an inductive heater, or any
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`other arrangement of heating elements suitable for creating heat within the chamber 122 to melt
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`the build material for extrusion. The extruder 106 mayalso or instead include a motor 128 or the
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`like to push the build material into the chamber 122 and/or through the extrusion tip 126.
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`[0038] In general operation (and by way of example rather than limitation), a build
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`material such as ABS plastic in filament form may be fed into the chamber 122 from a spool or
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`the like by the motor 128, melted by the heater 126, and extruded from the extrusion tip 124. By
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`controlling a rate of the motor 128, the temperature of the heater 126, and/or other process
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`parameters, the build material may be extruded at a controlled volumetric rate. It will be
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`understood that a variety of techniques may also or instead be employed to deliver build material
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`at a controlled volumetric rate, which may depend upon the type of build material, the
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`volumetric rate desired, and any other factors. All such techniques that might be suitably adapted
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`to delivery of build material for fabrication of a three-dimensional object are intendedtofall
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`within the scope of this disclosure. As noted above, other techniques may be employed for three-
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`dimensional printing, including extrusion-based techniques using a build material that is curable
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`and/or a build material of sufficient viscosity to retain shape after extrusion.
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`[0039] The x-y-z positioning assembly 108 may generally be adapted to three-
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`dimensionally position the extruder 106 and the extrusion tip 124 within the working volume
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`114. Thus by controlling the volumetric rate of delivery for the build material and the x,y, z
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`position of the extrusion tip 124, the object 112 may be fabricated in three dimensions by
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`depositing successive layers of material in two-dimensional patterns derived, for example, from
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`cross-sections of a computer model or other computerized representation of the object 112. A
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`variety of arrangements and techniques are knownin the art to achieve controlled linear
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`movementalong one or more axes. The x-y-z positioning assembly 108 may, for example,
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`include a numberof stepper motors 109 to independently control a position of the extruder
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`within the working volume along each of an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis. More generally, the x-
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`y-Z positioning assembly 108 may include without limitation various combinations of stepper
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`motors, encoded DC motors, gears, belts, pulleys, worm gears, threads, and so forth. Any such
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`arrangementsuitable for controllably positioning the extruder 106 within the working volume
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`114 may be adapted to use with the printer 100 described herein.
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`[0040] By way of example andnotlimitation, the conveyor 104 maybe affixed to a bed
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`that provides x-y positioning within the plane of the conveyor 104, while the extruder 106 can be
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`independently moved along a z-axis. As another example, the extruder 106 may be stationary
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`while the conveyor 104is x, y, and z positionable. As another example, the extruder 106 may be
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`x, y, and z positionable while the conveyer 104 remainsfixed (relative to the working volume
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`114). In yet another example, the conveyer 104 may, by movementof the sheet 118 of material,
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`control movementin one axis (e.g., the y-axis), while the extruder 106 movesin the z-axis as
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`well as one axis in the plane of the sheet 118. Thus in one aspect, the conveyor 104 may be
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`attached to and movewithat least one of an x-axis stage (that controls movementalongthe x-
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`axis), a y-axis stage (that controls movementalong a y-axis), and a z-axis stage (that controls
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`movementalong a z-axis) of the x-y-z positioning assembly 108. More generally, any
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`arrangement of motors and other hardware controllable by the controller 110 may serve as the x-
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`y-Z positioning assembly 108 in the printer 100 described herein. Still more generally, while an
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`X, y, Z coordinate system serves as a convenient basis for positioning within three dimensions,
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`any other coordinate system or combination of coordinate systems may also or instead be
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`employed, such as a positional controller and assembly that operates according to cylindrical or
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`spherical coordinates.
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`[0041] The controller 110 maybe electrically coupled in a communicating relationship
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`with the build platform 102, the conveyer 104, the x-y-z positioning assembly 108, and the other
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`various componentsofthe printer 100. In general, the controller 110 is operable to control the
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`components ofthe printer 100, such as the build platform 102, the conveyer 104, the x-y-z
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`positioning assembly 108, and any other components ofthe printer 100 described herein to
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`fabricate the object 112 from the build material. The controller 110 may include any combination
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`of software and/or processing circuitry suitable for controlling the various components of the
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`printer 100 described herein including without limitation microprocessors, microcontrollers,
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`application-specific integrated circuits, programmable gate arrays, and any other digital and/or
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`analog components, as well as combinations of the foregoing, along with inputs and outputs for
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`transceiving control signals, drive signals, power signals, sensor signals, and so forth. In one
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`aspect, the controller 110 may include a microprocessoror other processing circuitry with
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`sufficient computational powerto provide related functions such as executing an operating
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`system, providing a graphicaluser interface (e.g., to a display coupled to the controller 110 or
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`printer 100), convert three-dimensional models into tool instructions, and operate a web server or
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`otherwise host remote users and/or activity through the network interface 136 described below.
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`[0042] A variety of additional sensors may be usefully incorporated into the printer 100
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`described above. These are generically depicted as sensor 134 in Fig. 1, for which the positioning
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`and mechanical/electrical interconnections with other elements of the printer 100 will depend
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`upon the type and purposeof the sensor 134 and will be readily understood and appreciated by
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`one of ordinary skill in the art. The sensor 134 may include a temperature sensorpositioned to
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`sense a temperature of the surface of the build platform 102. This may, for example, include a
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`thermistor or the like embedded within or attached below the surface of the build platform 102.
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`This mayalso or instead include an infrared detectoror the like directed at the surface 116 ofthe
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`build platform 102 or the sheet 118 of material of the conveyer 104. Other sensors that may be
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`usefully incorporated into the printer 100 as the sensor 134 include a heat sensor, a volume flow
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`rate sensor, a weight sensor, a sound sensor, and a light sensor. Certain more specific examples
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`are provided below by way of example andnotoflimitation.
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`[0043] The sensor 134 may includea sensorto detect a presence (or absence) of the
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`object 112 at a predetermined location on the conveyer 104. This may include an optical detector
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`arranged in a beam-breaking configuration to sense the presence of the object 112 at a location
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`such as an end of the conveyer 104. This mayalso or instead include an imaging device and
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`image processing circuitry to capture an image of the working volume 114 and analyze the
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`image to evaluate a position of the object 112. This sensor 134 may be used for example to
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`ensure that the object 112 is removed from the conveyor 104 prior to beginning a new build at
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`that location on the working surface such as the surface 116 of the build platform 102. Thus the
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`sensor 134 may be used to determine whether an object is present that should not be, or to detect
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`when an object is absent. The feedback from this sensor 134 may be used by the controller 110
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`to issue processing interrupts or otherwise control operation of the printer 100.
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`[0044] The sensor 134 may include a sensorthat detects a position of the conveyer 104
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`along the path. This information may be obtained from an encoderin a motorthat drives the
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`conveyer 104, or using any other suitable technique such as a visual sensor and corresponding
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`fiducials (e.g., visible patterns, holes, or areas with opaque, specular, transparent, or otherwise
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`detectable marking) on the sheet 118.
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`[0045] The sensor 134 may include a heater (instead ofor in addition to the thermal
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`element 130) to heat the working volume 114 suchasa radiant heater or forced hotair to
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`maintain the object 112 at a fixed, elevated temperature throughout a build. The sensor 134 may
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`also or instead include a cooling element to maintain the object 112 at a predetermined sub-
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`ambient temperature throughouta build.
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`[0046] The sensor 134 mayalso or instead include at least one video camera. The video
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`camera may generally capture images of the working volume 114, the object 112, or any other
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`hardware associated with the printer 100. The video camera may provide a remote video feed
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`through the network interface 136, which feed may be available to remote users through a user
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`interface maintained by, e.g., remote hardware such as the print servers described below with
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`reference to Fig. 3, or within a web page provided by a web server hosted by the three-
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`dimensional printer 100. Thus in one aspectthere is disclosed herein a user interface adapted to
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`present a video feed from at least one video camera ofa three-dimensional printer to a remote
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`user through a user interface.
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`[0047] The sensor 134 may include may also include more complex sensing and
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`processing systems or subsystems, such as a three-dimensional scanner using optical techniques
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`(e.g., stereoscopic imaging, or shape from motion imaging), structured light techniques, or any
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`other suitable sensing and processing hardware that might extract three-dimensional information
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`from the working volume 114. In another aspect, the sensor 134 may include a machine vision
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`system that captures images and analyzes image content to obtain information aboutthe status of
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`a job, working volume 114, or an object 112 therein. The machine vision system may support a
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`variety of imaging-based automatic inspection, process control, and/or robotic guidance
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`functions for the three-dimensional printer 100 including without limitation pass/fail decisions,
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`error detection (and corresponding audible or visual alerts), shape detection, position detection,
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`orientation detection, collision avoidance, and so forth.
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`[0048] Other components, generically depicted as other hardware 135, may also be
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`included, such as input devices including a keyboard, touchpad, mouse, switches, dials, buttons,
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`motion sensors, and the like, as well as output devices such as a display, a speaker or other audio
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`transducer, light emitting diodes, and so forth. Other hardware 135 mayalso or instead include a
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`variety of cable connections and/or hardware adapters for connectingto, e.g., external
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`computers, external hardware, external instrumentation or data acquisition systems, and so forth.
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`[0049] The printer 100 may include, or be connected in a communicating relationship
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`with, a network interface 136. The network interface 136 may include any combination of
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`hardware and software suitable for coupling the controller 110 and other componentsofthe
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`printer 100 to a remote computer in a communicating relationship through a data network. By
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`way of example andnotlimitation, this may include electronics for a wired or wireless Ethernet
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`connection operating according to the IEEE 802.11 standard (or any variation thereof), or any
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`other short or long range wireless networking componentsorthe like. This may include
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`hardware for short range data communications such as BlueToothor an infrared transceiver,
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`which maybe used to couple into a local area network orthe like that is in turn coupled to a data
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`network such as the Internet. This may also or instead include hardware/software for a WiMax
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`connection or a cellular network connection (using, e.g., CDMA, GSM, LTE, or any other
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`suitable protocol or combination of protocols). Consistently, the controller 110 may be
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`configured to control participation by the printer 100 in any network to which the network
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`interface 136 is connected, such as by autonomously connecting to the network to retrieve
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`printable content, or responding to a remote request for status or availability. Networked uses of
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`the printer 100 are discussed in greater detail below.
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`[0050] Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a conveyer for an automated build process. The
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`conveyer 200 may include a sheet 202 of material that provides a working surface 204 for three-
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`dimensional fabrication. As depicted, the conveyer may form a continuouspath 206 about a
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`build platform 208 by arranging the sheet 202 as a belt or the like. Thus for example, the path
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`206 may moveparallel to the surface of the build platform 208 along the top of the build
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`platform 208 (from left to right in Fig. 2). The sheet 202 may then curve downwardand around a
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`roller 210 and reverse direction underneath the build platform 208, returning again at an
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`opposing roller 212 to form a loop aboutthe build platform 208.
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`[0051] The roller 210 may be coupled by gears 214 orthe like to a motor (not shown)to
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`movethe sheet 202 of material. The motor may be controlled by a controller (such as the
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`controller 110 described above) to control movementof the sheet 202 of material in a build
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`process.
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`[0052] The conveyer 200 may include a scraper 216 to physically separate a completed
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`object from the conveyer 200 based upona relative movementof the sheet 202 of material of the
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`conveyor 200 to the scraper 216. In general, adhesion of an object to a working surface maintains
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`the object within the coordinate system ofthe printer during a build in orderto facilitate the build
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`process. Where good adhesion is achieved during a build, dislodging the completed object from
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`the working surface may require significant force. Thus in order to ensure the availability of a
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`continuous working surface, the conveyer 200 may enforce physical separation of the object
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`from the working surface by passing the sheet 202 of material by the scraper 216 to dislodge the
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`object. While the scraper 216 is depicted below the working surface of the sheet 202, it will be
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`readily understood that a variety of positions and orientations of the scraper 216 may achieve
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`similar results. Thus for example, the scraper 216 may extend vertically above or below the sheet
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`202, horizontally from the sheet 202, or in any other suitable orientation.It will also be
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`appreciated that while the scraper 216 is depicted in an orientation perpendicular to the path 206,
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`the scraper 216 may be angled in order to also urge a completed object off the sheet 202 in any
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`desired direction, such as to a side of the working surface where a chute or receptacle may be
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`provided to catch and store the completed object. In some embodiments, the conveyor 200 may
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`transport the object to a side of the printer 100, or alternatively the entire conveyor 200 assembly
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`may be movedoutsidethe printer, so that urging the completed object off the sheet 202 also
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`causes the competed object to depart the printer 100. The term ‘scraper’ should be understood as
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`referring in a non-limiting sense to any physicalfixture that might be employed to remove an
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`object from the sheet 202, and that many other shapes, sizes, orientations, and the like may also
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`or instead be employed as the scraper 216 described herein without departing from the scope of
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`this disclosure.
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`[0053] In one aspect, the conveyer 200 may support networked use ofthe printer 100 by
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`permitting fabrication of multiple, consecutive parts under control by a remote computer without
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`user intervention.
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`[0054] Fig. 3 depicts a networked three-dimensional printing environment. In general,
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`the environment 300 may include a data network 302 interconnecting a plurality of participating
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`devices in a communicating relationship. The participating devices may, for example, include
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`any numberof three-dimensionalprinters 304 (also referred to interchangeably herein as
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`“printers’’), client devices 306, print servers 308, content sources 310, mobile devices 314, and
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`other resources 316.
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`[0055] The data network 302 may be any network(s) or internetwork(s) suitable for
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`communicating data and control information amongparticipants in the environment 300. This
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`may include public networks such as the Internet, private networks, telecommunications
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`networks such as the Public Switched Telephone Network or cellular networks using third
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`generation (e.g., 3G or IMT-2000), fourth generation (e.g., LTE (E-UTRA) or WiMax-Advanced
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`(IEEE 802.16m), as well as any of a variety of corporate area or local area networks and other
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`switches, routers, hubs, gateways, and the like that might be used to carry data among
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`participants in the environment300.
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`[0056] The three-dimensional printers 304 may be any computer-controlled devices for
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`three-dimensional fabrication, including without limitation any of the three-dimensional printers
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`or other fabrication or prototyping devices described above. In general, each such device may
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`include a network interface comprising, e.g., a network interface card, which term is used
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`broadly herein to include any hardware (along with software, firmware, or the like to control
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`operation of same) suitable for establishing and maintaining wired and/or wireless
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`communications. The network interface card may include withoutlimitation wired Ethernet
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`network interface cards (“NICs”), wireless 802.11 networking cards, wireless 802.11 USB
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`devices, or other hardware for wireless local area networking. The network interface mayalso or
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`instead include cellular network hardware, wide area wireless network hardware or any other
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`hardware for centralized, ad hoc, peer-to-peer, or other radio communications that might be used
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`to carry data. In another aspect, the network interface may include a serial or USB port used to
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`directly connect to a computing device such as a desktop computerthat, in turn, provides more
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`general network connectivity to the data network 302.
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`[0057] Client devices 306 may in general be devices within the environment 300
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`operated by users to initiate and monitor print jobs at the three-dimensionalprinters 304. This
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`may include desktop computers, laptop computers, network computers, tablets, or any other
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`computing device that can participate in the environment 300 as contemplated herein. Each client
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`device 306 generally provides a user interface, which may include a graphicaluser interface
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`and/or text or commandline interface to control operation of remote three-dimensionalprinters
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`304. The user interface may be maintained by a locally executing application on one ofthe client
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`devices 306 that receives data and status information from, e.g., the printers 304 and print servers
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`308 concerning pending or executing print jobs, and creates a suitable display on the client
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`device 306 for user interaction. In other embodiments, the user interface may be remotely served
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`and presented on one ofthe client devices 306, such as wherea print server 308 or one of the
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`three-dimensional printers 304 includes a web server that provides information through one or
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`more web pagesorthe like that can be displayed within a web browseror similar client
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`executing on oneofthe client devices 306.
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`[0058] The print servers 308 may include data storage, a network interface, and a
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`processoror other processing circuitry. In the following description, where the functions or
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`configuration of a print server 308 are described, this is intended to included corresponding
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`functions or configuration (e.g., by programming) of a processorof the print server 308. In
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`general, the print servers 308 (or processors thereof) may perform a variety of processing tasks
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`related to management of networked printing. For example, the print servers 308 may manage
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`print jobs received from one or moreofthe client devices 306, and provide related supporting
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`functions such as content search and management. A print server 308 mayalso include a web
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`server that provides web-based access by the client devices 306 to the capabilities of the print
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`server 308. A print server 308 may also communicate periodically with three-dimensional
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`printers 304 in order to obtain status information concerning, e.g., availability of printers and/or
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`the status of particular print jobs, any of which may be subsequently presented to a user through
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`the web server. A print server 308 may also maintainalist of available three-dimensional
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`printers 304, and may automatically select one of the three-dimensional printers 304 for a user-
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`submitted print job, or may permit a user to specify a single printer, or a group of preferred
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`printers, for fabricating an object. Where the print server 308 selects the printer automatically,
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`any numberofcriteria may be used such as geographical proximity, printing capabilities, current
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`print queue, fees (if any) for use ofa particular three-dimensional printer 304, and so forth.
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`Wherethe user specifies criteria, this may similarly include any relevant aspects of three-
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`dimensional printers 304, and may permit use of absolute criteria (e.g., filters) or preferences,
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`which may be weighted preferences or unweighted preferences, any of which may be used by a
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`print server 308 to allocate a print job to