Object production
First Claim
1. A method for producing a system, the method comprising:
- providing a workpiece comprising a plurality of attachment features for attaching the workpiece to a machining fixture, said machining fixture comprising a plurality of fixture receiving elements for receiving the attachment features of the workpiece, the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements being dependent upon the relative positions of the attachment features;
determining a datum, the datum being dependent upon relative positions of the attachment features, said determining the datum including measuring the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements on the machining fixture and using the measurements of the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements, calculating the datum;
measuring a surface of the workpiece with respect to the datum;
providing the machining fixture;
attaching, using the attachment features, the workpiece to the machining fixture;
providing a digital model specifying a component of the system, the digital model including the attachment features;
using the measurements of the workpiece surface and the digital model, controlling the machining apparatus with respect to the datum to machine the workpiece attached to the machining fixture so as to produce the component as specified by the digital model;
removing the component from the machining fixture;
providing an assembly tool;
attaching, using the attachment features, the component to the assembly tool; and
performing an assembly operation on the component, thereby producing the system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method of producing an object, the method comprising: providing a workpiece comprising a plurality of attachment features for attaching the workpiece to a machining fixture; determining a datum, the datum being dependent upon the relative positions of the attachment features; measuring the surface of the workpiece with respect to the datum; providing the machining fixture; attaching, using the attachment features, the workpiece to the machining fixture; providing a digital model specifying the object including the attachment features; and, thereafter, using the measurements of the workpiece surface and the digital model, controlling machining apparatus with respect to the datum to machine the workpiece so as to produce the object as specified by the digital model.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for producing a system, the method comprising:
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providing a workpiece comprising a plurality of attachment features for attaching the workpiece to a machining fixture, said machining fixture comprising a plurality of fixture receiving elements for receiving the attachment features of the workpiece, the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements being dependent upon the relative positions of the attachment features; determining a datum, the datum being dependent upon relative positions of the attachment features, said determining the datum including measuring the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements on the machining fixture and using the measurements of the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements, calculating the datum; measuring a surface of the workpiece with respect to the datum; providing the machining fixture; attaching, using the attachment features, the workpiece to the machining fixture; providing a digital model specifying a component of the system, the digital model including the attachment features; using the measurements of the workpiece surface and the digital model, controlling the machining apparatus with respect to the datum to machine the workpiece attached to the machining fixture so as to produce the component as specified by the digital model; removing the component from the machining fixture; providing an assembly tool; attaching, using the attachment features, the component to the assembly tool; and performing an assembly operation on the component, thereby producing the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14)
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10. An apparatus for producing a system that incorporates a component formed from a workpiece comprising a plurality of attachment features, the apparatus comprising:
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a machining fixture configured to receive the workpiece at the attachment features, said machining fixture comprising a plurality of fixture receiving elements for receiving the attachment features of the workpiece, the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements being dependent upon the relative positions of the attachment features; one or more processors configured to determine a datum, the datum being dependent upon relative positions of the attachment features, said determining of the datum including measuring the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements on the machining fixture and using the measurements of the relative positions of the fixture receiving elements, calculating the datum; measurement apparatus suitable for measuring a surface of the workpiece with respect to the datum; machining apparatus being configured to, using the measurements of the workpiece surface and a digital model specifying the component of the system including the attachment features, be controlled so as to machine the workpiece attached to the machining fixture so as to produce the component as specified by the digital model; an assembly tool configured to receive the component at the attachment features; and an assembly apparatus suitable for performing an assembly operation on the component on the assembly tool, thereby producing the system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification