Methods and apparatus for facilitating manufacturing

• US 20030040824A1
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Canada (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Canada (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Feige, Christian R., Robinson, Allan J., Feige, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US09/682,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040824A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A method for facilitating manufacturing includes capturing changes to a part from a process, incorporating the captured changes in a regenerated electronic model, and utilizing the regenerated model to further fabricate the part.

Claims

1_9. ] A method for facilitating manufacturing, said method comprising:

capturing changes to a part from a process;

incorporating the captured changes in a regenerated electronic model; and

utilizing the regenerated model to further fabricate the part.

2_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said capturing changes further comprises capturing changes to a part from a process by inspecting the part after the process.

3_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said capturing changes further comprises capturing changes to a part from a process by inspecting the part after the process for at least one of a dimension, a density, an elastic modulus, an electrical resistivity, a heat capacity, a heat of combustion, a heat of fusion, a heat of vaporization, a heat transfer coefficient, a kinematic viscosity, a Poisson'"'"'s ratio, a thermal conductivity, a thermal expansion coefficient, a compressive strength, a fracture toughness, at least one friction coefficient, a hardness, an internal stress, a piezoelectric coefficient, a piezoelectric constant, a porosity, a residual stress, a root-mean-square (rms) roughness, a shear modulus, a specific heat, a stiffness, a strain, a tensile strength, an ultimate strength, and a yield strength.

4_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said capturing changes further comprises capturing changes to a part from a process by inspecting the part after at least one of a partial development process, a further development process, and an inspection process.

5_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said capturing changes further comprises capturing changes to a part from a process by inspecting the part after the process wherein the process includes at least one of a forging process, a rough machining process, and an inspecting process.

6_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said capturing changes further comprises capturing changes to a part from a process by inspecting the part after the process wherein the process includes at least one of a forging process, a rough machining process, and an inspecting process including removing a sample from the part creating at least one void in the part.

7_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said capturing changes further comprises:

sending information to a supplier; and

capturing changes to a part from processes done by the supplier.

8_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said sending information to a supplier further comprises sending at least one of an electronic model of the part, a drawing of the part, and a data sheet relating to the part to the supplier.

9_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said sending information to a supplier further comprises sending at least one of an electronic model of the part, a drawing of the part, and a data sheet relating to the part including dimensions and tolerances to the supplier.

10_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said capturing changes further comprises sending an electronic model to the supplier, said incorporating the captured changes further comprises incorporating the captured changes with the electronic model in a regenerated electronic model.

11_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said incorporating the captured changes further comprises receiving the captured changes via a network utilizing a user interface.

12_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said receiving the captured changes further comprises receiving the captured changes via a network including at least one of a WAN, a LAN, and the Internet.

13_9. ] A method for facilitating manufacturing, said method comprising:

generating an electronic model of a part;

sending the electronic model to a supplier;

utilizing the supplier to capture changes to the part from a fabrication process;

incorporating the captured changes in a regenerated electronic model utilizing the captured changes and the electronic model; and

utilizing the regenerated electronic model to further fabricate the part.

14_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said utilizing the supplier further comprises utilizing the supplier to capture changes to the part from a fabrication process comprising at least one of a partial development process, a further development process, and a inspection process.

15_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said utilizing the supplier further comprises utilizing the supplier to capture changes to the part from a fabrication process comprising at least one of a forging process, a rough machining process, and an inspection process.

16_9. ] A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said utilizing the supplier further comprises utilizing the supplier to capture changes to the part from a fabrication process comprising at least one of a forging process, a rough machining process, and an inspection process involving removal of material from the part.

17_9. ] Apparatus for facilitating manufacturing, said apparatus comprising:

at least one device; and

a server connected to said device and configured to;

download to said device information regarding a part;

upload from said device at least one of a regenerated model and at least one captured change entered into a user interface; and

regenerate a model upon receipt of the captured change.

18_9. ] An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server further configured to download to said device information regarding a part, wherein the information comprises at least one of an electronic model of the part, a drawing of the part, and a data sheet regarding the part.

19_9. ] An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server further configured to download to said device information regarding a part, wherein the information comprises at least one of an electronic model of the part, a drawing of the part, and a data sheet comprising dimensions of the part and tolerances.

20_9. ] An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server further comprises a database including an electronic model stored therein, said server further configured to regenerate a model upon receipt of the captured change utilizing the stored electronic model.

21_9. ] An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said device comprises a first device and a second device, said server further configured to:

download to said first device information regarding a part; and

download to said second device the regenerated model.

22_9. ] An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said device comprises a first device accessible by a first supplier and a second device accessible by a second supplier, said server further configured to:

download to said first device information regarding a part; and

download to said second device the regenerated model.