Part processing

At least one magnetic medium is loaded into a cavity of a build piece. The build piece is created by an additive manufacturing process. The magnetic medium is magnetically moved in the cavity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to processing of manufactured parts, as well as articles made by such processes.

BACKGROUND

Additive manufacturing is a process of manufacturing whereby a build piece is created by adding a manufacturing medium (e.g., a metal, plastics) to a part, as opposed to removing media to create the part. Examples of additive manufacturing include, but are not limited to, i) additive metal deposition manufacturing, where a laser or other heat source sinters or melts a metal medium; ii) stereolithography, where a light source cures a photopolymer; and iii) fused deposition modeling, where a thermoplastic is extruded and cools to harden.

Many instances of additive manufacturing call for support structures to be built with the build piece. The support structures may be used, for example, to support overhangs or other geometry in the build piece that is not supported by lower layers of the build piece's geometry.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method includes loading at least one magnetic medium into a cavity of a build piece, the build piece created by an additive manufacturing process. The method further includes magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity.

Implementations can include any, all, or none of the following features. The magnetic medium includes a material capable of being attracted by a magnet. The magnetic medium includes iron. The magnetic medium includes a material that has the properties of a magnet. The magnetic medium includes magnetite. The magnetic medium including an abrasive surface. The magnetic medium includes a magnetic core and a non-magnetic envelope. The non-magnetic envelope has an abrasive coating. Magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity includes moving a magnet relative to the build piece. Moving a magnet relative to the build piece includes moving the magnet along a path computed based on a three dimensional definition of a part to be created by the additive manufacturing process. Magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity includes pulsing an electromagnet. The method including assigning, responsive to magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity of the build piece, a test result for the build piece based on the movement of the magnetic media. The cavity has a cavity surface; and magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity polishes the cavity surface. The build piece has a support structure in the cavity; and wherein magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity removes a support structure from the build piece. The additive manufacturing process results in a build material in the cavity; and wherein magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity removes a build material from the cavity.

In one aspect, a system includes a magnetic manipulator configured to magnetically move at least one magnetic medium that has been loaded into a cavity of a build piece, the build piece created by an additive manufacturing process.

Implementations can include any, all, or none of the following features. The magnetic medium includes a material capable of being attracted by a magnet. The magnetic medium includes iron. The magnetic medium includes a material that has the properties of a magnet. The magnetic medium includes magnetite. The magnetic medium including an abrasive surface. The magnetic medium includes a magnetic core and a non-magnetic envelope. The non-magnetic envelope has an abrasive coating. Magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity includes moving a magnet relative to the build piece Moving a magnet relative to the build piece includes moving the magnet along a path computed based on a three dimensional definition of a part to be created by the additive manufacturing process. Magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity includes pulsing an electromagnet. The cavity has a cavity surface; and magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity polishes the cavity surface. The build piece has a support structure in the cavity; and wherein magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity removes a support structure from the build piece. The additive manufacturing process results in a build material in the cavity; and wherein magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity removes a build material from the cavity.

In one aspect, an article of manufacture created by a method includes loading at least one magnetic medium into a cavity of a build piece, the build piece created by an additive manufacturing process. The method further includes magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity.

Implementations can include any, all, or none of the following features. The magnetic medium includes a material capable of being attracted by a magnet. The magnetic medium includes iron. The magnetic medium includes a material that has the properties of a magnet. The magnetic medium includes magnetite. The magnetic medium including an abrasive surface. The magnetic medium includes a magnetic core and a non-magnetic envelope. The non-magnetic envelope has an abrasive coating. Magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity includes moving a magnet relative to the build piece. Moving a magnet relative to the build piece includes moving the magnet along a path computed based on a three dimensional definition of a part to be created by the additive manufacturing process. Magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity includes pulsing an electromagnet. The article of manufacture including assigning, responsive to magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity of the build piece, a test result for the build piece based on the movement of the magnetic media. The cavity has a cavity surface; and magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity polishes the cavity surface. The build piece has a support structure in the cavity; and wherein magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity removes a support structure from the build piece. The additive manufacturing process results in a build material in the cavity; and wherein magnetically moving the magnetic medium in the cavity removes a build material from the cavity.

Implementations may include one or more of the following advantages. By magnetically moving a medium inside of additively-manufactured part, support structures (e.g., structures in a cavity that are not readily accessible) can be removed, the inner surfaces (e.g., surfaces of a cavity) of the part can be polished, and/or the part can be tested (e.g., to ensure the cavity of the part is formed correctly) in a single process. The single process may be highly automated, requiring less operator-time than other processes that accomplish the same or similar results. The motion used to process an additively-manufactured part may be derived from the definition of the part needed for the additive manufacturing of the part. The movement of polishing media may be used to polish internal surfaces of a part that cannot be polished by other methods such as extrusion polishing. For example, these processes may polish internal cavities having acute internal angles. By magnetically moving a medium inside of additively-manufactured part, polishing of the build piece is possible without accretion and other undesirable ballistic effects often associated with compressed liquid flow. By magnetically moving a medium inside of additively-manufactured part it is possible to create new structures in the build device, such as depressions and other textures. These new structures may have finer details than is possible with the additive manufacturing process used to create the build piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A build piece can be created from a build plan by an additive manufacturing process (e.g., a direct metal manufacturing process), such as that described herein. The build piece may include one or more internal cavities accessible by ports to the surface of the build piece. Magnetic media can be loaded into the build piece and magnetically moved within the cavity. In some implementations, the build piece may be held stationary and a magnetic controller can be robotically moved relative to the build piece to move the magnetic medium. In some other implementations, a magnetic controller can be held stationary and the build piece may be robotically moved relative to the magnetic controller to move the magnetic medium.

Magnetically moving at least one medium within a build piece can be used to accomplish a number of goals. In some cases, the media can be used to polish one or more surfaces of an internal cavity of the build piece. In some cases, the media can be used to flush out un-solidified build material that has been left in the internal cavity. In some cases, moving the medium allows the build piece to be tested to ensure that an internal cavity is the correct shape and size. Other uses are possible.

FIG. 1shows an exemplary system100for processing pieces created via an additive manufacturing process. The system100can include, but is not limited to, a computer system102, an additive-manufacturing printer104, and a magnetic media station106. In general, the system100may be used to design, print, and process a desired manufactured part.

The computer system102can include any type of appropriate computing hardware and software used to design a part to be created by an additive metal deposition process. For example, the computer system102may include one or more computers loaded with computer aided drafting (CAD) programs. A user may use these programs to load, create, or modify a three dimensional (3D) definition of a desired part. In some implementations, the computer system102can include multiple computers or work stations networked together via a computing network. A desktop computer is shown, but different or additional computer types may be included in the computer system102. These may include, but are not limited to, laptops, mobile computing devices, network servers, and distributed application servers (sometimes known as cloud service providers).

Using the CAD application or another application, the same user or a different user may create a build plan108for the desired part. In some implementations, the build plan108can be created by modifying the 3D definition of the desired part. For example, the 3D definition of the desired part can be split into layers according to a format used by the additive-manufacturing printer104. In some implementations, the build plan can be one or more data files that conform to the Standard Tessellation Language (STL), Additive Manufacturing File Format (AMF), Polygon File Format (PLY), or other well-known or custom formats. The build plan108can be loaded into the additive-manufacturing printer104by a suitable method. For example, the computer system102can communicate the build plan108to the additive-manufacturing printer104via a computer network or a human user may transport the build plan108on a removable computer readable medium such as a compact disk (CD) or removable memory stick.

Once the additive-manufacturing printer104has received the build plan108, the additive-manufacturing printer104can create a build piece110(e.g., a printed, unpolished piece with supports) from the build plan108. The additive-manufacturing printer104can be configured to manufacture metal pieces from a powdered metal, solid resin pieces from liquid resins, plastic pieces from heated thermoplastics, or other types of pieces from other build materials.

In some cases, the additive-manufacturing printer104includes a computer controlled laser that sinters, melts, or solidifies a layer of a build material into a solid piece according to a loaded build plan108. In some cases, the additive-manufacturing printer104includes a computer controlled nozzle that extrudes a liquid build material that solidifies in ambient atmosphere or cures under heat or UV irradiation. This layer-wise process (i.e., an additive manufacturing process) may be repeated until the build piece110specified by the build plan108is created.

The build piece110can be loaded into the magnetic media station106for processing. The magnetic media station106can include facilities for an operator or un-manned control system to process the build piece110with magnetic media. It can include, but is not limited to one or more robotic arms, a hopper of magnetic media, vices, jigs, and conveyers for processing and moving the build piece110.

The computer system102can generate a processing plan112that can be loaded into the magnetic media station106. For example, a user of the computer system102can load, create, or modify the processing plan112based on the 3D definition of the desired part (e.g., the final product). The processing plan112can include, for example, instructions for robotic movement of the build piece110or a magnetic controller of the magnetic media station106. These instructions may be configured, for example, to polish an internal surface of the build piece110, to clean out residual build materials in the build piece110, and/or to test the build piece110to control its quality. In some cases, the instructions of the processing plan112can be in a proprietary or open language used by one or more robotic controllers of the magnetic media station106. Example of robotic control languages include, but are not limited to VAL, RC+, and ROBOFORTH.

Magnetic media of the magnetic media station106can be loaded into the build piece110by a suitable method. For example, either a human or automated machine can retrieve a measured or unmeasured volume of magnetic media from a supply of available magnetic media and pour the magnetic media into one or more ports of the build piece110. After the magnetic media are loaded, a magnetic controller can be moved relative to the build piece110such that the magnetic media are moved within the build piece110. The magnetic controller can include any sort of machine that can control the relative locations of the build piece110and a magnetic device that is attractive to the magnetic media. For example, the build piece110can be loaded into a vice or jig, and a robotic arm with a magnetic manipulator can be moved along a path near the build piece110to move the magnetic medium. The robotic arm may have available different manipulators useful for different techniques to move the magnetic media. For example, the robotic arm is shown with a manipulator106A that contains a magnet, and with available a grasping manipulator106B and a manipulator106C that contains a magnetically-reactive material. The travel path of the robot may be defined, for example, by the processing plan112.

Once the process plan112has been completed, the processed build piece114can be removed from the magnetic media station106and prepared for further processing, packaging, etc. Depending on the specifications of the process plan112, the processed build piece114may have been polished, cleaned, and/or tested. A piece that has failed a test may be, for example, documented and scrapped. A piece that has passed the test may be utilized in a larger product, put into use, subjected to further testing or polishing, etc.

FIG. 2shows exemplary magnetic media that can be used in processing an additively-manufactured piece (e.g., the build piece110described above). Generally, any appropriate object that is magnetic and can be used in processes such as described in this document may be considered magnetic media. Most magnetic media can be identified as being smaller than the port of a build piece and either has the properties of a magnet (e.g., magnetite) or is attracted to a magnet (e.g., iron). Five exemplary classes of media are shown here, but it will be appreciated that a large variety of media may be used to process build pieces, including media types not described here. For example, some of magnetic media shown are spherical, but other shapes may be used, including media of different regular shapes (e.g., cubes, regular prisms, cones) irregular shapes (e.g., irregular powders, filings). If a magnetic medium is used in a polishing process, it may also be referred to as an abrasive or polishing medium. Generally, but not always, an abrasive medium will be harder than the additively-manufactured piece being polished. In some cases, commercially available products such as ball bearings can be used as a magnetic medium. In other cases, custom-ordered or custom-created products can be used as a magnetic medium.

In some applications, a single medium is used for processing a piece. For example, a build piece with internal support structures may be processed by a single, relatively large, medium (e.g., a metal ball) used to knock the support structures off the build piece. In another example, a build piece may be polished with a plurality of relatively small media that each has abrasive surfaces.

Magnetic medium200is an example that consists of a single material in a general spherical shape. The single material can be a magnetic material such as iron, nickel, a permanent magnet, or steel. Permanent magnets include, but are not limited to ferrite and rare earth magnets. Magnetic medium200can be selected for processing for a number of reasons.

For example, a single magnetic medium200can be used to knock support structures out of internal cavities of an additively-manufactured piece. In another example, a plurality of magnetic media200can be used to polish the internal surfaces of an additively-manufactured piece.

Magnetic medium202is an example that includes a core204and an envelope206. In some implementations, the core204is magnetic and the envelope206is non-magnetic, or vice-versa. In other implementations, both the core204and the envelope206are magnetic. Magnetic media202can be selected for processing for a number of reasons.

For example, a plurality of magnetic medium202with a magnetic core204and non-magnetic envelop206may be used to process an additively-manufactured piece that is magnetic itself. Depending on the configuration, the non-magnetic envelop206can prevent the magnetic cores204from touching the magnetic additively-manufactured piece, thus encouraging freer movement of the magnetic media202than if a plurality of magnetic media200(which does not have a non-magnetic envelop) are used.

In another example, the envelope206in the magnetic medium202can be made of a soft material. This may be useful, for example, in a process design to clean out residual build materials from the additively-manufactured piece in internal cavities without affecting the finish of the additively-manufactured piece.

Magnetic media208and210correspond to the magnetic media200and202, respectively, with the addition of abrasive coatings212and214. The abrasive coatings212and214can be made of any appropriately abrasive materials that may be adhered to the surface of the media. Generally, but not always, the abrasive coatings212and214can be used when the magnetic media208and210are used to polish an additively-manufactured piece, and thus may generally be referred to as a polishing medium. Similarly, the magnetic media200and202may or may not be polishing media, depending on their use.

The abrasive coatings212and214can be magnetic or non-magnetic. The selection of material for the abrasive coatings212and214can be based, at least partly, on the type of material to be polished. For example, to polish a metal additively-manufactured part, a harder metal or diamond coating may be used for the abrasive coatings212and214. For a thermoplastic additively-manufactured part, sand or metal powder may be used for the abrasive coatings212and214.

Magnetic medium216is an example of an irregular shaped magnetic medium. The magnetic medium216may be made from a single material including but not limited to iron, nickel, a permanent magnet, or steel, or from multiple materials bonded together, including non-magnetic materials. Examples of irregular shaped medium includes, but is not limited to, filings, powders, or grains of consistent (e.g., all granule sized) or varying (e.g., a mix of granule to coarse sand) size.

FIG. 3shows an exemplary build piece300being processed. The build piece300can be, for example, an instrument housing created by an additive-manufacturing process, such as a direct metal deposition process in which metal powder is sintered or melted by a laser in a layer-by-layer process to form a solid piece. The instrument housing can include an internal cavity into which sensitive thermocouple sensors can be loaded. However, during manufacture, the cavity has been constructed with internal support structures, and the finish of the surface of the cavity is rough enough to damage the thermocouples (seeFIG. 4). In such implementations, the build piece300can undergo processing to 1) remove the internal support structures, 2) remove any remaining build material in the internal cavity, and 3) polish the surface of the internal cavity.

As shown inFIG. 3, a plurality of media302can be first loaded into the build piece300. The media302is magnetic, thus magnetic media, and used to polish the build piece300, thus polishing media. Although a variety of media types can be used (seeFIG. 2), the media302are iron filings.

An electromagnet304can be moved relative to the build piece300to draw the media302through internal cavities in the build piece300. In some implementations, the electromagnet304is held stationary while the build piece300is moved relative to the electromagnet304, for example by a robotic manipulator306. In some implementations, the build piece300is held stationary while the electromagnet304is moved relative to the build piece300, for example by a robotic manipulator308. In some implementations, both the build piece300and the electromagnet304are moved relative to each other. While an electromagnet304is shown here, any appropriate magnet may be used. For example, a permanent magnet such as a rare earth magnet can be used as an electromagnet304.

The electromagnet304can be moved relative to the build piece300along one or more paths310. These paths310can be created based on the build plan108according to the shape of the build piece300. For example, the computer system102can generate the paths from the 3D definition of a part and record the paths as robotic motion instructions in the processing plan112. As shown inFIG. 3, the paths310may all originate at one port in the build piece300and terminate at different ports in the build piece300. In such a case, it may be necessary to reload the media302after the electromagnet304traverses each of the paths310. In another implementation, the paths310can originate at different ports and terminate at different ports in the build piece300. In another implementation, a single path310can traverse the entire cavity of the build piece300. In such a case, the media302may only need to be loaded into the build piece300once.

In the example shown, the cavity of the build piece300includes two acute angles312and314. Unlike some other forms of processing method (e.g., extrusion polishing), the processing method described herein can process a cavity with acute angles without a degradation in results.

In some implementations, a build piece's cavity can have one or more major axes, and the paths310can generally follow the major axes. This is illustrated in example detail window316A inFIG. 3. In some implementations, when the media302is much smaller than the internal cavity of the build piece300, the path310may not follow the major axes of the build piece300. This is illustrated in the detail window316inFIG. 3. Here, the path310B generally follows the major axes of the build piece300, but also sweeps back and forth around the major axes. In some implementations, this may be desirable to ensure the media302polish the entire surface of the cavity.

Also as shown in the detail window316, the paths310can call for intermittent disengagement by the electromagnet304. As it is an electromagnet, the electromagnet304may be pulsed while moving along the paths310to intermittently disengage the media302. In the case of, for example, a permanent magnet (not shown), the intermittent disengagement can be accomplished by, for example, moving the permanent magnet farther away from the build piece300for the portions of the paths310that call for disengagement. Intermittent disengagement can be used, for example, to improve polishing results, to prevent the media302from clumping, to separate the media302from non-magnetic build material, and for other uses.

Different processes may be used to accomplish different results. For example, one process may be used to remove support structures of the build piece300and another series of polishing processes may be used to polish the surfaces of the internal cavity of the build piece300. To remove the support structures, relatively large, smooth surfaced media may be used. Once the support structures are removed, a series of successive polishing processes may be applied to the build piece300. Each successive polishing process may use relatively smaller media with successively finer abrasive surfaces. This may be desirable, for example, if the build piece300is to be used as a pipe or other sort of component in a closed system in which fluid flows. As is known, as the dimensions of a pipe become small relative to forces of the fluid such as surface tension, the finish of the surfaces of the closed system are of greater concern.

In another example, to test that the build part300is build according to its build plan, a different process may be used than those used to polish the build part300. In a testing process, a single medium302can be used instead of a group of media302. If, for example, the build piece is designed to house a thermocouple a sixteenth of an inch in diameter, a single medium302can be a ball bearing marginally larger a sixteenth of an inch in diameter and made from a material that is as soft or softer than the thermocouple.

The electromagnet304can magnetically move the medium302through the internal cavity of the build piece300along the paths310as part of the testing of the build piece300. For example, if the medium302follows the electromagnet304to each of the ports at the end of the paths310, the build piece300may be approved as being built according to its build plan. This may indicate, for example, that there are no obstructions within the internal cavity that would prevent the thermocouple from traveling through the internal cavity. As a part of another test, the medium302may be made of, or enveloped in (see medium202ofFIG. 2) the same material as the thermocouple is made of. In such implementations, if the medium302emerges and is without scratches, this may indicate that a thermocouple can pass through the internal cavity without receiving scratches and thus the build piece300may be verified as passing the test. If, on the other hand, the medium302fails to emerge from a port, or if the medium302emerges with scratches, the build piece300may be considered as failing the test. In the case of a failed build piece300, the build piece may be inspected, disposed of, repaired, or have other appropriate action taken.

In some implementations, the observation of the medium302during or after a test may be performed by a human operator, an automated sensor, or both.

FIG. 4shows the build piece300before and after being processed. For illustrative purposes, the build piece300is shown in two cross-sectional views400and402.

The view400shows a cross-sectional view of the build piece300after it has been printed, but before it has been processed by as illustrated inFIG. 3. Section404shows that, in the internal cavity of the build piece400, a support structure is created as part of the additive-manufacturing process that creates the build piece300. Such a support structure is needed, for example, when some layers in an additive-manufacturing process are not fully supported by previous layers in the process. The support structures can provide the needed support, but often need to be removed after manufacture.

Section406of view400illustratively removes the support structure shown in section404. In section406, the surface of the internal cavity of the build piece300is shown. Due to, among other factors, the layer-wise process of additive manufacturing, build pieces can have a constrained range of surface finishes when made. For some uses, this range of surface finishes is unacceptably rough and must be polished if the build piece is to be used for some applications. As shown inFIG. 4, the internal cavity of the build piece300must be smoothed, for example, to allow the insertion of a sensitive thermocouple sensor that would be ruined if scratched.

Additionally, additive-manufacturing build processes can leave unsolidified build material408in the cavity of the build piece300. Depending on the configuration of the additive-manufacturing, the excess build material may be a powder (e.g., in direct metal manufacturing), a liquid (e.g., in sterolithography), and/or a solid (e.g., in fused deposition). In some cases, the build material408can be removed by, for example, blowing compressed air or another fluid through the internal cavity. However, depending on the configuration, this may fail to remove some or all of the build material408. For example, if the build material408is a liquid that is not water soluble and has strong adhesion to the build material300, a water flush may fail to remove the build material408. If the build material480is fused to the build piece300(e.g., as may be the case in fused deposition) or if the build material408is in an acute angle of the internal cavity (e.g., as shown in view400), a flush may fail to remove some or all of the build material408.

View402shows the build piece300after processing. As shown in view402, the support structure has been removed, the surface of the internal cavity has been smoothed, and the build material408has been removed. Additionally, the build piece300has been tested and found to conform to the requirements of its build plan.

In some cases, the support removal, polishing, build material removal, and testing can be performed in the course of a single process. That is, the electromagnet304can traverse the paths310a single time to produce this result. However, multiple processes, identical or different, can be performed to produce this result. For example, a first process can be performed to remove the support structures from the internal cavity. A second process can be performed to remove any residual build material408. A third process can be performed to polish the internal cavity of the build piece300. A fourth process can be performed to test whether the build piece300is built according to its build plan. Optionally, additional processes can be performed to accomplish other results, or as part of these results. For example, the polishing process can be repeated with successively finer grit polishing media302. The processes for each result can differ according to their purpose. For example, the testing process may require the electromagnet304to move in straight lines parallel to the major axes the internal cavity of the build piece300, while the polishing processes may require the electromagnet304to sweep back and forth across the major axes of the internal cavity.

FIG. 5shows cross-sectional views of another exemplary build piece before and after being processed. The build piece may be have been created, for example, by the additive-manufacturing printer104of the system100, or any other suitable machine, from a build plan that includes support structures.

As shown inFIG. 5, the build piece500may include ports502,504, and506and an internal cavity508. The internal cavity508is connected to the ports502,504,506such that a magnetic medium can be loaded into the internal cavity508.

To support the build piece500as it is being manufactured, the internal cavity508includes a support structure512. This support structure may be necessary, for example, to support the overhangs created by manufacturing the build piece500in an additive manufacturing process (e.g., a layer-wise process). During such a manufacturing process, it is possible that powdered metal or other appropriate build materials may become trapped in the cavity508, even if that powder is never solidified by the additive-manufacturing printer that manufactures the build piece500.

FIG. 6shows the build piece514after the build piece500has been processed. In this example, the build piece500has only been processed to remove the support structure512. The internal cavity508has not been polished, and residual build material has not been substantially removed, and the build piece500has not been tested. In other examples, it is possible that any combination of support structure removal, cleaning, polishing, and testing may be applied to a build piece, as desired. In other examples, the process described herein can include only a single one of support structure removal, cleaning, polishing, and testing, or any combination.

In some implementations, cleaning, polishing, and/or testing may never be applied to the build piece514. Alternatively, some or all of the cleaning, polishing, and/or testing may be applied using processes other than those described in this document. Additionally, other processes may be applied to the build piece500before the processes described in this document, or applied to the build piece514after the processes. In one example, the build piece514may receive, for example, a chemical etch, painting, or electroplating. In another example, the build piece500may receive, before the processes described in this document, other processes such as a chemical etch, painting, or electroplating.

FIG. 6is a schematic diagram that shows an example of a computing system600. The computing system600can be used for some or all of the operations described previously, according to some implementations. The computing system600includes a processor610, a memory620, a storage device630, and an input/output device640. Each of the processor610, the memory620, the storage device630, and the input/output device640are interconnected using a system bus650. The processor610is capable of processing instructions for execution within the computing system600. In some implementations, the processor610is a single-threaded processor. In some implementations, the processor610is a multi-threaded processor. The processor610is capable of processing instructions stored in the memory620or on the storage device630to display graphical information for a user interface on the input/output device640.

The memory620stores information within the computing system600. In some implementations, the memory620is a computer-readable medium. In some implementations, the memory620is a volatile memory unit. In some implementations, the memory620is a non-volatile memory unit.

The storage device630is capable of providing mass storage for the computing system600. In some implementations, the storage device630is a computer-readable medium. In various different implementations, the storage device630may be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device.

The input/output device640provides input/output operations for the computing system600. In some implementations, the input/output device640includes a keyboard and/or pointing device. In some implementations, the input/output device640includes a display unit for displaying graphical user interfaces.