Method and apparatus for custom of manufacturing of decorative, cast stonework

• US 20040167651A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Carey
• Original Assignee: Richard Carey
• Inventors: Carey, Richard
• Application Number:
  US10/783,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes

Abstract

A method for custom manufacturing decorative, cast stonework. The method includes receiving an order including at least one drawing of at least one part of a plurality of parts that comprise a unit, storing the order and referencing the at least one first part to a database of units and parts, wherein the least one first part number is associated with the at least one first part. The method then determines if a suitable unused part exists in inventory. If not, the method determines if a mold exists. If not, the method manufactures or buys a mold. If a mold exists and is available, the method casts the part.

Claims

1. A method for custom manufacturing decorative, cast stonework, comprising:

receiving an order, wherein the order at least comprises one drawing, and wherein the at least one drawing at least comprises at least one part of a plurality of parts that comprise a unit;

storing the order;

referencing the at least one first part to a database of units and parts, wherein the least one first part number is associated with the at least one first part;

determining if a suitable unused part of a plurality of unused parts exists within an inventory of unused parts by an associated part identifier, wherein each unused part of the plurality unused parts have part identifiers associated therewith;

if no suitable part exists in the inventory of unused parts, then determining if a mold for the at least one part exists in an inventory of molds;

if no mold exists in the inventory of molds, then manufacturing or buying a mold for the at least one first part;

if a mold exists in the inventory of molds, then determining if the mold is available;

retrieving the mold, once available, manufactured, or bought; and

casting the at least one first part with the mold that has been retrieved.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if a suitable unused part of the plurality of unused parts exists within the inventory of unused parts further comprises:

searching part identifiers associated with each of the unused parts of the plurality of unused parts for a part identifier that at least matches the at least one first part identifier associated with the at least one first part to determine if the suitable part identifier exists within the inventory of unused parts;

determining if the suitable unused part has correct dimensions; and

if the suitable unused part is too large, then cutting the suitable unused part to the correct dimensions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the mold is available further comprises:

retrieving a schedule of use for the mold; and

determining periods of time when the mold is in use for other projects.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

if the mold is not available, determining if the mold exists in a mold inventory; and

if the mold does not exist in a mold inventory, manufacturing or buying the mold.

5. A computer program product for custom manufacturing decorative, cast stonework, the computer program product having a medium with a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program comprising:

computer code for receiving an order, wherein the order at least comprises one drawing, and wherein the at least one drawing at least comprises at least one part of a plurality of parts that comprise a unit;

computer code for storing the order;

computer code for referencing the at least one first part to a database of units and parts, wherein the least one first part number is associated with the at least one first part;

computer code for determining if a suitable unused part of a plurality of unused parts exists within an inventory of unused parts by an associated part identifier, wherein each unused part of the plurality unused parts have part identifiers associated therewith;

if no suitable part exists in the inventory of unused parts, then computer code for determining if a mold for the at least one part exists in an inventory of molds;

if no mold exists in the inventory of molds, then computer code for manufacturing or computer code for buying a mold for the at least one first part;

if a mold exists in the inventory of molds, then computer code for determining if the mold is available;

computer code for retrieving the mold, once available, manufactured, or bought; and

computer code for casting the at least one first part with the mold that has been retrieved.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the computer code for determining if a suitable unused part of the plurality of unused parts exists within the inventory of unused parts further comprises:

computer code for searching part identifiers associated with each of the unused parts of the plurality of unused parts for a part identifier that at least matches the at least one first part identifier associated with the at least one first part to determine if the suitable part identifier exists within the inventory of unused parts;

computer code for determining if the suitable unused part has correct dimensions; and

if the suitable unused part is too large, then computer code for cutting the suitable unused part to the correct dimensions.

7. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the computer code for determining if the mold is available further comprises:

computer code for retrieving a schedule of use for the mold; and

computer code for determining periods of time when the mold is in use for other projects.

8. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the computer program product further comprises:

if the mold is not available, computer code for determining if the mold exists in a mold inventory; and

if the mold does not exist in a mold inventory, computer code for manufacturing or computer code for buying the mold.

9. A processor for custom manufacturing decorative, cast stonework, the processor including computer program comprising:

computer code for receiving an order, wherein the order at least comprises one drawing, and wherein the at least one drawing at least comprises at least one part of a plurality of parts that comprise a unit;

computer code for storing the order;

computer code for referencing the at least one first part to a database of units and parts, wherein the least one first part number is associated with the at least one first part;

computer code for determining if a suitable unused part of a plurality of unused parts exists within an inventory of unused parts by an associated part identifier, wherein each unused part of the plurality unused parts have part identifiers associated therewith;

if no suitable part exists in the inventory of unused parts, then computer code for determining if a mold for the at least one part exists in an inventory of molds;

if no mold exists in the inventory of molds, then computer code for manufacturing or computer code for buying a mold for the at least one first part;

if a mold exists in the inventory of molds, then computer code for determining if the mold is available;

computer code for retrieving the mold, once available, manufactured, or bought; and

computer code for casting the at least one first part with the mold that has been retrieved.

10. The computer code of claim 9, wherein the computer code for determining if a suitable unused part of the plurality of unused parts exists within the inventory of unused parts further comprises:

computer code for searching part identifiers associated with each of the unused parts of the plurality of unused parts for a part identifier that at least matches the at least one first part identifier associated with the at least one first part to determine if the suitable part identifier exists within the inventory of unused parts;

computer code for determining if the suitable unused part has correct dimensions; and

if the suitable unused part is too large, then computer code for cutting the suitable unused part to the correct dimensions.

11. The computer code of claim 9, wherein the computer code for determining if the mold is available further comprises:

computer code for retrieving a schedule of use for the mold; and

computer code for determining periods of time when the mold is in use for other projects.

12. The computer code of claim 9, wherein the computer code further comprises:

if the mold is not available, computer code for determining if the mold exists in a mold inventory; and

if the mold does not exist in a mold inventory, computer code for manufacturing or computer code for buying the mold.

13. An apparatus for custom manufacturing decorative, cast stonework, comprising:

means for receiving an order, wherein the order at least comprises one drawing, and wherein the at least one drawing at least comprises at least one part of a plurality of parts that comprise a unit;

means for storing the order;

means for referencing the at least one first part to a database of units and parts, wherein the least one first part number is associated with the at least one first part;

means for determining if a suitable unused part of a plurality of unused parts exists within an inventory of unused parts by an associated part identifier, wherein each unused part of the plurality unused parts have part identifiers associated therewith;

if no suitable part exists in the inventory of unused parts, then means for determining if a mold for the at least one part exists in an inventory of molds;

if no mold exists in the inventory of molds, then means for manufacturing or means for buying a mold for the at least one first part;

if a mold exists in the inventory of molds, then means for determining if the mold is available;

means for retrieving the mold, once available, manufactured, or bought; and

means for casting the at least one first part with the mold that has been retrieved.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for determining if a suitable unused part of the plurality of unused parts exists within the inventory of unused parts further comprises:

means for searching part identifiers associated with each of the unused parts of the plurality of unused parts for a part identifier that at least matches the at least one first part identifier associated with the at least one first part to determine if the suitable part identifier exists within the inventory of unused parts;

means for determining if the suitable unused part has correct dimensions; and

if the suitable unused part is too large, then means for cutting the suitable unused part to the correct dimensions.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for determining if the mold is available further comprises:

retrieving a schedule of use for the mold; and

determining periods of time when the mold is in use for other projects.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

if the mold is not available, means for determining if the mold exists in a mold inventory; and

if the mold does not exist in a mold inventory, means for manufacturing or means for buying the mold.