3D printing resource allocation

A server, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive, from a device, 3D modeling data;
• a simulator configured to virtually slice the 3D modeling data along a plurality of slicing directions;
• an analyzer configured to analyze the sliced 3D modeling data sliced in each of the plurality of slicing directions, the analyzing pertaining to, at least, a calculated cost and estimated quality for slicing along each of the respective slicing direction;
• wherein the analyzer calculates the calculated cost based on at least one of an estimated amount of time for completion of the printing, an estimated quality of the printing, and a type of the respective ones of the 3D printers;
• a manager configured to generate 3D printing recommendation for 3D printing based on, at least, the analysis of the sliced 3D modeling data, as produced by the analyzer, the at least one 3D printing recommendation including at least one of an estimated working time for completing at least a portion of the 3D modeling data, the calculated cost, or the estimated quality for each of the respective slicing directions;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit, to the device, the at least one 3D printing recommendation,
• wherein the receiver is further configured to receive, from the device, data regarding a selected one of the plurality of slicing directions, and
• the transmitter is further configured to transmit, to a selected 3D printer, an output command to slice the 3D modeling data in the selected slicing direction;
• wherein the selected 3D printer is to be operated based on the output command.

A computing device, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processing unit configured to:
• receive 3D modeling data from a device,
• virtually slice the 3D modeling data along a plurality of slicing directions, analyze the sliced 3D modeling data sliced in each of the plurality of slicing directions, the analyzing pertaining to, at least, a calculated cost and estimated quality for the slicing of the 3D modeling data along each of the respective slicing directions;
• generate at least one 3D printing recommendation for 3D printing based on, at least, the analysis of the sliced 3D modeling data, the at least one 3D printing recommendation including at least one of an estimated working time for completing at least a portion of the 3D modeling data, the calculated cost, or the estimated quality for each of the respective slicing direction;
• wherein the calculated cost is based on at least one of an estimated amount of time for completion of the printing, an estimated quality of the printing, or a type of the respective ones of 3D printers;
• transmit, to the device, the at least one 3D printing recommendation, receive, from the device, data regarding a selected one of the plurality of slicing directions, and
• transmit, to a selected 3D printer, an output command to slice the 3D modeling data in the selected slicing direction;
• wherein the selected 3D printer is to be operated based on the output command.