Search for similar sheet metal part models

• US 20060106757A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Inventors: Sakai, Satoshi, Hwang, Yeam-Tzuo, Hazama, Kensuke, Hazama, Yoshie
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4181 characterised by direct numerical control [DNC]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30136 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 Shape modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/41 based on statistical description of texture
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/426 Graphical representations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/06 Recognition of objects for industrial automation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a factory in order to facilitate the production of components, such as bent sheet metal components. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the management and distribution of critical design and manufacturing information is achieved by storing and distributing the design and manufacturing information associated with each job. By replacing the traditional paper job set-up or work sheet with, for example, an electronically stored job sheet that can be accessed instantaneously from any location in the factory, the present invention improves the overall efficiency of the factory. In addition, through the various aspects and features of the invention, the organization and accessibility of part information and stored expert knowledge is improved.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A method for searching previous job information to locate similar sheet metal part models, the job information being stored in a database, the method comprising:

inputting at least one search criteria based upon at least one desired feature for a sheet metal part to be produced;

comparing the at least one search criteria with feature data associated with each previous job stored in the database to locate sheet metal part models having at least one feature that is identical and/or similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced;

retrieving job information related to sheet metal part models that are determined to have at least one feature identical and/or similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced, based upon the comparison; and

displaying retrieved sheet metal part models having at least one feature identical and/or similar to the desired feature for the sheet metal part to be produced.

39. The method of claim 38, in which the job information comprises design and manufacturing data of a sheet metal part.

40. The method of claim 39, in which the search criteria comprises part design information and the at least one desired feature comprises a design feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar design features.

41. The method of claim 39, in which the search criteria comprises manufacturing information and the desired feature comprises a manufacturing feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar manufacturing features.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising calculating a similarity index to rank the retrieved sheet metal part models.

43. The method of claim 42, in which the calculation is based upon a similarity of features between the input at least one desired feature and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

44. The method of claim 42, in which the calculation is based upon a number of matching features between the input at least one desired feature and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising displaying ranking results.

46. The method of claim 38, in which the comparing further comprises modifying the at least one search criteria to locate sheet metal part models having at least one feature that is similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced.

47. A method for searching previous job information to locate similar sheet metal part models, the job information being stored in a database, the method comprising:

inputting target sheet metal part model data representing a target sheet metal part model;

detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model;

identifying at least one search key based upon the at least one detected key feature;

comparing the at least one identified search key with feature data associated with each previous job stored in the database to locate sheet metal part models that are identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model;

retrieving job information related to sheet metal part models that are determined to be identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model, based upon the comparison; and

displaying retrieved sheet metal part models that are identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model.

48. The method of claim 47 in which the detecting further comprises detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model based upon 2D data.

49. The method of claim 47 in which the detecting further comprises detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model based upon 3D data.

50. The method of claim 47 in which the detecting further comprises detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model based upon 2D data and 3D data.

51. The method of claim 47, in which the job information comprises design and manufacturing data of a sheet metal part to be produced.

52. The method of claim 51, in which the search key comprises part design information and the feature data comprises a design feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar design features.

53. The method of claim 51, in which the search key comprises manufacturing information and the feature data comprises a manufacturing feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar manufacturing features.

54. The method of claim 47, further comprising calculating a similarity index to rank the retrieved sheet metal part models.

55. The method of claim 54, in which the calculation is based upon a similarity of features between the target sheet metal part model and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

56. The method of claim 54, in which the calculation is based upon a number of matching features between the target sheet metal part model and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising displaying ranking results.

58. The method of claim 47, in which the comparing further comprises modifying the at least one search key to locate sheet metal part models having at least one feature that is similar to the target sheet metal part.

59. The method of claim 47, further comprising storing feature data, which is indicative of key features of a selected sheet metal part model part, in association with job information related to the selected sheet metal part model.

60. A computer readable medium storing a program for searching previous job information to locate similar sheet metal part models, the job information being stored in a database, the medium comprising:

an input code segment that receives at least one search criteria based upon at least one desired feature for a sheet metal part to be produced;

a comparing code segment that compares the at least one search criteria with feature data associated with each previous job stored in the database to locate sheet metal part models having at least one feature that is identical and/or similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced;

a retrieving code segment that retrieves job information related to sheet metal part models that are determined to have at least one feature identical and/or similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced, based upon the comparison; and

a displaying code segment that displays retrieved sheet metal part models having at least one feature identical and/or similar to the desired feature for the sheet metal part to be produced.

61. The medium of claim 60, in which the job information comprises design and manufacturing data of a sheet metal part.

62. The medium of claim 61, in which the search criteria comprises part design information and the at least one desired feature comprises a design feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar design features.

63. The medium of claim 61, in which the search criteria comprises manufacturing information and the desired feature comprises a manufacturing feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar manufacturing features.

64. The medium of claim 60, further comprising a similarity index code section that calculates a similarity index to rank the retrieved sheet metal part models.

65. The medium of claim 64, in which the calculation is based upon a similarity of features between the input at least one desired feature and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

66. The medium of claim 64, in which the calculation is based upon a number of matching features between the input at least one desired feature and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

67. The medium of claim 64, further comprising a rank displaying code segment that displays the ranking results.

68. The medium of claim 60, in which the comparing code segment further comprises modifying the at least one search criteria to locate sheet metal part models having at least one feature that is similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced.

69. A computer readable medium storing a program for searching previous job information to locate similar sheet metal part models, the job information being stored in a database, the medium comprising:

an input code segment that receives target sheet metal part model data representing a target sheet metal part model;

a feature extraction code segment that detects at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model;

a search key code segment that identifies at least one search key based upon the at least one detected key feature;

a comparing code segment that compares the at least one identified search key with feature data associated with each previous job stored in the database to locate sheet metal part models that are identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model;

a retrieving code segment that retrieves job information related to sheet metal part models that are determined to be identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model, based upon the comparison; and

a display code segment that displays retrieved sheet metal part models that are identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model.

70. The medium of claim 69 in which the feature extraction code segment further comprises detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model based upon 2D data.

71. The medium of claim 69 in which the feature extraction code segment further comprises detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model based upon 3D data.

72. The medium of claim 69 in which the feature extraction code segment further comprises detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model based upon 2D data and 3D data.

73. The medium of claim 69, in which the job information comprises design and manufacturing data of a sheet metal part to be produced.

74. The medium of claim 73, in which the search key comprises part design information and the feature data comprises a design feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar design features.

75. The medium of claim 73, in which the search key comprises manufacturing information and the feature data comprises a manufacturing feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar manufacturing features.

76. The medium of claim 69, further comprising a similarity index code segment that calculates a similarity index to rank the retrieved sheet metal part models.

77. The medium of claim 76, in which the calculation is based upon a similarity of features between the target sheet metal part model and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

78. The medium of claim 76, in which the calculation is based upon a number of matching features between the target sheet metal part model and the retrieved sheet metal part models.

79. The medium of claim 76, further comprising displaying ranking results.

80. The medium of claim 69, in which the comparing code segment further comprises modifying the at least one search key to locate sheet metal part models having at least one feature that is similar to the target sheet metal part.

81. The medium of claim 69, further comprising a storing code segment that stores feature data, which is indicative of key features of a selected sheet metal part model part, in association with job information related to the selected sheet metal part model.

82. A system for searching previous job information to locate similar sheet metal part models, the system comprising:

a database comprising memory that stores the job information and associated feature data, the job information comprising design and manufacturing data of a sheet metal part; and

at least one workstation connected to the database, the at least one workstation comprising a processor, a display, a memory, and an input device that receives input of at least one search criteria based upon at least one desired feature for a sheet metal part to be produced, the at least one workstation comparing the at least one search criteria with feature data associated with each previous job stored in the database to locate sheet metal part models having at least one feature that is identical and/or similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced, and retrieving from the database job information related to sheet metal part models that are determined to have at least one feature identical and/or similar to the at least one feature desired for the sheet metal part to be produced, based upon the comparison, the display displaying retrieved sheet metal part models having at least one feature identical and/or similar to the desired feature for the sheet metal part to be produced.

83. The system of claim 82, in which the search criteria comprises part design information and the at least one desired feature comprises a design feature, wherein the search locates sheet metal part models having similar design features.

84. The system of claim 82, in which the workstation further calculates a similarity index to rank the retrieved sheet metal part models.

85. A system for searching previous job information to locate similar sheet metal part models, the system comprising:

a database system storing the job information and associated feature data, the job information comprising design and manufacturing data of a sheet metal part; and

a least one workstation connected to the database via a network, the at least one workstation comprising a processor, a display, a memory, and an input device that receives target sheet metal part model data representing a target sheet metal part model, the at least one workstation detecting at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model, identifying at least one search key based upon the at least one detected key feature, comparing the at least one identified search key with feature data associated with each previous job stored in the database to locate sheet metal part models that are identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model, and retrieving from the database job information related to sheet metal part models that are determined to be identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model, based upon the comparison, the display displaying retrieved sheet metal part models that are identical and/or similar to the target sheet metal part model.

86. The system of claim 85, in which the at least one workstation detects at least one key feature of the target sheet metal part model based upon 2D data and 3D data.

87. The system of claim 85, in which the at least one workstation calculates a similarity index to rank the retrieved sheet metal part models.