JP2018114623A - Molding device and molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress wasteful consumption of a modeling material in a modeling apparatus for producing a plurality of three-dimensional objects. SOLUTION: The modeling apparatus has a manufacturing unit for sequentially laminating modeling materials to produce a plurality of three-dimensional objects, and each three-dimensional object is produced at a predetermined timing before or during the production of the plurality of three-dimensional objects. It is acquired by the required amount acquisition unit for acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing, the remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material, and the required amount acquisition unit. Selection to select a three-dimensional object that can be produced after the predetermined timing from the plurality of three-dimensional objects based on the amount of the modeling material and the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit. The manufacturing unit continues the production of the three-dimensional object selected by the selection unit even after the predetermined timing, and stops the production of the three-dimensional object selected by the selection unit. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a modeling apparatus and a modeling method.

  In recent years, three-dimensional modeling technology called additive manufacturing (AM) has attracted attention. AM technology slices three-dimensional shape data of a three-dimensional model into a plurality of layers, generates slice data, forms a material layer with a modeling material based on the slice data, and sequentially stacks the material layer on the stage. It is a technique for producing a three-dimensional object by fixing. Such a layered modeling method includes a stereolithography method, a powder sintering method, a sheet deposition method, a resin extrusion method, an inkjet method, an electrophotographic method, and the like. In a method of expressing a three-dimensional modeled object, a format called STL (Stereo lithography) is often used. The STL data is composed of the normal coordinates of the triangles that form the surface of the three-dimensional object and the three-dimensional XYZ coordinate points. A three-dimensional model representing a three-dimensional object is generally composed of shells that are adjacent triangle groups.

When producing a plurality of three-dimensional objects with such a modeling apparatus, slice data may be generated so that a plurality of three-dimensional objects are arranged on the stage. Arrangement method is arbitrary, but consider that solid objects do not overlap, arrange so that modeling time is shortened, or devise so that solid objects do not mix when taking out from the stage after production There is a need to.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique of simultaneously performing a modeling process by combining a plurality of print jobs based on the modeling area and the remaining amount information of the modeling material in a modeling apparatus using the layered modeling method.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-85663

However, in a conventional modeling apparatus, there is a difference between the remaining amount of modeling material in the modeling process and the remaining amount at the time of generating the 3D shape data of the three-dimensional model due to the handling of the modeling material and various reasons. In some cases, however, the modeling material is insufficient during the production of the three-dimensional object.
In such a case, it is necessary to interrupt the solid object manufacturing process and replenish the modeling material. If the modeling material cannot be replenished, the manufacturing process ends with the material shortage in the middle of manufacturing, and a plurality of three-dimensional objects that are defective in modeling are produced, and the modeling material is wasted. Concerned.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above situations, and it aims at suppressing the wasteful consumption of modeling material in the modeling apparatus which produces a some solid object.

The first aspect of the present invention is:
Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling apparatus having a production unit that sequentially laminates modeling materials to produce a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition unit for acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each solid object at a predetermined timing before or during the production of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
Based on the amount of the modeling material acquired by the required amount acquisition unit and the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit, a three-dimensional object that can be produced after the predetermined timing is obtained. A selection unit for selecting from among three-dimensional objects;
Have
The manufacturing unit provides the modeling apparatus characterized in that the manufacturing of the three-dimensional object selected by the selection unit is continued after the predetermined timing, and the preparation of the three-dimensional object not selected is stopped.

The second aspect of the present invention is:
Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling apparatus having a production unit that sequentially laminates modeling materials to produce a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition unit for acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each solid object at a predetermined timing before or during the production of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
A presentation unit that presents information on the amount of the modeling material of each three-dimensional object acquired by the required amount acquisition unit, and information on the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit;
An information acquisition unit that acquires information on a three-dimensional object selected by the user from the plurality of three-dimensional objects based on the information presented by the presenting unit;
Have
The production unit continues production of the three-dimensional object selected by the user after the predetermined timing based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and stops production of the three-dimensional object not selected. A modeling apparatus is provided.

The third aspect of the present invention is:
Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling method including a manufacturing step of sequentially forming modeling materials to prepare a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition step of acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each three-dimensional object at a predetermined timing before or during preparation of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition step of acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
Based on the amount of the modeling material acquired in the required amount acquisition step and the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired in the remaining amount acquisition step, a three-dimensional object that can be produced after the predetermined timing is obtained. A selection step of selecting from among three-dimensional objects;
Have
In the production step, the production of the solid object selected in the selection step is continued after the predetermined timing, and the production of the solid object not selected is stopped.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is:
Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling method including a manufacturing step of sequentially forming modeling materials to prepare a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition step of acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each three-dimensional object at a predetermined timing before or during preparation of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition step of acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
A presenting step of presenting information regarding the amount of the modeling material of each three-dimensional object acquired in the necessary amount acquisition step, and the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired in the remaining amount acquisition step;
An information acquisition step of acquiring information relating to a three-dimensional object selected by the user from among the plurality of three-dimensional objects based on the information presented in the presenting step;
Have
In the production step, the production of the solid object selected by the user is continued after the predetermined timing based on the information acquired in the information acquisition step, and the production of the solid object not selected is stopped. A modeling method is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the modeling apparatus which produces a some solid object, it becomes possible to suppress useless consumption of modeling material.

Schematic for demonstrating the modeling method of the molded article by the modeling apparatus of embodiment Software configuration diagram of a program for controlling the operation of the modeling apparatus of the embodiment The figure which shows each structure of object information, modeling information, and slice data information The flowchart which shows the flow of the data processing in the case of the modeling process of 1st Embodiment The flowchart which shows the flow of the production | generation process of the slice data of 1st Embodiment The flowchart which shows the data process of the selection process of the modeling target object of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the mode of the modeling process when the modeling material of 1st Embodiment does not run short The figure which shows the mode of modeling processing when the lack of modeling material is detected at the time of job start The figure which shows the mode of modeling processing when a lack of modeling material is detected during modeling The figure which shows the appearance of the model and slice data in the modeling process The figure for demonstrating the selection method of the modeling target object of 2nd Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the selection method of the modeling target object of 3rd Embodiment. User interface for specifying how to select the object User interface for specifying the object to be modeled

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, various control procedures, control parameters, target values, etc., such as dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the members described in the following embodiments are described in the present invention. It is not intended to limit the scope of the above to only those.
The present invention relates to a layered modeling technique (AM technique), that is, a modeling apparatus and a modeling method adopting a technique for producing a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) by arranging modeling materials in two dimensions and laminating them in layers. The modeling apparatus according to the present invention is a modeling apparatus having a preparation unit that sequentially stacks modeling materials to produce a plurality of three-dimensional objects based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models. The features of the modeling apparatus according to the present invention will be described. First, the amount of modeling material required after a predetermined timing for preparing each three-dimensional object at a predetermined timing before or during the production of a plurality of three-dimensional objects. Get each. Then, based on the amount of the modeling material acquired and the remaining amount of the modeling material, a solid object that can be produced after a predetermined timing is selected from a plurality of solid objects, and the production of the selected solid object is performed after the predetermined timing. The production of the three-dimensional object that has not been selected is stopped.

As the modeling material, various materials can be selected according to the application, function, purpose, etc. of the three-dimensional object to be produced. In this specification, a material constituting a three-dimensional object for modeling is referred to as “structural material”, and a portion formed of the structural material is referred to as a structure. A material that constitutes a support body (for example, a structure that supports the overhang portion from below) for supporting the structure being manufactured is referred to as a “support material”. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the two, the term “modeling material” is simply used. As the structural material, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), ABS, PS (polystyrene), and PC (polycarbonate) can be used. As the support material, a material having thermoplasticity and water solubility can be preferably used in order to simplify the removal from the structure. Examples of the support material include carbohydrates, polylactic acid (PLA), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), and PEG (polyethylene glycol).

Further, in this specification, digital data generated from cross-sectional data obtained by slicing three-dimensional shape data of a stereoscopic model to be produced into a plurality of layers along the stacking direction is referred to as “slice data”. The slice data is generated by adding information such as support material data as necessary. A layer (an image for one layer) formed of a modeling material based on slice data is referred to as a “material layer”. A “material layer” is a layer of particles formed by combining one or more material layers depending on the type of modeling material used.
A three-dimensional model (that is, a three-dimensional object represented by three-dimensional shape data given to the modeling apparatus) to be produced using the modeling apparatus is referred to as a “modeling object”. In addition, a three-dimensional object produced (output) by the modeling apparatus is referred to as a “modeled object”. In the case where the modeled object includes the support body, a portion excluding the support body becomes a “structure” constituting the modeled object. The modeling object produced with the modeling apparatus of this embodiment includes a plurality of modeling objects.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a modeling method of a modeled object by the modeling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. In the modeling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a material layer for one layer made of a modeling material is formed using an electrophotographic process, and a modeled object is manufactured by sequentially stacking the formed material layers on a stage.
Below, the structure of the modeling apparatus 100 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In FIG. 1, 101 a is a storage unit for storing a structural material, 101 b is a storage unit for storing a support material, 102 is a chargeable powder, 103 is a photosensitive drum, 104 is a powder layer carrier, 105 is an intermediate transfer member, Reference numeral 106 denotes a heat roll, and 107 denotes a heater. Reference numeral 108 denotes a material thickness sensor, 109 denotes a lamination thickness sensor, 113 denotes a stage, 114 denotes a slow cooler, and 115 denotes a collection blade. Reference numeral 111 denotes a material layer carried and transported on the intermediate transfer member 105, which indicates a material layer before lamination on the stage 113, and 110 denotes a first material layer laminated on the stage 113. The modeled object formed by doing is shown. Reference numeral 112 denotes a modeled object formed by laminating the material layer 111 on the modeled object 110 on the stage 113. Here, in the present embodiment, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the chargeable powder 102 is composed of a chargeable powder made of a structural material and a chargeable powder made of a support material. The chargeable powder 102 is manufactured by pulverizing a thermoplastic resin material.

Below, a lamination process is explained.
First, the chargeable powder 102 is supplied to the photosensitive drum 103 from the storage units 101a and 101b. The structural material and the support material constituting the chargeable powder 102 are arranged based on the slice data and developed on the photosensitive drum 103. An image made of the developed chargeable powder (hereinafter, chargeable powder image) is transferred to the powder layer carrier 104. Thereafter, in order to transfer the chargeable powder image from the powder layer transport body 104 to a predetermined position of the intermediate transfer body 105, the powder layer transport body 104 and the intermediate transfer body 105 are coupled and start a synchronization operation. The synchronization operation can be performed by detecting a marker, which is formed on the basis of the slice data and transferred to the powder layer carrier 104 simultaneously with the chargeable powder image, by using a sensor as a trigger. It is also possible to synchronize by measuring the conveying speed and moving distance of the powder layer conveying member 104 and the intermediate transfer member 105 and matching the time timing.

When the chargeable powder image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 105, the powder layer carrier 104 and the intermediate transfer member 105 are separated from each other and shift to an independent operation. The chargeable powder image transferred to the intermediate transfer member 105 is heated, melted and pressurized when passing through the heat roll 106 to form a sheet-like material layer 111. Thereafter, the material layer 111 is sent to the stacking position where the heater 107 is disposed, and is sandwiched between the surface of the modeling object 110 on the stage 113 and the heater 107 while being heated by the heater 107, thereby forming the modeling object. It is melt bonded to the surface of 110 and laminated on the stage 113. In this way, the material layer is sequentially laminated on the stage 113, so that a shaped object is produced.

Here, the material thickness sensor 108 measures the thickness of the material layer 111 (height from the surface of the intermediate transfer member 105). Based on the measurement result of the material thickness sensor 108, for example, the amount of particles can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the powder supplied from the accommodating portion 101a accommodating the structural material and the accommodating portion 101b accommodating the support material.
The slow cooler 114 is for facilitating release of the material layer 111 from the intermediate transfer member 105 after lamination. The collection blade 115 is for peeling and collecting the material remaining on the intermediate transfer member 105. The stack thickness sensor 109 measures the thickness of the modeled object in which a plurality of material layers are sequentially stacked (the height of the modeled object on the stage). Based on the measurement result, the amount of powder supplied from the accommodating portion 101a that accommodates the structural material and the accommodating portion 101b that accommodates the support material can also be controlled.

Further, FIG. 1 shows three states of a stacking process in which a plurality of material layers are sequentially stacked, and transition is made in the order of states (1), (2), and (3). In FIG. 1, the state (1) is a state in which the first layer of the material layer is laminated on the stage 113 and the shaped object 110 is formed, and is in a standby state for laminating the second material layer 111. Is shown.
State (2) shows a state in which the material layer 111 and the modeled object 110 on the stage 113 are melt-bonded by the heating of the heater 107. At this time, the stage 113 moves to the position where the material layer 111 and the bonding surfaces of the modeled object 110 on the stage 113 coincide with each other based on the measurement result of the material thickness sensor 108 with respect to the state (1).

  The heat roll 106 includes two heaters 106a1 and 106a2 and a roller 106b. The heater 106 a 1, the roller 106 b, and the heater 106 a 2 are provided with the conveyance surface of the intermediate transfer member 105 interposed therebetween, and a chargeable powder image passes between the heater 106 a 1, the roller 106 b and the conveyance surface of the intermediate transfer member 105. A gap having a predetermined height is provided. The chargeable powder image is rolled by moving through this gap to form a material layer 111 that is a sheet-like powder. The heater 107 is preferably configured so as to be able to pressurize the chargeable powder image as necessary, and for example, a flat heater is preferable. Here, the means for pressurizing the chargeable powder image is not particularly limited, and may be provided separately from the heater. For example, the chargeable powder image may be configured to be pressurizable by using a rigid material for the intermediate transfer member 105, and the rigid material may be fixedly disposed between the intermediate transfer member 105 and the heater 107. The chargeable powder image may be configured to be pressurizable. Examples of the heater 107 include a ceramic heater and an IH (induction heating) heater.

In FIG. 1, the state (3) indicates a state in which the height of the shaped object 112 on the stage 113 is measured by the stack thickness sensor 109. Here, the material thickness sensor 108 and the laminated thickness sensor 109 may be, for example, a diffuse reflection type displacement sensor, but any sensor can be used as long as it can measure the thickness and height of one or more material layers. I do not care.
By repeating the stacking process in which the states (1), (2), and (3) are sequentially performed, a desired model is manufactured.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, the modeling apparatus 100 includes a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU, and controls the operation of the apparatus by a program stored in the ROM.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a program that performs operation control of the modeling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
Information necessary for a modeling process (manufacturing process) for manufacturing a modeled object including the three-dimensional shape data of the modeled object transmitted from the external device is received by the job receiving unit 201 as a job. In the present embodiment, the job is received as a job for creating a plurality of modeling objects in a single modeling process. The job receiving unit 201 extracts and records object information 202 including information on individual modeling objects and three-dimensional shape data 203 necessary for production from the received job. The object information 202 is information received as job setting information, and is set for each modeling object, and the amount of modeling material used to produce each modeling object (hereinafter, modeling material amount). Contains information about. In addition, the three-dimensional shape data 203 indicates data indicating the shape of a modeling object such as STL (Stereolithography), but any format may be used.

  The modeling object selection unit 204 obtains the following information from the object information 202, slice data information 208 described later, and information on the remaining amount of modeling material described below (hereinafter, modeling material residual information) 211, respectively. Inspect whether each modeling object can be modeled. That is, the modeling object selection unit 204 acquires information on the amount of modeling material necessary for producing the modeling target from the object information 202, and relates to the amount of modeling material consumed for the modeling target from the slice data information 208. Get information. Further, the modeling material remaining amount of the modeling apparatus 100 is acquired from the modeling material remaining amount information 211. And the modeling object selection part 204 test | inspects with respect to each modeling object whether a modeling target object can be modeled with a modeling material remaining amount from the modeling material remaining amount and the modeling material amount required after a test | inspection. The result is recorded as modeling information 205.

Although the details of the modeling information 205 and the modeling process using the modeling information 205 will be described later, the modeling object selection unit 204 selects a modeling target that can be modeled from a plurality of modeling targets based on the inspection result. . The modeling process of the modeling object selected by the modeling object selection unit 204 is continued even after the inspection by the modeling object selection unit 204, and the modeling object that has not been selected (modeling that is rejected by the inspection by the modeling object selection unit 204) The modeling process (including the object) is cancelled. Here, the modeling object selection unit 204 includes a necessary amount acquisition unit, a remaining amount acquisition unit, a selection unit, and a consumed amount acquisition unit.
The inspection by the modeling object selection unit 204 is performed at a timing when the job information is generated when the job is started and a timing at which a slice data generation unit 206 (to be described later) performs a slicing process. Updated. Here, the timing at which the job information is generated when the job is started corresponds to a predetermined timing before the creation of a plurality of three-dimensional objects, and the timing at which the slice data generation unit 206 performs the slice processing is a plurality of three-dimensional objects. This corresponds to a predetermined timing during the production of the above. The information that the modeling object selection unit 204 acquires from the slice data information 208 is information related to the amount of modeling material consumed to produce the modeling object by a predetermined timing. Inspecting whether each modeling object can be modeled by the modeling object selection unit 204 is based on the modeling material amount required after a predetermined timing and the remaining modeling material, and modeling is performed after the predetermined timing with the remaining modeling material. Whether or not the object can be produced is inspected, and details will be described later.

The modeling information 205 includes information including the amount of modeling material consumed for each modeling object, the amount of modeling material necessary for production, and whether modeling is possible.
The slice data generation unit 206 performs a slice process for generating slice data 207 from the three-dimensional shape data 203 and the modeling information 205. That is, the slice data generation unit 206 determines the arrangement for producing a plurality of modeling objects on the stage, performs a cross-sectional calculation of the modeling object described in STL and the like, and designates the modeling material to be stacked. It converts into 207 and records sequentially. The modeling target to be modeled is determined as a modeling target that can be modeled described by the modeling information 205. The slice data generation unit 206 also refers to the modeling information 205 to determine whether or not each modeling target is modeled, and re-converts and records the slice data 207 so as to include only the modeling target that can be modeled. For each piece of converted or reconverted slice data, the amount of modeling material necessary for stacking is recorded as slice data information 208 for the modeling object to be produced.

The modeling unit (manufacturing unit) 209 reads the slice data to be stacked in accordance with an instruction from the slice data generation unit 206, and performs a modeling process of manufacturing a modeling target by stacking material layers formed of the modeling material based on the slice data. Run. When the lamination of the designated slice data is completed, the content of the corresponding slice data information 208 is updated by the modeling unit 209 as the lamination completion information.
The modeling material remaining amount acquisition unit 210 is a processing unit that acquires information regarding the remaining amount of the modeling material and records the modeling material remaining amount information 211. The means for generating the modeling material remaining amount information 211 includes, for example, a method of calculating the remaining amount by acquiring the weight of the modeling material from a storage unit that stores the modeling material as a modeling apparatus, but is not particularly limited. .

3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating examples of the configurations and contents of the object information 202, the modeling information 205, and the slice data information 208, respectively.
FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the object information 202. The object information 202 is an object ID_301 for identifying a modeling object included in the three-dimensional shape data 203.
And a modeling material estimated amount 302 necessary for producing a corresponding modeling object. In this example, the three-dimensional shape data 203 includes three modeling objects whose object ID_301 is indicated by object ID1 to object ID3. In FIG. 3A, the modeling material amount necessary for the production of the object ID1 is 120, the modeling material amount necessary for the production of the object ID2 is 60, and the modeling material amount necessary for the production of the object ID3 is 30. 302 is shown.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the modeling information 205.
In the modeling information 205, an object ID_301 of the identified modeling object, a modeling material consumed amount 303, a modeling material required amount 304, and modeling possibility 305 are described. The modeling material consumption amount 303 is the consumed modeling material amount used for producing the object ID_301 by a predetermined timing when the inspection by the modeling object selecting unit 204 is performed. The required amount of modeling material 304 indicates the amount of modeling material required until a modeling target is produced (modeling process is completed) after a predetermined timing when the modeling object selection unit 204 performs inspection. The modeling material required amount 304 is obtained by subtracting the modeling material consumed amount 303 from the modeling material estimated amount 302. Modeling availability 305 is indicated as information indicating whether modeling is possible.

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the slice data information 208.
The slice data information 208 includes slice No_306, stacking status 307, and information 308, 309, and 310 of individual modeling objects on the slice data 207. Slice No_306 indicates the order in which the converted slice data 207 is stacked. Lamination status 3
07 indicates the stacking status of the slice data 207. In the slice data information 208 of the slice data 207 for which the stacking process has been completed, the stacking status 307 is “completed”, and when the stacking process has not yet been performed, the stacking status 307 is “not yet”. The object ID1 modeling material amount 308a indicates the modeling material amount necessary for producing the slice data 207 corresponding to the modeling object identified by the object ID1. The object ID1 area 308b shows the arrangement information of the modeling target identified by the object ID1 on the slice data 207.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to first to fifth embodiments as more specific embodiments. In the following first to fifth embodiments, configurations and processes different from those of the above-described embodiments will be described, and descriptions of configurations and processes similar to those of the above-described embodiments will be omitted. Also in the first to fifth embodiments, the description of the same configuration and processing is omitted.

<First Embodiment>
The first embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, an example in which a modeling process is performed based on the information of the modeling information 205 illustrated in FIG. 3B will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of data processing when a modeling target is produced based on the received three-dimensional shape data 203 of the job according to the information of the modeling information 205.
In step 401, the modeling object selection unit 204 generates modeling information 205 from the object information 202 obtained by analyzing the received job, and extracts and records the three-dimensional shape data 203.

  In step 402, the slice data generation unit 206 generates slice data 207, and the modeling unit 209 performs modeling processing using the generated slice data 207. At this time, the slice data generation unit 206 performs cross-sectional calculation and arrangement processing of the three-dimensional shape data described in the STL in accordance with the modeling information 205, converts the slice data 207 including the instruction of the modeling material, The slice data information 208 is recorded. In addition, when already generated slice data 207 is recorded in accordance with the modeling information 205, the generated slice data is processed into slice data including only a modeling target that can be modeled, and the slice data 207 and slice data information 208 are updated. The recorded slice data is transmitted to the modeling unit 209, and a modeling target is produced based on the slice data. After the modeling process is performed based on all the slice data necessary for the production, the process proceeds to step 403, and the modeling object is taken out. In step 404, post-processing such as surface processing is performed on the modeling target for which modeling processing has been completed, and a desired modeling target is completed.

5A and 5B are flowcharts showing a flow of data processing of the slice data generating unit 206 that generates the slice data 207 based on the modeling information 205 and performs modeling processing via the modeling unit 209. FIG.
Hereinafter, a data processing flow of the slice data generation unit 206 will be described with reference to FIG. 5A.
In step 501, the slice data generation unit 206 acquires the modeling information 205 and selects and confirms the modeling target to be produced according to the information on the modeling availability 305. Here, when the information on the modeling possibility 305 is different from the content of the modeling information 205 acquired when the previous slice data was generated, the remaining amount detection process shown in FIG. 5B is performed.

After determining the modeling target, the slice data generation unit 206 generates slice data 207 from the three-dimensional shape data 203 extracted from the job in step 502. The cross-sectional calculation and placement processing of the three-dimensional shape data described in the STL is performed, and the slice data including the instruction of the modeling material is converted so as to include only the determined modeling target.
In step 503, the converted slice data and the slice data information are recorded as unshaped slice data information 208. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 504, and the modeling unit 209 is requested to model the generated slice data 207. The modeling unit 209 stores the slice data 207 that has received the modeling request, and sequentially performs stacking. The slice data information 208 of the slice data corresponding to the stacked material layers is updated with the stacking status 307 shown in FIG. 3C being stacked.

In step 505, the slice data generation unit 206 determines whether or not all slice data necessary for production has been generated. If there is ungenerated slice data, the process returns to step 501 to continue the slice data generation processing. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 505 that the generation of all slice data necessary for production has been completed, the process proceeds to step 506.
In step 506, the slice data generation unit 206 determines whether all the generated slice data has been created by the modeling unit 209 based on the modeling information 205 and the slice data information 208. When the slice data information 208 of all the slice data is already stacked, the completion of the modeling process is detected, and the slice data generation process ends. The slice data generation unit 206 performs the remaining amount detection process shown in FIG. 5B when the information on the modeling possibility 305 of the modeling information 205 is updated before detecting the end of the modeling process.

FIG. 5B shows a shortage detection process when a shortage of the amount of modeling material is detected based on the modeling information 205.
In the present embodiment, the remaining amount shortage detection process is performed when the modeling object is determined in step 501 in FIG. 5A or when the modeling completion is monitored in step 506.
In step 507, the slice data generation unit 206 determines whether or not the remaining amount is insufficient based on the content of the modeling information 205. When the information on the modeling possibility 305 described in the modeling information 205 is different from the information at the time of the remaining amount detection process performed last time, it is determined that the remaining amount is insufficient, and thus the remaining amount is detected. The If the shortage is not detected, the slice data generation unit 206 ends the shortage detection process. In step 507, when it is detected that the remaining amount is insufficient, the process proceeds to step 508, and a modeling target for which the modeling process is to be continued is selected and confirmed in accordance with the information of modeling capability 305 described in the modeling information 205. At this time, the number of modeling objects for which the determined modeling process is continued is smaller than the number of modeling objects during the modeling process before the shortage of the remaining amount is detected.

In step 509, the slice data generation unit 206 determines whether or not there is one or more generated slice data information 208 that has not been formed yet. If there is at least one piece of slice data for which the modeling request has been made in step 504, the slice data information 208 has an unstacked state, the process proceeds to step 510. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no unshaped slice data, the remaining amount shortage detection process is terminated.
In step 510, the slice data generation unit 206 interrupts the slice data stacking process via the modeling unit 209.
In step 511, the slice data generation unit 206 performs processing of unshaped slice data that has not been stacked by the modeling unit 209. The slice data processing is performed on all slice data for which the slice data information 208 is not yet stacked. In the processing of slice data, the arrangement information of the modeling target designated as modeling impossible in the modeling information 205 is acquired from the slice data information 208. This arrangement information is information indicated by the object ID1 area 308b in FIG.

In the present embodiment, mask processing for masking generated slice data is performed using mask data for masking the area so that the modeling material is not used for the area corresponding to the arrangement information. For the masking, a technique used in the 2D printer field can be applied. In the present embodiment, the processing of unshaped slice data is performed by mask processing, but is not limited thereto. That is, a process of deleting the cross-sectional data of the area corresponding to the placement information of the modeling target specified as modeling impossible in the modeling information 205 from unshaped slice data may be performed.
In this way, the slice data generation unit 206 performs processing of unshaped slice data as a processing unit. Thereafter, the slice data generation unit 206 updates the slice data 207 before processing and the slice data information 208 to information after processing. After the slice data generation unit 206 performs the processing on all the unshaped generated slice data, the process proceeds to step 512, and the slice data stacking process is resumed via the modeling unit 209, and the remaining amount is insufficient. The detection process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the data processing of the modeling object selection process of the modeling object selection unit 204.
When the modeling information 205 is requested from the slice data generation unit 206, the modeling object selection unit 204 selects a modeling target that can be modeled from the modeling material remaining amount information 211, the slice data information 208, and the modeling information 205. The information of the modeling information 205 is updated. Then, the modeling object selection unit 204 notifies the slice data generation unit 206 of the contents.
In step 601, the modeling object selection unit 204 acquires the modeling material remaining amount information 211 from the modeling material remaining amount acquisition unit 210, and in step 602 acquires the modeling information 205. In step 603, the modeling object selection unit 204 acquires slice data information 208 that has already been stacked. The slice data information identified as stacked is slice data information in which the stacking status 307 shown in FIG. 3C is stacked.

  In step 604, the modeling object selection unit 204 updates the modeling information 205 from the acquired slice data information 208 that has been stacked. For each object ID indicated in the modeling information 205, the consumed modeling material amount is acquired from the laminated slice data information 208, and the modeling material consumed amount 303 and the modeling material required amount 304 are updated. Taking FIG. 3C as an example, 308a is extracted as the value of the modeling material amount consumed from the stacked slice data information 208 for the modeling object identified by the object ID1. The modeling material consumed amount 303 is updated with a value obtained by adding the consumed modeling material amount to the original value, and the modeling material required amount 304 is updated with a value obtained by subtracting the consumed modeling material amount from the original value. The The modeling object selection unit 204 proceeds to step 605 and determines whether or not the inspection of the modeling object identified by all the object IDs indicated in the modeling information 205 has been completed with all the acquired slice data information acquired. .

If it is determined in step 605 that the inspection has not been completed, the process returns to step 604, and the modeling object selection unit 204 inspects the modeling object that has not been inspected. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 605 that the inspection is completed, the process proceeds to step 606, and the modeling object selection unit 204 selects a modeling target that can be modeled from the modeling information 205. The modeling object selection unit 204 determines, for each modeling object identified by the object ID_301, whether modeling can be continued from the modeling material required amount 304 of the modeling information 205 and the acquired modeling material remaining amount information 211. Select the object to be modeled. In step 607, the modeling object selection unit 204 updates the modeling information 205 according to the information of the selected modeling object. The information on the modeling information 305 corresponding to the object ID selected as modeling is “possible”, and when it is determined that modeling is impossible, the information on the modeling information 205 is updated as “impossible”.

FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 are diagrams illustrating specific examples of the state of the modeling target after completion of stacking, and the modeling information 205 at the time of modeling and the slice data 207 in the modeling process in the present embodiment.
FIGS. 7 to 9 show an example in which four identical modeling objects are produced in one modeling process. In this example, 50 modeling material amounts are required for one modeling object. Shall.

7A to 7C are diagrams illustrating a state of the modeling process when the modeling material is not insufficient.
FIG. 7A shows a state in which four identical modeling objects OID1 to OID4 are produced on the stage 113. FIG. FIG. 7B shows the contents of the modeling information 205 generated at the start of the job. Each of the object ID_301 corresponds to the modeling objects OID1 to OID4 in FIG. 7A. Since lamination based on slice data is not performed at the start of modeling, the modeling material consumption of each modeling object is 0, and the modeling material required amount is 50. At the start of the job, the required amount of modeling material is acquired from the object information 202, respectively. When the modeling object is not produced, when the remaining amount of the modeling material is not insufficient, the item of modeling propriety 305 of the modeling information 205 is recorded as “OK”. FIG. 7C shows slice data 207 in the modeling process. In this example, the slice area has the size of the stage 113, and the modeling objects OID1 to OID4 are arranged in the area. The arrangement information of the modeling object is recorded for each modeling object in the slice data information 208 as described with reference to FIG. 3C. As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, if the amount of modeling material is not insufficient, a modeling object is created based on all the three-dimensional shape data included in the three-dimensional shape data 203.

8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating a state of a modeling process when a lack of modeling material is detected at the start of a job (before the production of a plurality of three-dimensional objects).
In this example, the three-dimensional shape data includes four modeling objects OID1 to OID4 as in FIGS. 7A to 7C. However, three modeling objects OID1 are detected when a modeling shortage is detected at the start of the job. Only OID3 is produced. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the modeling objects OID1 to OID3 are produced on the stage 113. The content of the modeling information 205 in FIG. 8B is 0 for the modeling material consumption and 50 for the modeling material at the start of modeling, as in FIG. 7B. In the example of FIGS. 8A to 8C, when the modeling material remaining amount is set to 170, the modeling material necessary amount (200) necessary for producing all the modeling objects of the modeling information 205 is the modeling material remaining amount (170). It exceeds. The modeling object selection unit 204 that has determined that the modeling material is insufficient selects the modeling objects OID <b> 1 to OID <b> 3 as modeling objects that can be modeled from the remaining modeling material amount and the necessary amount of modeling material. In the modeling information 205, as shown in FIG. 8B, the modeling possible item of the modeling objects OID1 to OID3 is “possible” indicating that modeling is possible, and the same item of the modeling object OID4 is “impossible” indicating that modeling is impossible. As a result, the information is updated. FIG. 8C shows slice data 207 in the modeling process. The slice data 207 is composed of only the modeling objects OID1 to OID3 that can be modeled based on the modeling information of the modeling information 205.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are diagrams illustrating a state of a modeling process when a lack of a modeling material is detected during modeling (during the production of a plurality of three-dimensional objects).
In this example, the three-dimensional shape data includes four modeling objects OID1 to OID4, as in FIGS. 7A to 7C. Production of only one modeling object OID1 to OID3 is continued. FIG. 9A shows a state in which three modeling objects OID1 to OID3 are produced on the stage 113 and the modeling object OID4 cannot be modeled during modeling. FIG. 9B shows the contents of the modeling information 205 when a lack of modeling material is detected during modeling. In the example of FIGS. 9A to 9D, the modeling material remaining amount changes to 100 when 20 modeling materials are consumed for each modeling object, and a state in which modeling insufficiency is detected is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, the required amount of modeling material is 30 for each of the modeling objects OID1 to OID4, which exceeds the modeling material remaining amount (100), and the modeling information 205 is updated as in FIG. 8B. In other words, as shown in FIG. 9B, the information on whether or not the modeling information 205 can be modeled is updated as “allowed” indicating that modeling is possible in the modeling target objects OID1 to OID3. FIG. 9C shows slice data 207 in the modeling process. The slice data 207 is configured with modeling objects OID1 to OID4 that can be modeled as shown in FIG. 9C based on the modeling information of the modeling information 205 until the modeling material shortage is detected. After detection of the modeling material shortage, based on the information of the updated modeling information 205, as shown in FIG. 9D, the slice data 207 is configured with modeling target objects OID1 to OID3, and the modeling process is continued.

FIGS. 10A to 10C are views showing a model and slice data in the modeling process.
10A and 10B show an example in which three modeling objects, a triangular pyramid, a cylinder, and a rectangular parallelepiped are produced.
FIG. 10A illustrates a modeling state of a modeling object in the middle of modeling as a cross-sectional view, and shows a state in which a triangular pyramid modeling object 1001, a cylindrical modeling object 1002, and a rectangular modeling object 1003 are arranged. Show. In FIG. 10A, the lowermost part represents the position of the stage 113, and the areas 1001a, 1002a, and 1003a indicate the parts of the modeling object that have been stacked. Areas 1001b, 1002b, and 1003b indicate areas to be modeled, but the area 1002b is an area that is not manufactured due to a lack of modeling material.

FIG. 10B illustrates slice data in a state where a lack of modeling material is not detected. The arrangement information of each modeling object 1001, 1002, 1003 is recorded as sliced coordinate information 208 in the slice data information 208 like the object ID1 area 308b shown in FIG. 3C.
FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating a state of slice data in the modeling process. The left side of FIG. 10C shows the state of slice data before a lack of modeling material is detected. The slice data group 1004 is slice data corresponding to a region where the layers 1001a, 1002a, and 1003a are stacked. The slice data group 1005 is generated slice data corresponding to the areas 1001b, 1002b, and 1003b. The right side of FIG. 10C shows the state of slice data when a lack of modeling material is detected in the state on the left side of FIG. 10C. When the modeling shortage is detected, the slice data group 1005 generated as a modeling schedule is converted into slice data processed as a slice data group 1006 including only the modeling objects 1001 and 1003.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce modeling objects that are not completed due to a lack of modeling material, and it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of modeling material. In addition, during the modeling process, even if the modeling material is insufficient, the modeling process can be continued by selecting a modeling object that can be produced with the remaining amount of the modeling material from the plurality of modeling objects. it can. Thereby, it is not necessary to interrupt the modeling process to replenish the modeling material, and even when the user (operator) is absent at night or the like, the modeled object is produced using the stored modeling material effectively. And convenience can be improved.

<Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment will be described below.
In this embodiment, a method of selecting a modeling object and continuing production so as to maximize the number of modeling objects that can be modeled when a shortage of modeling material is detected will be described.
11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining a method of selecting a modeling object according to the present embodiment, and three-dimensional shape data including three modeling objects of a triangular pyramid, a cylinder, and a rectangular parallelepiped shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. It is a figure for demonstrating the case where the job of this is processed. FIG. 11A shows information of the object information 202.
In the present embodiment, the triangular pyramid modeling object identified by the object ID 1001 has a modeling material estimated amount of 100, and the cylindrical modeling object identified by the object ID 1002 has a modeling material estimated amount of 200. In addition, the rectangular modeling object identified by the object ID 1003 has an estimated modeling material amount of 300.

FIG. 11B shows information of the modeling information 205 that is updated by the modeling object selection unit 204 as a modeling material shortage when the modeling material remaining amount changes to 250.
When the modeling information 205 is requested from the slice data generation unit 206, the modeling object selection unit 204 acquires the stacked slice data information 208, and updates the consumption of the modeling material and the required modeling material in the modeling information 205. To do. FIG. 11B shows the state after the update, and the required amount of modeling material is 70 for the triangular pyramid modeling object with object ID 1001, 180 for the cylindrical modeling object with object ID 1002, and cuboid modeling object with object ID 1003. Becomes 240.

Next, the modeling object selection part 204 selects the modeling target object which can be modeled from the modeling material required amount and modeling material residual amount of each modeling target object, and updates the modeling availability information of modeling information. FIG.
From the information of B, as the modeling target that can be modeled, the modeling patterns with object IDs of 1001 only, 1002 only, 1003 only, and 1001 and 1002 can be selected.
In the present embodiment, a combination pattern of object IDs 1001 and 1002 that maximizes the number of modeling objects that can be modeled is selected. The modeling object selection unit 204 updates the modeling information 205 with the modeling object 205 of the selected object IDs 1001 and 1002 being “possible” and the modeling ID of the object ID 1003 is “impossible”, and notifies the slice data generation unit 206 of it.

FIG. 11C shows a modeled object when a modeling process is performed based on the modeling information 205 shown in FIG. 11B. In FIG. 11C, reference numeral 1101 denotes a state in which a triangular pyramid modeling object having an object ID 1001 is manufactured (state in which the modeling process is completed), and 1102 denotes a state in which a cylindrical modeling object having an object ID 1002 is manufactured. Reference numeral 1103 denotes an incompletely stacked state in which the rectangular parallelepiped object having the object ID 1003 is produced partway.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. In particular, in this embodiment, by continuing the modeling process so that the number of modeling objects that can be modeled is maximized according to the remaining amount of the modeling material, modeling objects that become modeling defects can be reduced, and the modeling material Can be effectively utilized.

<Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment will be described below.
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a modeling object having a large amount of modeling material consumed is preferentially selected and a modeling object that can be modeled is selected and production is continued when a lack of modeling material is detected.
12A to 12C are diagrams for explaining a method of selecting a modeling object according to the present embodiment, and a case where a job of three-dimensional shape data including the same three modeling objects as in the second embodiment is processed. It is a figure for demonstrating. FIG. 12A shows information of the object information 202 in the present embodiment, which is the same as the contents of the object information 202 shown in FIG. 11A of the second embodiment in which the three-dimensional shape data is the same.

FIG. 12B shows information of the modeling information 205 that is updated by the modeling object selection unit 204 as a modeling material shortage when the modeling material remaining amount changes to 250.
When the modeling information 205 is requested from the slice data generation unit 206, the modeling object selection unit 204 acquires the stacked slice data information 208, and updates the consumption of the modeling material and the required modeling material in the modeling information 205. To do. FIG. 12B shows the state after the update, and the required amount of modeling material is 70 for the triangular pyramid modeling object with object ID 1001, 180 for the cylindrical modeling object with object ID 1002, and cuboid modeling object with object ID 1003. Becomes 240.

Next, the modeling object selection part 204 selects the modeling target object which can be modeled from the modeling material required amount and modeling material residual amount of each modeling target object, and updates the modeling availability information of modeling information. From the information in FIG. 12B, as the modeling target that can be modeled, the modeling patterns with object IDs of 1001 only, 1002 only, 1003 only, and 1001 and 1002 can be selected.
The present embodiment is characterized in that a modeling object having an object ID 1003 with a large amount of consumed modeling material is selected from these. The modeling object selection unit 204 updates the modeling information 205 with the modeling object 205 of the selected object ID 1003 being “possible” and the modeling ID of the object IDs 1001 and 1002 is “impossible”, and notifies the slice data generation unit 206 of it.

FIG. 12C shows a modeled object when a modeling process is performed based on the modeling information 205 shown in FIG. 12B. In FIG. 12C, reference numerals 1201 and 1202 denote the incomplete stacking states in which the triangular pyramid modeling object with object ID 1001 and the cylindrical modeling object with object ID 1002 are produced partway. Reference numeral 1203 denotes a state in which a rectangular parallelepiped modeling object having an object ID 1003 is produced.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. In particular, in this embodiment, a modeling object that becomes a modeling defect by preferentially producing a modeling object that can be modeled according to the remaining amount of the modeling material in preference to a modeling object that consumes a large amount of modeling material. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the modeling material.

<Fourth Embodiment>
The fourth embodiment will be described below.
This embodiment demonstrates the form provided with a user interface so that a user (user) can select the selection method of the modeling target object which can be modeled at the time of modeling material shortage detection. Here, the user interface includes a presentation unit and an information acquisition unit.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed when the modeling object selection unit 204 detects a lack of modeling material.

  A display unit 1301 indicates an area for displaying information for identifying a job under modeling in which modeling material is insufficient. The display unit 1302 is an area in which a user can select a method for selecting a modeling target that can be modeled. In the present embodiment, an example in which the following four selection methods are displayed is shown. The first selection method is a method for selecting a modeling object so that the number of modeling objects increases in the second embodiment, and the second selection method is described in the third embodiment. This is a method of preferentially selecting a modeling object with a large amount of consumed modeling material. The third selection method is a method for continuing the modeling process without selecting the modeling target, and the fourth selection method is a method for canceling the job by stopping the modeling process. Reference numeral 1303 denotes a user interface for instructing resumption of processing by the determined selection method.

The modeling object selection unit 204 selects a modeling target that can be modeled based on the selection method of the modeling target that is selected and specified by the user via the user interface illustrated in FIG. 13, and restarts the modeling process. . When the modeling process is continued by the third selection method, the modeling process can be continued until there is no modeling material by not updating the modeling information 205 in the modeling information. In this case, if the user can replenish the modeling material, the modeling process of the modeling object can be stopped and the job can be terminated. In addition, when a job cancellation is instructed by the fourth selection method, the execution of the job is immediately stopped and the modeling process is terminated.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the user can select a method of selecting a modeling target that can be modeled when a modeling material shortage is detected, the convenience of the user can be improved.

<Fifth Embodiment>
The fifth embodiment will be described below.
This embodiment demonstrates the form provided with a user interface so that a user can select the modeling target which can be modeled at the time of modeling material shortage detection.
FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed when the modeling object selection unit 204 detects a lack of modeling material. The display unit 1401 is an area for displaying information for identifying a job under modeling in which modeling material is insufficient. The display unit 1402 is an area that displays a modeling object to be produced so that the user can select it. The object to be displayed is displayed with the object ID, the consumption of the modeling material, and the required amount of the modeling material, respectively, according to the information of the modeling information 205 when the modeling material shortage is detected. The display unit 1403 is an area in which the modeling material remaining amount and the assumed modeling material remaining amount after the modeling target is selected are displayed. As the assumed modeling material remaining amount, a value obtained by subtracting the modeling material required amount of the selected modeling object from the modeling material remaining amount is displayed. Reference numeral 1404 denotes a user interface for resuming the production of the selected modeling object. Reference numeral 1405 denotes a user interface for continuing the modeling process without selecting a modeling target. Reference numeral 1406 denotes a user interface for canceling the modeling process and canceling the job.

  FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the modeling target identified by the object ID 1001 is selected in the user interface illustrated in FIG. 14A. When the object ID 1001 is selected, as shown in the display unit 1403, a value (180) obtained by subtracting the modeling material required amount (70) of the object ID 1001 from the remaining amount (250) is displayed. A modeling object in which the assumed modeling material remaining amount disappears cannot be selected. The modeling object selection unit 204 updates the information of the modeling information 205 as a modeling target that can model the modeling target specified by the display unit 1402, thereby restarting the modeling process using only the modeling target that can be modeled. When the user interface 1405 is selected, the modeling process can be continued until there is no modeling material by not updating the modeling information 205 in the modeling information 205. In this case, if the user can replenish the modeling material, the modeling process of the modeled object can be stopped and the job can be terminated. If the user interface 1406 is selected, the job execution is immediately stopped and the modeling process is terminated.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the user can select a modeling object that can be modeled when modeling material shortage is detected through the user interface, the convenience of the user can be improved.

  203 ... 3D shape data, 204 ... Modeling object selection unit, 207 ... Slice data, 209 ... Modeling unit, 210 ... Modeling material remaining amount acquisition unit

Claims (11)

Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling apparatus having a production unit that sequentially laminates modeling materials to produce a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition unit for acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each solid object at a predetermined timing before or during the production of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
Based on the amount of the modeling material acquired by the required amount acquisition unit and the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit, a three-dimensional object that can be produced after the predetermined timing is obtained. A selection unit for selecting from among three-dimensional objects;
Have
The modeling device is characterized in that the production of the three-dimensional object selected by the selection unit is continued after the predetermined timing and the production of the three-dimensional object not selected is stopped. A consumed amount acquisition unit for acquiring the amount of the modeling material consumed to produce each three-dimensional object by the predetermined timing;
The required amount acquisition unit is necessary after the predetermined timing from the amount of the modeling material acquired by the consumed amount acquisition unit and the amount of the modeling material required to produce each three-dimensional object. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the modeling material is acquired. A generator that generates slice data from cross-sectional data obtained by slicing three-dimensional shape data of at least one of the three-dimensional models into a plurality of layers in a predetermined direction;
The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates slice data for continuously producing the three-dimensional object selected by the selection unit after the predetermined timing.   If the number of solid objects selected by the selection unit is less than the number of solid objects being created at the predetermined timing, and slice data to be used after the predetermined timing has already been generated, The modeling apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a processing unit that processes the slice data. The processing unit performs processing to delete cross-sectional data corresponding to a three-dimensional object that is not selected by the selection unit from slice data that has already been generated including cross-sectional data of a plurality of the three-dimensional models. The modeling apparatus according to claim 4. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a three-dimensional object so that the number of three-dimensional objects to be produced is maximized. The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit preferentially selects a three-dimensional object having a larger amount of consumed modeling material. A plurality of selection methods including at least one of a method of selecting a three-dimensional object so that the number of three-dimensional objects to be produced is maximized and a method of preferentially selecting a three-dimensional object with a larger amount of consumed modeling material A presentation section presenting the selectable,
An information acquisition unit for acquiring information on a selection method selected by the user based on the information presented by the presentation unit;
Have
The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit performs selection based on information acquired by the information acquisition unit. Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling apparatus having a production unit that sequentially laminates modeling materials to produce a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition unit for acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each solid object at a predetermined timing before or during the production of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
A presentation unit that presents information on the amount of the modeling material of each three-dimensional object acquired by the required amount acquisition unit, and information on the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired by the remaining amount acquisition unit;
An information acquisition unit that acquires information on a three-dimensional object selected by the user from the plurality of three-dimensional objects based on the information presented by the presenting unit;
Have
The production unit continues production of the three-dimensional object selected by the user after the predetermined timing based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and stops production of the three-dimensional object not selected. A modeling device. Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling method including a manufacturing step of sequentially forming modeling materials to prepare a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition step of acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each three-dimensional object at a predetermined timing before or during preparation of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition step of acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
Based on the amount of the modeling material acquired in the required amount acquisition step and the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired in the remaining amount acquisition step, a three-dimensional object that can be produced after the predetermined timing is obtained. A selection step of selecting from among three-dimensional objects;
Have
In the production step, the production of the three-dimensional object selected in the selection step is continued after the predetermined timing, and the production of the three-dimensional object not selected is stopped. Based on slice data generated from three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of three-dimensional models, a modeling method including a manufacturing step of sequentially forming modeling materials to prepare a plurality of three-dimensional objects,
A required amount acquisition step of acquiring the amount of the modeling material required after the predetermined timing in order to prepare each three-dimensional object at a predetermined timing before or during preparation of the plurality of three-dimensional objects;
A remaining amount acquisition step of acquiring the remaining amount of the modeling material;
A presenting step of presenting information regarding the amount of the modeling material of each three-dimensional object acquired in the necessary amount acquisition step, and the remaining amount of the modeling material acquired in the remaining amount acquisition step;
An information acquisition step of acquiring information relating to a three-dimensional object selected by the user from among the plurality of three-dimensional objects based on the information presented in the presenting step;
Have
In the production step, the production of the solid object selected by the user is continued after the predetermined timing based on the information acquired in the information acquisition step, and the production of the solid object not selected is stopped. Modeling method.

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