JP2018176460A - Relay apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a relay device capable of suppressing the acquisition of a modeling result which is not intended by a user when modeling a three-dimensional object in the modeling apparatus. A relay device (102) is connected to a modeling device (101) for modeling a three-dimensional object, and receives a modeling instruction from a client terminal (103) to the modeling device (101). The relay apparatus 102 acquires the environment information corresponding to the installation environment of the modeling apparatus 101, receives a modeling instruction specifying the modeling apparatus 101 and the modeling setting from the client terminal 103, and specifies based on the modeling setting and the environmental information. It controls the analysis of information to be notified in modeling the three-dimensional object by the modeling apparatus 101, and provides the information acquired by the analysis. [Selection diagram] Fig. 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay device, a control method, and a program.

  BACKGROUND ART In recent years, a modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional shaped object (three-dimensional object), that is, a so-called 3D printer has been widely used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,095 discloses an apparatus for detecting printing errors and correcting errors during a printing operation that produces 3D objects in a printer.

JP, 2015-229349, A

  However, even if the correction is performed during the printing operation as in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, appropriate formation is performed depending on the performance of the formation device, the nature of the formation material, or the feature of the model data. It is necessary to set it. Further, even if the modeling setting is properly performed, the modeling result intended by the user may not be obtained depending on the installation environment of the modeling apparatus. For example, when the room temperature is low, distortion of the three-dimensional object may occur due to the high shrinkage ratio of the filament, but it is difficult to avoid this by control of the modeling apparatus during modeling or modeling. is there.

  A certain amount of time is required for forming with the forming apparatus, and a certain amount of forming material is also consumed. For this reason, as described above, it is disadvantageous for the user that the modeling setting is not properly performed or that the modeling result intended by the user can not be obtained because the installation environment of the modeling apparatus is not appropriate.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a relay device capable of suppressing that a modeling result unintended by a user can be obtained when modeling a three-dimensional object in a modeling apparatus.

  The relay apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a relay apparatus connected to a modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object and receiving from the client terminal a modeling instruction for the modeling apparatus, the environment corresponding to the installation environment of the modeling apparatus A three-dimensional object in the specified modeling apparatus based on an acquiring unit for acquiring information, a receiving unit for receiving a modeling instruction specifying a modeling apparatus and a modeling setting from the client terminal, and the modeling setting and the environmental information Control means for controlling the analysis of information to be notified in the modeling of the image forming means, and providing means for providing the information acquired by the analysis.

  According to the relay device of the present invention, when forming a three-dimensional object in the forming device, it is possible to suppress that a forming result not intended by the user is obtained.

It is a figure showing an example of composition of a modeling system in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of hardware constitutions of a modeling device. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of a relay apparatus and a client terminal. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of each apparatus which comprises a modeling system. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the process which concerns on 1st Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which a relay apparatus acquires. It is a figure which shows an example of the database used for the search process of notification information. It is a figure which shows an example of a notification screen. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the process which concerns on 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the input screen of complementation information. It is a figure which shows an example of a notification screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a notification screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and the like.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of a modeling system in the present embodiment.
The modeling apparatus 101 and the relay apparatus 102 are connected by the relay line 110, and the relay apparatus 102 and the client terminal 103 are connected by the network 100. The trunk 110 may be identical to the network 100.

  An OS and an application are installed in the client terminal 103. The user transmits a modeling instruction to the modeling apparatus 101 via the relay apparatus 102 using the application of the client terminal 103. Also, the user can execute preview display, capture, customization, etc. of the corresponding three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional space on model data (3D data) using the application of the client terminal 103. The model data is, for example, in a format such as 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format) or STL (Standard Template Library).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the modeling apparatus 101. As shown in FIG.
The CPU 201 executes programs stored in the ROM 203 and the storage device 204, and collectively controls the devices via the internal bus 206. The RAM 202 functions as a memory or a work area of the CPU 201. The ROM 203 stores embedded programs and data. The ROM 203 also stores individual identification information and model information of the modeling apparatus 101.

  The external I / F 205 is used to exchange data one-way or two-way with the relay apparatus 102 via the relay line 110. The storage device 204 functions as an external storage device and stores modeling data and the like, and can also store information related to operation information and consumables detected and recorded inside the modeling apparatus 101 instead of the RAM 202 It is. The operation information includes fault information, status information, log information and the like.

  The operation unit 208 is responsible for input and output in the modeling apparatus 101. Specifically, the operation unit 208 receives an input such as a button input from the user, and transmits a signal corresponding to the input to each processing unit described above by the operation unit I / F 207. The operation unit 208 also includes a display device for providing necessary information to the user and accepting user operations. The display device is, for example, a touch panel.

  The modeling unit 209 includes a processor for controlling modeling which depends on the modeling method, a dedicated controller including a memory, a modeling stage for stacking a modeling material for modeling a three-dimensional object, and the like. The modeling unit 209 also includes a configuration depending on a molding method for stacking molding materials, curing or finishing of a three-dimensional object, molding of a support member, and the like.

  The lamination molding system to which the present invention can be applied is, for example, a hot melt lamination method, an optical molding system, a powder sintering system, an inkjet system, or the like. When layered modeling is performed in the modeling unit 209, it is executed using a modeling command of cross-sectional shape data (slice data) of stacked plane units generated from model data or the like by a 3D modeling application installed in the client terminal 103 or the like.

  The consumable material supply unit 212 supplies a consumable material including the forming material 213 necessary for forming a three-dimensional object to the forming unit 209. In the modeling apparatus 101 in which the modeling method of modeling the support member in modeling of the three-dimensional object is adopted, the consumable material replenishment unit 212 holds the support member as the consumable material and supplies it to the modeling unit 209. The modeling material 213 includes various materials such as a photocurable resin, a thermoplastic resin, metal powder, and a gypsum material. The photocurable resin includes, for example, a liquid resin that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light or the like.

  In addition, the consumable material supply unit 212 can manage the amount of supply to the modeling unit 209 such as the modeling material 213 or the support member. The supply amount is recorded as a log in the storage device 204. In the log to be recorded, the supply amount for one three-dimensional object (one job) to be subjected to three-dimensional modeling is recorded in one record. In addition, it is also possible to record the supply amount in a predetermined period other than three-dimensional object recording of the log.

  In addition, if the shaping apparatus 101 can perform color formation in a plurality of colors, the consumable material supply unit 212 can supply each formation material 213 of a plurality of colors to the formation unit 209, and supplies each color individually. You can manage the quantity. Then, the supply amounts can be recorded in the storage device 204 as a log. The consumable material is replenished to the consumable material replenishment unit 212 by attaching a bottle containing a modeling material 213 such as liquid or powder to the consumable material replenishment unit 212. Alternatively, consumables may be manually replenished to the consumables replenishment unit 212 from a dedicated bottle or the like.

  A plurality of sensors 215 are arranged in the modeling apparatus 101, and each has a purpose. Main examples of the sensors disposed in the shaping apparatus 101 will be described below. A certain sensor detects the supply amount of the consumables to the shaping unit 209 managed by the consumables supply unit 212, or detects the remaining amount of the consumables held by the consumables supply unit 212. In addition, a sensor that detects attachment of the bottle containing the modeling material 213 and detects identification information of the bottle may be disposed in the modeling apparatus 101.

  In addition, a sensor that detects a temperature abnormality, a failure, or the like in the modeling unit 209 is disposed. When a modeling head or stage for modeling processing is present in the modeling unit 209, a sensor for counting the number of times of movement (moving distance) of the modeling head is disposed in the modeling unit 209. Although the above-described sensors are described as being arranged as hardware, some or all of them may be replaced by software sensors having equivalent detection functions.

  Further, the modeling apparatus 101 is equipped with an accessory, which is required according to the modeling method, and peripheral devices (not shown) for expanding the functions and mechanisms of the modeling apparatus, such as a camera and an IC card reader, as optional devices. As an example of incidental equipment, there are an apparatus required as a powder countermeasure in the case of an ink jet system, a cleaning apparatus required in the case of an optical modeling (SLA) system, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus including the relay apparatus 102, the client terminal 103, and the like.
The CPU 251 executes a program stored in the ROM 253 or the storage device 254 and controls the entire information processing apparatus via the internal bus 256. The ROM 253 and the storage device 254 store various data in addition to the program. For example, the storage device 254 stores device information, operation information, and the like of the modeling apparatus 101. The RAM 252 functions as a memory or a work area of the CPU 251.

  The input / output I / F 257 is, for example, PS2 or Universal Serial Bus (USB), or an analog or digital display I / F. The input / output device 258 is a keyboard, a mouse, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, or the like. The input / output device 258 can be connected to the information processing apparatus via the input / output I / F 257. The information processing apparatus performs communication via the network 100 by the external I / F 255. A plurality of external I / Fs 255 may be provided, and may be configured to be able to communicate via the network 100 and the relay line 110.

  The ROM 253 stores an initial program for activating the information processing apparatus and a basic program for controlling each module of the information processing apparatus. The storage device 254 also stores an OS and an application. When the information processing apparatus is powered on, a program (boot loader) for starting the computer stored in the ROM 253 is first executed, and the program loads the OS stored in the storage device 254 into the RAM 252, Pass control to the OS.

  The OS further reads necessary modules and drivers from the storage device 254 into the RAM 252. Also, the OS reads the necessary application from the storage device 254 to the RAM 252 and executes it according to the user's instruction. In the present embodiment, the CPU 251 loads the program stored in the storage device 254 of the information processing apparatus into the RAM 252 and executes the program to implement the processing of the relay device 102 and the client terminal 103 described later.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the software configuration of each device constituting the modeling system in the present embodiment.
The modeling apparatus 101 includes a communication unit 301, a modeling unit 302, and an input / output control unit 303. The communication unit 301 communicates with the relay apparatus 102 through the relay line 110. The modeling unit 302 executes a modeling job in the modeling apparatus 101 and outputs a three-dimensional object. The input / output control unit 303 controls input / output information from the operation unit 208.

  The relay apparatus 102 includes a communication unit 311, a modeling data processing unit 312, a modeling job generation unit 313, a modeling setting management unit 314, and an environment information management unit 315. The communication unit 311 communicates with the modeling apparatus 101 through the relay line 110, and communicates with the client terminal 103 through the network 100. The formation data processing unit 312 manages various data related to the formation job. The modeling data processing unit 312 also controls analysis of notification information described later, and determines notification information to be provided to the client terminal 103. The forming job generation unit 313 generates a forming instruction that can be interpreted by the forming device 101 as a forming job.

  The modeling setting management unit 314 acquires and manages modeling settings from a modeling instruction received from the client terminal 103. The environmental information management unit 315 manages environmental information corresponding to the installation environment of the modeling apparatus 101. The environmental information is, for example, information on temperature, humidity, vibration, wind direction, noise, weather, and the like around the modeling apparatus 101, information indicating positional information and positional relationship of the modeling apparatus 101 and the relay apparatus 102, and the like. The environmental information is information acquired by the sensor 215 of the modeling apparatus 101 or information acquired by the relay apparatus 102 through the network 100.

  The client terminal 103 includes a communication unit 321, a modeling instruction unit 322, and an input / output control unit 323. The communication unit 321 communicates with the relay apparatus 102 through the network 100. The modeling instruction unit 322 creates a modeling instruction in which the modeling apparatus and the modeling setting are designated for the relay device 102. The client terminal 103 can notify the relay apparatus 102 of the start of modeling by the modeling instruction.

  In the present embodiment, the modeling instruction transmitted from the client terminal 103 to the relay apparatus 102 includes modeling data for specifying model data and modeling content corresponding to a three-dimensional object to be a target of three-dimensional modeling. Further, in the modeling instruction, the modeling apparatus 101 that performs modeling is designated. The model data and the modeling setting included in the modeling instruction are designated by the user in an application operating on the client terminal 103, for example.

  In this manner, a series of processes for specifying the model data and the formation setting are executed on the client terminal 103 before the formation instruction is transmitted. The input / output control unit 323 controls input / output information from the input / output device 258. The modeling system is formed by the modeling apparatus 101, the relay apparatus 102, and the client terminal 103 communicating with each other via the communication unit 301, the communication unit 311, and the communication unit 321.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the present embodiment.
In step S401, the client terminal 103 transmits a modeling instruction to the relay apparatus 102 based on the user's operation. The modeling instruction is transmitted via application software operating on the client terminal 103 or transmitted via the function of the OS.

  In step S <b> 402, the modeling setting management unit 314 of the relay device 102 acquires modeling settings from the modeling instruction received from the client terminal 103. In step S403, the environment information management unit 315 of the relay device 102 acquires environment information. When acquiring the environmental information, the relay device 102 acquires the environmental information by a predetermined method according to the attribute acquired as the environmental information. The attributes of the environmental information include, for example, an attribute that can be acquired by the sensor 215 of the modeling apparatus 101, and an attribute that can be acquired from the state or response of a specific information device on the network 100.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data acquired in steps S402 and S403.
The acquired data 500 includes the modeling setting 501 acquired in step S402 and the environment information 511 acquired in step S403. The modeling setting 501 may include, for example, setting values of a printer driver for the modeling apparatus 101 as well as information such as the printer name 502 indicating the name of the modeling apparatus and the material 503 indicating the modeling material as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the modeling setting 501 may include a feature amount related to model data corresponding to a three-dimensional object to be a target of three-dimensional modeling. The feature amount relating to the model data is, for example, information such as “diameter of the narrowest hollow portion”, “diameter of the narrowest portion”, “thickness of the thinnest portion” and the like extracted from the model data. The environment information 511 includes vibration, wind direction, noise, weather, position information of the modeling apparatus 101 and the relay apparatus 102, as well as information of the temperature 512 around the modeling apparatus 101 and the ambient humidity 513 as shown in FIG. It may include information indicating the positional relationship between the modeling device 101 and the relay device 102, and the like.

  In step S404, the modeling data processing unit 312 of the relay apparatus 102 analyzes information to be notified (notification information) based on the acquired data 500 acquired in steps S402 and S403. Specifically, the modeling data processing unit 312 of the relay device 102 determines whether there is information to be notified to the user when modeling is performed under the conditions indicated by the modeling setting 501 and the environmental information 511 included in the acquired data 500. Execute the search process to In the search process, reference is made to a database in which modeling settings and environmental information and information to be notified are associated. The details of the process related to the search process will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a database referred to by the modeling data processing unit 312 of the relay device 102 in step S404.
The database 600 is configured by a set of records 631 having the following three attribute groups. An attribute group configured by each record is a modeling setting 601, environment information 611, and notification information 621. In other words, in the database 600, the notification information is linked to and managed in a predetermined condition related to the modeling setting and the environmental information for the notification information to be notified.

  The modeling setting 601 is configured from attributes (items) corresponding to each setting information included in the modeling setting 501 of the acquired data 500 (FIG. 6). In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the printer name 602 and the material 603 are included as the attributes forming the modeling setting 601. Further, the environment information 611 is configured from an attribute corresponding to each environment information included in the environment information 511 of the acquired data 500. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the ambient temperature 612 and the ambient humidity 613 are included as attributes that constitute the environmental information 611.

  The notification information 621 includes the following two attributes as information to be notified to the user when modeling is performed under the conditions indicated by the modeling setting 601 of each record 631 and the environment information 611. That is, the notification information 621 is composed of two attributes of a title 622 representing the information and a content 623 representing the detailed content. In addition, the attribute which comprises the notification information 621 is not restricted to this, for example, according to each content 623 has an attribute which shows when the appropriate timing in case the said notification information 621 is notified. It is also good.

  In addition, the attribute which each comprises the modeling setting 601 shown in FIG. 7, the environment information 611, and the notification information 621 is an example, It is not restricted to this. In the search process executed in step S404, the formation data processing unit 312 of the relay device 102 determines whether the acquired data 500 satisfies the condition indicated by each record 631 of the database 600.

  Specifically, it is determined whether each value included in the attribute group of the acquired data 500 satisfies each condition of the corresponding attribute group of each record 631 of the database 600. When each value included in the attribute group of the acquired data 500 satisfies the condition of the corresponding attribute group of the record 631, the notification information 621 of the record 631 is determined as the information to be notified to the user. When the value of a certain attribute is indicated as N / A in each record 631 of the database 600, it means that the attribute is not related to the notification information of the record 631.

  That is, when determining whether each value included in the attribute group of the acquired data 500 satisfies each condition of the corresponding attribute group of each record 631 of the database 600, the attribute is ignored. If the acquired data 500 satisfies the conditions indicated by the plurality of records 631 in the database 600, the notification information 621 of the plurality of records 631 may be determined as the information to be notified.

  It returns to the explanation of FIG. In step S405, the communication unit 311 of the relay apparatus 102 transmits the notification information 621 determined as the information to be notified in step S404 to the client terminal 103. In step S406, the input / output control unit 323 of the client terminal 103 displays the notification information 621 transmitted in step S405 on the input / output device 258 as a notification screen.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a notification screen displayed in step S406.
The notification screen 700 displays information including a notification title 701 and a notification content 702 as information to be notified to the user. In the notification title 701, a title 622 of the notification information 621 determined as the information to be notified in step S404 is displayed. In the notification content 702, the content 623 of the notification information 621 determined as the information to be notified in step S404 is displayed.

  The modeling button 711 is a button for the user to continue the modeling instruction. The user confirms the information notified on the notification screen 700, and presses the modeling button 711 when executing modeling. The cancel button 712 is a button for canceling the shaping instruction. When notification information 621 of a plurality of records 631 is determined as information to be notified in step S404, a plurality of sets of notification titles 701 and notification contents 702 of the plurality of records 631 are displayed on the notification screen 700. You may

  It returns to the explanation of FIG. If the cancel button 712 is pressed on the notification screen 700 (FIG. 8), the process proceeds to step S411. If the modeling button 711 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S421. In step S411, the client terminal 103 transmits, to the relay apparatus 102, a notification for canceling the modeling instruction. In step S421, the client terminal 103 transmits, to the relay apparatus 102, a notification to continue the modeling instruction.

  In step S422, the modeling job generation unit 313 of the relay device 102 generates a modeling job. Specifically, the modeling job generation unit 313 generates a modeling job by designating the model data and modeling settings received in step S401 and using a printer driver corresponding to the modeling apparatus 101. In step S423, the communication unit 311 of the relay device 102 transmits the modeling job generated in step S422 to the modeling device 101. In step S424, the modeling apparatus 101 executes the modeling job received from the relay apparatus 102 in step S423.

  In the present embodiment, the construction method of the database 600 (FIG. 7) is not particularly limited. For example, the database 600 may be constructed by aggregating the results of executing a number of modeling jobs under different conditions in advance. Alternatively, the database 600 may be constructed based on data collected from a vendor of the modeling apparatus 101.

  In addition, the database 600 may be data in which each record 631 is fixed statically, or may be data updated dynamically. For example, the structure data processing unit 312 of the relay device 102 may add a record 631 of the database 600 based on the execution result of the formation job when the formation job is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide information to be notified in modeling, for example, information such as notes and points to be noted in modeling. Thereby, when modeling a three-dimensional object in a modeling apparatus, it can suppress that a modeling result which a user does not intend is obtained.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the relay device 102 acquires the environmental information of the modeling device 101. Specifically, the environment information management unit 315 of the relay apparatus 102 acquires the environment information by a predetermined method according to the attribute of the acquired environment information. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the relay apparatus 102 can not acquire environment information by a predetermined method, that is, to analyze information to be notified to the user among the environment information acquired by the relay apparatus 102. The case where the necessary item values are missing will be described.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the present embodiment.
The processes of steps S801 to S803 are the same as the processes of steps S401 to S403 in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. In step S803, if the environment information management unit 315 of the relay apparatus 102 can not acquire a predetermined attribute (item) to be acquired as environment information according to a predetermined method, the process proceeds to step S807. If the environment information management unit 315 has acquired all of the predetermined attributes to be acquired as environment information, the process proceeds to step S804.

  In step S 807, the environment information management unit 315 of the relay device 102 transmits an instruction to input the complementary information to the relay device 102. In step S808, the input / output control unit 323 of the client terminal 103 displays the input screen of the complement information based on the input instruction of the complement information received in step S807.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the input screen of the complementary information displayed in step S806.
The complementary information input screen 900 is a screen for allowing the user to input information of a predetermined attribute that can not be acquired as environment information in step S803.

  For example, among the attributes included in the environment information 511 (FIG. 6), it is assumed that the ambient temperature 512 and the ambient humidity 513 can not be acquired. At this time, on the input screen 900, an input item 901 for inputting a room temperature and an input item 902 for inputting a humidity are displayed to prompt the user to make an input. The transmission button 911 is a button for transmitting information input to each input item to the relay apparatus 102 as complementary information.

  It returns to the explanation of FIG. In step S809, the client terminal 103 transmits the complementary information input in step S808 to the relay apparatus 102. The subsequent processes, specifically, the processes of steps S804 to S806, S811, and S821 to S824 are the same as the processes of steps S404 to S406, S411, and S421 to S424 in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. .

  Thus, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even when environmental information can not be acquired, information to be notified in modeling can be provided.

Third Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the relay device 102 acquires the environmental information of the modeling device 101. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, among the environment information acquired by the relay device 102, when the value of the item necessary for analysis of the information to be notified to the user is missing, the complementary information is input to the user The configuration to be performed has been described. In the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, among the environment information acquired by the relay device 102, when the value of the item necessary for analysis of the information to be notified to the user is missing, the information is sent to the user. Perform analysis of the information to be notified without complementation.

  The flow of processing in this embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. However, the details of the processes in steps S404 to S406 are different from those in the first embodiment. The details of the processing of steps S404 to S406 different from the first embodiment will be described below.

  In step S404, the modeling data processing unit 312 of the relay apparatus 102 analyzes information to be notified to the user based on the acquired data 500 acquired in steps S402 and S403. Specifically, the modeling data processing unit 312 of the relay device 102 searches for information to be notified to the user when modeling is performed under the conditions indicated by the modeling settings 501 and the environmental information 511 included in the acquired data 500. To determine the information to be notified.

  In the search processing, as in the case of the first embodiment, reference is made to a database in which modeling settings and environmental information are associated with information to be notified. Then, the formation data processing unit 312 determines whether the acquired data 500 satisfies the condition indicated by each record 631 of the database 600. Here, in the present embodiment, among the values included in the attribute group of the acquired data 500, when there is a value that can not be acquired in step S403, the following process is performed.

  In the present embodiment, it is determined whether the value of each attribute other than the attribute satisfies the condition of the corresponding attribute group of each record 631 of the database 600, except for the attribute which can not be acquired in step S403. Then, when each value of the other attributes excluding the attribute that could not be acquired satisfies the condition of the corresponding attribute group of the record 631, information that the user may be notified of the notification information 621 of the record 631 to the user Decide as.

  In step S405, the communication unit 311 of the relay apparatus 102 transmits, to the client terminal 103, the notification information 621 determined as the information to be notified in step S404 and the notification information 621 determined as the information having the possibility of notification. . In step S406, the input / output control unit 323 of the client terminal 103 displays the notification information 621 transmitted in step S405 on the input / output device 258 as a notification screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen displayed in step S406 in the present embodiment.
The notification screen 1000 displays information including a notification title 1001 and a notification content 1002 at the top of the notification screen 1000 as information to be notified to the user. In addition, information including a notification title 1003 and a notification content 1004 is displayed at the bottom of the notification screen 1000 as information that may be notified to the user.

  The information displayed in the notification title 1001 and the notification content 1002 is the title 622 and the content 623 of the notification information 621 determined as the information to be notified to the user in step S404, respectively. Also, the information displayed in the notification title 1003 and the notification content 1004 is the title 622 and the content 623 of the notification information 621 determined as the information that may be notified to the user in step S404, respectively. The modeling button 1011 and the cancel button 1012 are similar to the modeling button 711 and the cancel button 712 on the notification screen 700 (FIG. 8), and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In the case where the notification information 621 of the plurality of records 631 is determined as the information to be notified or the information to be notified in step S404, as in the case of the first embodiment, the plurality of information May be displayed. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 11, the information to be notified and the information that may be notified are displayed at the upper and lower portions of the notification screen 1000, but the display method is not limited to this, and different display There is also a possibility.

  FIG. 12 is an example of a screen for presenting the information to be notified and the information that may be notified to the user in a method different from FIG. Here, for the information to be notified, both the notification title 1001 and the notification content 1002 are displayed on the notification screen 1100. Then, for information that may be notified, only the notification title 1003 is displayed, and the notification content that is the detailed content is not displayed on the notification screen 1100.

  Therefore, only when the user wants to confirm the details, the user can confirm the content of the notification content 1004 by clicking on the “display details by click” section. As described above, the contents displayed on the notification screen 1100 may be changed so that the user can easily confirm important information. The processes after step S411 are the same as in the case of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even when environmental information can not be acquired, information to be notified in modeling can be provided.

  In addition, in each embodiment mentioned above, although it was set as the information processing apparatus different from the client terminal 103 and the modeling apparatus 101 as the relay apparatus 102, it is not restricted to this. For example, each function of the software included in the relay apparatus 102 may be configured to be included in the client terminal 103 or the modeling apparatus 101. For example, the client terminal 103 may include the modeling data processing unit 312 and the modeling job generation unit 313 in the first embodiment, and the client terminal 103 may directly communicate with the modeling apparatus 101.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the database 600 is stored in the relay device 102, specifically, in the storage device 254. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The relay apparatus 102 may be stored in an apparatus on the network 100 that can communicate via the external I / F 255. For example, the database 600 may be configured to be managed on the cloud.

  Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, although the case where the information notified to a user was displayed before a modeling job is transmitted to the modeling apparatus 101 from the relay apparatus 102 was demonstrated, the timing which displays the information notified to a user It is not limited to this. The modeling data processing unit 312 of the relay device 102 appropriately sets the user at an appropriate timing according to the content of the information to be notified, for example, before modeling is performed in the modeling apparatus 101 or after modeling is completed. Can be controlled to notify information to

  For example, when appropriate modeling settings are not performed, or when it is necessary to call attention to the installation environment of the modeling apparatus, etc., when some measures are required before modeling is performed in the modeling apparatus, It is effective to notify the user of the information before instructing the modeling apparatus to model. On the other hand, for example, it is effective to notify the user after the execution of the formation after the completion of the formation, the notes on taking out the formed three-dimensional object, the information about the operation after the formation is performed, etc. is there.

  Also, for example, when it is desirable to ventilate during modeling, or when it is desirable that room temperature, brightness, etc. be kept constant, notes etc. that are preferably provided to the user during modeling are as follows: It is effective to notify the user while the shaping is being performed. For example, during execution of modeling, the user needs to be alerted to the installation environment of the modeling apparatus based on information acquired from various sensors of the modeling apparatus 101 after a certain time has passed, etc. It may be notified appropriately.

  When the modeling data processing unit 312 notifies the user of the information at an appropriate timing according to the content of the information to be notified, the modeling data processing unit 312 determines the information in analysis of the information to be notified (step S404). The timing of notification may be set according to the content. Then, the modeling data processing unit 312 may perform control such that the information is transmitted via the communication unit 311 at the set timing.

  Alternatively, the formation data processing unit 312 monitors the state of the formation apparatus 101 and the state of the formation job, performs analysis of information to be notified at any timing (step S404), and the determined information is at the communication unit It may be controlled to be transmitted via H.311. For example, the formation data processing unit 312 monitors the state of the formation apparatus 101 and the state of the formation job, and notifies at a timing when information indicating that the state of the formation apparatus 101 and the state of the formation job has changed is acquired. The analysis of the information to be performed (step S404) may be performed. Thus, the method for notifying the user of the information at an appropriate timing according to the content of the information notified by the relay device 102 is not limited.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. Can also be realized. It can also be implemented by a circuit (eg, an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

A relay device that is connected to a modeling apparatus that models a three-dimensional object and receives a modeling instruction for the modeling apparatus from a client terminal,
Acquisition means for acquiring environmental information corresponding to the installation environment of the modeling apparatus;
A receiving unit for receiving a modeling instruction specifying a modeling apparatus and a modeling setting from the client terminal;
A control unit configured to control analysis of information to be notified in modeling of a three-dimensional object in the designated modeling apparatus based on the modeling setting and the environmental information;
And a providing unit configured to provide information acquired by the analysis. The information to be notified is managed on the relay device or the cloud by being linked to a predetermined condition regarding modeling setting and environmental information for the information to be notified,
The control means acquires, in the analysis, the information to be notified that is associated with the predetermined condition when the acquired environmental information and the received modeling setting satisfy the predetermined condition. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that In the case where the value of the item necessary for analysis of the information to be notified among the acquired environmental information is missing, the control means may, in the analysis, indicate that the other of the acquired environmental information is not missing. The relay apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information to be notified is acquired based on the value of the item of. When the value of the item necessary for analysis of the information to be notified among the acquired environmental information is missing, the providing means provides a screen for receiving the input of the value of the required item. The relay apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the environmental information includes at least a temperature of an installation environment of the modeling apparatus or a humidity. The providing means provides, according to the contents of the information acquired by the analysis, the information during execution of formation of a three-dimensional object in the designated formation device. The relay device according to any one of 5. The providing means provides, according to the content of the information acquired by the analysis, the information after the formation of the three-dimensional object in the designated formation device is completed. The relay device according to any one of 6. A control method in a relay device connected to a modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object, and receiving a modeling instruction for the modeling apparatus from a client terminal,
An acquisition step of acquiring environmental information corresponding to an installation environment of the modeling apparatus;
A receiving step of receiving a modeling instruction specifying a modeling apparatus and a modeling setting from the client terminal;
A control step of controlling analysis of information to be notified in modeling of the three-dimensional object in the designated modeling device based on the modeling setting and the environmental information;
And a providing step of providing information obtained by the analysis. An acquisition step of acquiring environmental information corresponding to an installation environment of a modeling apparatus that models a three-dimensional object;
A receiving step of receiving a modeling instruction specifying a modeling apparatus and a modeling setting from the client terminal;
A control step of controlling analysis of information to be notified in modeling of the three-dimensional object in the designated modeling device based on the modeling setting and the environmental information;
A program for causing a computer to execute a providing step of providing information acquired by the analysis.

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