Customized production based on distributed 3D printing services in cloud manufacturing

3D printing features highly digitized interfaces and automated processes for rapid prototyping and product customization. When distributed 3D printing resources are shared, gathered, and applied in a cloud platform, this will be a promising globalized and time-effective environment for customized production. However, how to intelligently and effectively manage and schedule distributed 3D printing services, such as dynamic evaluation, service intelligent matching, planning, and scheduling, in a cloud platform requires further in-depth study. In order to address this issue, this paper proposes a framework for a 3D printing service platform for cloud manufacturing (CMfg). In addition, 3D printing service online integration and 3D model library construction are analyzed. Moreover, some technologies of distributed 3D printing service management are discussed. Finally, some of the application tools and preliminary practices implemented by our team are introduced.