Method and system for remotely providing user-defined cutting files for CNC robotic tools

• US 20040051720A1
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShopBot Tools, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ShopBot Tools, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, William L., Hall, Warren G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,982,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/689
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40935 Selection of predetermined shapes and defining the dimensions with parameter input
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32024 Remote ordering, electronic selection article and fitting to form of client
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36283 Select, enter machining, cutting conditions, material file, tool file
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for interactive generation and provision of custom cutting files for CNC robotic tools. A generic model for a particular product that a user wishes to make with a CNC tool is provided on a server remote from a client, with corresponding representational images available to the user. The user may input changes to the default representational images, and transmit the data corresponding to the final design parameters to a remote site, where a custom cutting file is generated. The user executes a purchase of the custom cutting file, which is then transmitted or otherwise provided to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing a cutting file for a computer numerical control robotic tool to a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at a site remote from the customer a generic model for a particular product to be made by the customer;

displaying to the customer a representational image of the product corresponding to the particular product and default design parameters for the image;

allowing the customer to modify at least one default design parameter and to select final design parameters for the model;

receiving data corresponding to the final design parameters at the site remote from the customer;

generating at the remote site using the generic model for a particular product a cutting file that incorporates the final design parameters; and

making the cutting file available to the customer.

2. The method for providing a cutting file of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a final representational image of the product that incorporates the final design parameters; and

displaying the final representational image to the customer.

3. The method for providing a cutting file of claim 2, wherein the product comprises a plurality of components, and further comprising the steps of:

generating a representational image of at least one individual component of the product;

displaying the at least one individual component image; and

allowing the customer to specify tool-related data.

4. The method for providing a cutting file of claim 1, wherein the step of making the cutting file available to the customer comprises transmitting the cutting file to the customer from a memory system.

5. The method for providing a cutting file of claim 1, wherein the step of making the cutting file available to the customer comprises storing the cutting file on a memory system accessible to the customer through a public communications network, and further comprising the step of allowing the customer to access the cutting file.

6. The method for providing a cutting file of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving data comprises receiving data through a public communications network.

7. The method for providing a cutting file of claim 1, further comprising the step of executing a financial transaction in which the customer purchases the cutting file in advance of making the cutting file available to the customer.

8. The method for providing a cutting file of claim 7, wherein the step of executing a financial transaction comprises executing the financial transaction through a public communications network.

9. A method for providing a cutting file for a computer numerical control robotic tool to a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at a site remote from the customer a generic model for a particular product to be made by the customer, wherein the product comprises a plurality of components;

displaying to the customer a representational image of the product corresponding to the particular product and default design parameters for the image;

allowing the customer to modify at least one default design parameter and to select final design parameters for the model;

generating a customized representational image of the product that incorporates the at least one modified design parameter;

displaying the customized representational image to the customer;

generating at least one customized representational image of the individual components;

displaying the at least one customized individual component image to the customer;

receiving data corresponding to the final design parameters at a site remote from the customer through a public communications network;

generating at the remote site using the generic model for a particular product a cutting file that incorporates the final design parameters;

storing the cutting file on a memory system accessible to the customer through a public communications network;

executing a financial transaction in which the customer purchases the cutting file through a public communications network; and

allowing the customer to access the cutting file.

10. Apparatus for providing a cutting file for a computer numerical control robotic tool to a customer, the apparatus comprising:

means for providing at a site remote from the customer a generic model for a particular product to be made by the customer;

means for displaying to the customer a representational image of the product corresponding to the particular product and default design parameters for the image;

means for allowing the customer to modify at least one default design parameter and to select final design parameters for the model;

means for receiving data corresponding to the final design parameters at the site remote from the customer;

means for generating at the remote site using the generic model for a particular product a cutting file that incorporates the final design parameters; and

means for making the cutting file available to the customer.

11. The apparatus for providing a cutting file of claim 10, further comprising:

means for generating a final representational image of the product that incorporates the final design parameters; and

means for displaying the final representational image to the customer.

12. The apparatus for providing a cutting file of claim 11, further comprising:

means for generating a representational image of at least one individual component of the product;

means for displaying the at least one individual component image; and

means for allowing the customer to specify tool-related data.

13. The apparatus for providing a cutting file of claim 10, wherein the means for making the cutting file available to the customer further comprises means for transmitting the file to the customer from a memory system.

14. The apparatus for providing a cutting file of claim 10, wherein the means for making the cutting file available to the customer further comprises means for storing the file on a memory system accessible to the customer through a public communications network, and further comprising means for allowing the customer to access the cutting file.

15. The apparatus for providing a cutting file of claim 10, wherein the means for receiving data further comprises means for receiving data through a public communications network.

16. The apparatus for providing a cutting file of claim 10, further comprising means for executing a financial transaction in which the customer purchases the cutting file in advance of making the cutting file available to the customer.

17. The apparatus for providing a cutting file of claim 16, wherein the means for executing a financial transaction further comprises means for executing the financial transaction through a public communications network.

18. A computer program product for providing a cutting file for a computer numerical control robotic tool to a customer, the computer program comprising:

instructions for providing at a site remote from the customer a generic model for a particular product to be made by the customer;

instructions for displaying to the customer a representational image of the product corresponding to the particular product and default design parameters for the image;

instructions for allowing the customer to modify at least one default design parameter and to select final design parameters for the model;

instructions for receiving data corresponding to the final design parameters at the site remote from the customer;

instructions for generating at the remote site using the generic model for a particular product a cutting file that incorporates the final design parameters; and

instructions for making the cutting file available to the customer.

19. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for generating a final representational image of the product that incorporates the final design parameters; and

instructions for displaying the customized representational image to the customer.

20. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for generating a representational image of at least one individual component of the product;

instructions for displaying the at least one individual component image; and

instructions for allowing the customer to specify tool-related data.

21. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the instructions for making the cutting file available to the customer further comprises instructions for transmitting the file to the customer from a memory system.

22. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the instructions for making the cutting file available to the customer further comprises instructions for storing the file on a memory system accessible to the customer through a public communications network, and further comprising instructions for allowing the customer to access the cutting file.

23. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the instructions for receiving data further comprises instructions for receiving data through a public communications network.

24. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions for executing a financial transaction in which the customer purchases the cutting file in advance of making the cutting file available to the customer.

25. The computer program of claim 24, wherein the instructions for executing a financial transaction further comprise instructions for executing the financial transaction through a public communications network.

26. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the instructions for providing a cutting file template further comprise instructions to access a database of generic models for particular products, and the instructions for displaying a representational image of the product corresponding to a particular model further comprise instructions to access a database of representational images.

27. The computer program of claim 26, wherein the computer program is embodied on a plurality of media enabled to operate a plurality of computers systems interconnected by a network.

28. A computer readable memory system encoded with a data structure for enabling provision of a cutting file for a computer numerical control robotic tool to a customer, the memory system being accessible over a network, the data structure comprising:

a plurality of generic models for a respective plurality of products to be made by a customer; and

a plurality of representational images corresponding to the respective plurality of products and having default design parameters.

29. A method for a customer to acquire a cutting file for a computer numerical control robotic tool, the method comprising the steps of:

viewing a representational image of the product corresponding to a generic model for a product to be made by the customer and to default design parameters for the image;

identifying and inputting any desired modifications to the default design parameters, creating final design parameters;

transmitting data corresponding to the final design parameters to a site remote from the customer;

requesting a cutting file from the remote site; and

receiving the cutting file.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of viewing a final representational image of the product corresponding to final design parameters.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

viewing a representational image of at least one individual component of the product; and

inputting tool-related data.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving the cutting file is performed directly from a storage medium.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving the cutting file is performed through a public communications network.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of transmitting data is performed through a public communications network.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step executing a financial transaction in which the customer purchases the cutting file in advance of receiving the cutting file.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the financial transaction is executed through a public communications network.