Method and system for controlling an extrusion system for additive manufacturing

An extrusion system arranged for manufacturing a three-dimensional structure by means of an automated feedback loop that is configured to evaluate at least one detected operational failure event and based on that decide whether to continue the printing process, wherein the extrusion system is configured to perform at least one print job in which a three-dimensional structure is manufactured in parallel, the system comprising:

• a controller,
• an extrusion unit comprising a plurality of nozzle heads by means of which filaments of build material are deposited in a predetermined interconnected arrangement such as to concurrently form individual three-dimensional structures in parallel, wherein each nozzle head includes one or more nozzle outlets through which the build material is extruded, and
• a monitoring unit configured to monitor an operation of each of the plurality of nozzle heads during the print job by acquiring sensor data indicative of the operation of the nozzle heads in order to detect one or more operational failure events linked to one or more failing nozzle heads,
• wherein, in case one or more operational failure events are detected by means of the monitoring unit, the controller is configured to:
• determine a first value indicative of an average print time for finishing a number of three-dimensional structures in case the print job is continued using one or more non-failing nozzle heads of the plurality of nozzle heads which are still operational,
• determine a second value indicative of an average print time for finishing the number of three-dimensional structures in case the print job is promptly interrupted and a new print job is initiated with the one or more failing nozzle heads of the plurality of nozzle heads being repaired,
• determine that the second value is smaller than the first value,
• in response to determining that the second value is smaller than the first value:
• initiate a repair procedure on the one or more failing nozzle heads, and
• automatically restart the print job with the one or more failing nozzle heads being repaired.