Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII)is Canada’s leading center of artificial intelligence that supports organizations that use Data Science (DS) and Machine Learning (ML) as part of their business services. AMII supports organizations by providing guidance, mentorship, and oversight on the research and development of the ML components to help reduce risk and improve the capabilities of the DS and ML components.
Mech Solutions Ltd. is happy to announce our collaboration with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII)! Through this venture, the Mech Solutions team aims to introduce a revolutionary AI-based algorithm that aims to optimize 3D printed models with minimal printing errors.
The Printability Evaluation System (PES):
The Printability Evaluation System (PES) provides professional AI-based model checks, repairs and optimization services to customers of all skill levels, especially users with little knowledge in this field. However, in our current market, there have not been major developments to renovate the workflow of the pre-printing preparation process as it requires users to have sufficient knowledge to configure the 3D printing parameters for high-quality 3D printing results.
The current Cloud 3D Print Workflow:
While Cloud 3D Print aims to make the 3D printing process simpler and more efficient, the current platform also has a comprehensive system workflow. Firstly, when using Cloud 3D Print, a manual check is conducted for the 3D model that is uploaded into our system. The system also conducts a geometric check to review for any potential geometric faults that can come from inappropriate wall thickness, non-watertight body, a non-manifold body of the model. This step requires some degree of proficiency and experience in the 3D printing of the operator. After the geometric check is done, the tuning of the model, printer parameters, and settings will be checked before the model is made ready for print. This step also requires extensive knowledge in the field of 3D printing. After the model is made ready, usually it takes 3 to 4 rounds before the desired results are obtained. As a result, an AI-based model processor and optimizer are demanded to improve the overall workflow of the Cloud 3D Print platform.
Cloud 3D Print and AI-based processor:
As mentioned, the current Cloud 3D Print platform requires the user or operator to have an extensive level of knowledge in the field of 3D printing. The current system workflow is also very comprehensive which requires a solution to make the platform easier to use and more time-efficient.
Mech Solutions plans to fill these gaps by introducing an innovative AI-based processor through our collaboration with the AMII. The AI-based processor will aim to make the current Cloud 3D Print platform easy to use for our users that have little to no knowledge of 3D printing. The AI solution will also ensure that the configurations of the 3D model and printers can together lead to an optimal printing result.
In particular, the AI in the Printability Evaluation System (PES) will help optimize the 3D model parameters, such as layer height, layer thickness, wall thickness, etc. to meet the demand of customer selection in the system. Currently, customers can have four optimization modes that they can apply to their 3D models while also meeting the basic high print quality requirement:
- Time-reduction optimization: aims to prioritize the time reduction. For example, for users that want to make 3D models under a tight deadline.
- Cost-reduction optimization: aims to prioritize cost reduction. For example, for users that want to print the model with minimum filament cost.
- Surface quality optimization: aims to prioritize surface quality. For example, for users that want to print a gift with a smooth surface finish.
- Strength optimization: aiming to prioritize the strength of the model structure. For example, for users that want to print tools for daily use.
In addition to the optimization, the AI-based model processor will also be employed to predict the final success rate based on model and printer parameters. This can be achieved by training the model with history data input. Therefore, with the AI applied, the 3D printing workflow for the Cloud 3D Print platform will be streamlined which will ensure the uploading of the 3D model into our system is processed flawlessly and is made ready to print with optimized parameters according to the user’s choice.
