The development of Internet accessible rapid prototyping system

Automated telecontrol of rapid prototyping machine via the Internet for the application of a telemanufacturing system is presented. The main features of this system are that users just need a general-purpose computer and a World Wide Web browser for commanding the rapid prototyping machine in a remote location through the Internet and a home page. Hardware configuration of this architecture includes a thermal extrusion based layer-deposition rapid prototyping machine and several controllers, each of them is able to communicate with others via computer network. Software design includes the user interface, model slicing process, model support generation, and tool path generation. The system has extensive capabilities for teleoperation and other multimedia services. The system allows users to directly control their rapid prototyping machine via the Internet and access their home page through a friendly user interface. Also the remote user can receive real time images e.g. the completed rapid prototyping model part's captured by a CCD camera that is mounted on the rapid prototyping machine.