Currently, a table of 3D printers require a high level of service on our part. Trend and technology allow us to move this tailor to a completely different dimension.

How does the current 3D printing system work?

Specifically, we need a product model suitably digitally prepare to print. Both design and appropriately set the printing parameters (for G-CODE format), the accuracy of which is largely dependent on the knowledge and experience of the operator.

Next, we need to manually follow these steps:

1. Turn on the printer and heating,
2. Transfer the production file to the SD card and then to the printer,
3. Check if the required material is inserted,
4. Start printing,

Even during printing, many complications may occur, primarily for the following reasons:

• If the model design has not been properly prepared or is not suitable for printing,
• If the model orientation relative to the pad is not optimal,
• If the printing parameters are not optimal for this particular model. I mean the temperature nozzles, pads, speed, retraction, flow rate, height of the layer and many more... Technological errors can be gradually removed and there are many guides on the Internet to address these problems,
• Unpredictable printing errors either because of the non-quality of input material, the impact of ambient temperature or technological causes excessively as a belt, loose screws, etc.

When the product manages to print successfully, it is further necessary to separate it from the print pad, manually separate support (supports) and other visual defects. Only after this series of steps we can finally say that the 3D printer "behind us" has produced the works. A little paradoxative, don't you think?

How is this system automatic? 80%, 50%, 30%?

Based on this short analysis, it is clear that on a desktop 3D printer, it has a fully automatic and independent system still very far away.

How would it ideally work?

We choose the basic model of the product from the virtual Library of models and customize exactly how you want US. Yes, personalization will be almost everywhere. Products tailored to each one of us.

In this virtual browser, the product will be realistically displayed in real time based on the selected input material and the current geometric shape (called render).

It is likely that in the future almost the whole process will be implemented through virtual reality.

When we are satisfied with the product, we plan the time and place to start production. As we are slowly moving to a shared economy of services, 3D printing will not be an exception. We can own a printer we or our neighbor. For a certain fee, these services can be publicly provided, which will reduce prices, increase local production and self-sufficiency of cities and communities. More importantly, it will change people's mentality and we will be more willing to help within the same community.

But back to 3D printing. We therefore choose to print the product with our neighbor. It may not even know everything is done automatically, of course, according to the preset preference.

Let's take a closer look at this process. When the scheduled print start time is matched to the current, a series of steps will happen:

1. The printer is switched on,
2. An evaluation shall be carried out whether the correct material is based. If not, the replacement is
3. The system shall assess whether the quantity of material is sufficient
4. Data transfer will be streamed from cloud storage. This data will be prepared from the time the production is planned. Optimising the model and design of production parameters will make us an artificial intelligence,
5. Automatic error correction during printing will be realized by a sophisticated system combined with a number of different types of sensors,
6. When the printing is finished, the product will be automatically separated from the print area and placed in the collection tray.
7. We will be able to monitor the entire printing process from our smartphone through an application for IoT (Internet affairs). After finishing, we receive a notification that the product is finished.

Do you think it's science fiction or are you as a group of people to whom I belong to me and believe in the future of automated systems?

It is evident that the current situation is unsustainable in the long term, as the development of these systems is extremely fast. It is about any one of us, since we are able and willing to adapt to these changes.


Photo Source: Voodoo Manufacturing