Augmented three-dimensional printing

Abstract

A variety of techniques are disclosed for visual and functional augmentation of a three-dimensional printer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a three-dimensional printer having a working volume;   one or more spatial sensors configured to capture data from an object being fabricated within the working volume;   a first processor configured to convert the data into a digital model of the object; and   a second processor configured to operate the three-dimensional printer to fabricate the object in a fabrication process having a number of tool instructions, and to dynamically modify one of the tool instructions for the three-dimensional printer according to the digital model.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first processor and the second processor are the same processor. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the tool instructions are derived from a second digital model, and wherein the second processor is configured to dynamically modify one of the tool instructions based upon a comparison of the digital model to the second digital model. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the comparison indicates that the fabrication process has failed. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the second processor is configured to abort the fabrication process when the fabrication process has failed. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the second processor is configured to modify one of the tool instructions to avoid a collision of a tool with the digital model. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the second processor is configured to modify one of the tool instructions to avoid a collision of a tool with a foreign body in the working volume. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the second processor is configured to stop printing one part of a multi-part print when the one part has failed to print. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the second processor is configured to restart printing of the one part at another location within the working volume. 
     
     
         10 . A three-dimensional printer comprising:
 a tool head to fabricate an object in a working volume;   a camera affixed to and moving with the tool head, the camera directed toward the working volume;   a processor configured to receive an image from the camera and to provide diagnostic information for operation of the three-dimensional printer based upon an analysis of the image.   
     
     
         11 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 10  wherein the diagnostic information includes a determination of a position of the tool head within the working volume. 
     
     
         12 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 10  wherein the diagnostic information includes a determination of whether the three-dimensional printer has effected a color change in build material. 
     
     
         13 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 10  wherein the diagnostic information includes a determination of whether the three-dimensional printer has effected a change from a first build material to a second build material. 
     
     
         14 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 10  wherein the diagnostic information includes an evaluation of whether a build material is extruding correctly from the tool head. 
     
     
         15 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 10  wherein the diagnostic information includes an evaluation of whether an infill for the object is being fabricated correctly. 
     
     
         16 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 10  wherein the diagnostic information includes the image. 
     
     
         17 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 14  wherein the processor is configured to dynamically generate a pattern for an infill. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 beginning fabrication of an object in a first location of a working volume with a three-dimensional printer;   capturing a digital model of the object with a three-dimensional scanner;   pausing fabrication of the object;   repositioning the object to a second location within the working volume of the three-dimensional printer, thereby providing a repositioned object;   capturing a second digital model of the object with the three-dimensional scanner;   aligning the three-dimensional printer to the repositioned object; and   continuing fabrication of the object in the second location.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein aligning the three-dimensional printer to the repositioned object includes:
 determining a first point on the object where a deposition of a build material paused; 
 analyzing the second digital model to locate a corresponding point on the repositioned object; and 
 positioning a tool head of the three-dimensional printer to begin depositing the build material at the corresponding point. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein repositioning the object includes at least one of rotating the object and translating the object. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising generating new tool instructions to continue the fabrication. 
     
     
         22 . A device comprising:
 a three-dimensional printer having a working volume;   a camera configured to provide a view of the working volume;   a processor configured to render an image of a digital three-dimensional model from a pose of the camera; and   a user interface for the three-dimensional printer having a display configured to display the image of the digital model within the view of the working volume, thereby providing a preview of a fabricated object based upon the digital three-dimensional model.