Apparatus and method for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a sheet metal production facility

• US 6,212,441 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Amadasoft America, Inc.
• Inventors: Subbaraman, Anand Heriharan, Sakai, Satoshi, Hazama, Kensuke, Kask, Kalev
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US09/007,182
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/96, 700/83, 700/97, 700/98, 700/29, 700/103, 700/104, 700/117-118, 700/182, 700/188, 700/189, 700/163, 700/164, 700/167, 700/145, 700/206, 345/964, 345/965, 345/966, 345/967, 345/121, 345/425, 707/103
• US Class Current: 700/98
• 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 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30136 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/41 based on statistical description of texture
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

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, 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. An object oriented bend model viewer adapted for use in a computer-controlled system, said computer-controlled system including a database for storing bend model data relating to said part and a display device for displaying images of said part, said object oriented bend model viewer comprising:

a bend model viewer view class including view model attributes and at least one viewing function implemented as a member function of said bend model viewer view class, at least one image of said part being rendered on said display device of said computer-controlled system based on said bend model data and said view model attributes.

2. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 1, wherein said view model attributes comprise display information relating to a predetermined view mode, said predetermined view mode including at least one of a solid view mode, a wire frame view mode, a 2-D flat view mode, or an orthographic view mode.

3. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 1, wherein said bend model viewer view class further comprises information for modifying said image of said part in accordance with said at least one viewing function.

4. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 3, wherein said at least one viewing function comprises one of a zooming function, a rotating function, a panning function or a dimension function.

5. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 4, wherein said zooming function comprises an operation for zooming said image of said part.

6. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 4, wherein said rotating function comprises an operation for rotating said image of said part.

7. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 4, wherein said panning function comprises an operation for panning said image of said part.

8. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 4, wherein said dimension function comprises an operation for modifying said image of said part to additionally display dimension information relating to at least one feature of said part.

9. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 8, wherein said dimension information comprises a length of at least one bendline of said part and a bending angle of each said bendline.

10. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 8, wherein said dimension information comprises a length of at least one flange portion of said part.

11. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 1, wherein said bend model viewer view class comprises a plurality of viewing functions that are provided as member functions of said bend model viewer view class, said bend model viewer view class further comprising information for modifying said image of said part in accordance with each of said viewing functions.

12. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 11, wherein said viewing functions comprise at least one of a zooming function, a rotating function, a panning function and a dimension function.

13. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 1, further comprising zoom factor information relating to the zoom factor of the current rendered view of said image of said part on said display device.

14. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 1, further comprising a visibility function for maintaining and providing visibility information relating to the features of said part that are visible on said display device based on the current rendered view of said image of said part.

15. An object oriented bend model viewer according to claim 14, wherein said bend model viewer view class further comprises information for modifying said image of said part in accordance with said at least one viewing function, said at least one viewing function comprising a dimension function which includes an operation for modifying said image of said part, based on said visibility information, to display dimension information relating to visible features of said part.

16. A system for manipulating a displayed image of a part, said displayed image of said part being displayed on a screen in 3-D coordinate space, said system comprising:

an input device for generating command signals, said command signals relating to at least one predetermined viewing function adapted to modify said displayed image of said part;

a current view determination system for determining a current view of said displayed image, said current view determination system being configured to determine whether said current view of said displayed image of said part on said screen is an entire view of said part or a partial view of said part;

a setting system for dynamically setting a rotation axis of said part based on said current view of said displayed image; and

an image modification system for modifying said displayed image of said part, in accordance with said viewing function, based on said command signals and said rotation axis.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said predetermined viewing function comprises a rotating function, said image modification system being adapted to rotate said displayed image of said part about said rotation axis based on said command signals.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein said setting system is adapted to set said rotation axis of said part so as to pass through a geometric center of said part when said current view determination system determines that said current view of said displayed image of said part is an entire view.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein said setting system is adapted to set said rotation axis of said part to pass through a center of said screen when said current view determination system determines that said current view of said displayed image of said part is a partial view.

20. A system according to claim 19, further comprising a part visibility system for determining if a portion of said part is visible at said center of said screen based on said current view, said setting system being adapted to set said rotation axis to pass through said portion of said part at said center of said screen when said part visibility system determines that said portion of said part is visible.

21. A system according to claim 20, said setting system being adapted to set said rotation axis to pass through said center of said screen at a Z-coordinate of the geometric center of said part when said part visibility system determines that said portion of said part is not visible at said center of said screen.

22. A system according to claim 19, further comprising a system for identifying a portion of said part that is located at said center of said screen and that is closest to a camera view of said screen when said current view determination system determines that said current view of said displayed image of said part is a partial view, and an object detecting system for determining if said identified portion of said part corresponds to an opening of said part, said calculation system setting said rotation axis to pass through said identified portion of said part when said object detecting system determines that said identified portion of said part does not relate to an opening of said part.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said setting system is adapted to set said rotation axis to pass through said center of said screen, at a depth corresponding to a Z-coordinate of the geometric center of said part, when said object detecting system determines that said identified portion of said part relates to an opening of said part.

24. A system according to claim 16, wherein said current view determination system is adapted to determine whether said current view is an entire view of said part or a partial view of said part by comparing a view volume with a boundary base size of said part.

25. A system according to claim 16, wherein said input device comprises a joystick device, said command signals being generated based on predetermined movements of said joystick device.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said joystick device comprises a joystick virtual space, said command signals including information relating to said movements of said joystick device within said joystick virtual space.

27. A system according to claim 26, said image modification system comprising a mapping system for mapping said movements of said joystick device within said joystick virtual space to cursor movements within a screen space of said screen, said image modification system modifying said displayed image of said part based on said cursor movements mapped from said joystick movements.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein said mapping system is adapted to map said movements of said joystick device in said joystick virtual space to cursor movements in said screen space based on a ratio of the size of said screen space to the size of said joystick virtual space.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein said cursor movements are mapped by said mapping system in accordance with the following equation:

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein said mapping system comprises a scaling adjustment system for adjusting said scale_factor used by said mapping system, said scaling adjustment system being adapted to multiply the ratio of the size of said screen space to the size of said joystick virtual space by a predetermined adjustment factor to provide an adjusted scale_factor, said mapping system being adapted to use said adjusted scale_factor when mapping said joystick movements.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein said adjustment factor is set to a value of 3.

32. A method for manipulating a displayed image of a part, said displayed image of said part being displayed on a screen in 3-D coordinate space, said method comprising:

receiving command signals generated from an input device, said command signals relating to at least one predetermined viewing function which is adapted to modify said displayed image of said part;

determining a current view of said displayed image of said part on said screen and whether said current view of said displayed image of said part on said screen is an entire view or a partial view of said part;

dynamically setting a rotation axis of said part based on said current view of said part; and

modifying said displayed image of said part, in accordance with said viewing function, based on said command signals and said rotation axis.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said predetermined viewing function comprises a rotating function, said modifying including the step of rotating said displayed image of said part about said rotation axis based on said command signals.

34. A method according to claim 32, wherein said setting comprises setting said rotation axis of said part so as to pass through a geometric center of said part when said current view of said displayed image of said part is determined to be an entire view.

35. A method according to claim 32, wherein said setting comprises setting said rotation axis of said part to pass through a center of said screen when said current view of said displayed image of said part is determined to be a partial view.

36. A method according to claim 35, further comprising determining if a portion of said part is visible at said center of said screen based on said current view, wherein said setting comprises setting said rotation axis to pass through said portion of said part at said center of said screen when it is determined that said portion of said part is visible.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein said setting comprises setting said rotation axis to pass through said center of said screen at a Z-coordinate of the geometric center of said part when it is determined that said portion of said part is not visible at said center of said screen.

38. A method according to claim 35, further comprising identifying a portion of said part that is located at said center of said screen and that is closest to a camera view of said screen when said current view of said displayed image of said part is a partial view, determining if said identified portion of said part corresponds to an opening of said part, and setting said rotation axis to pass through said identified portion of said part when said identified portion of said part does not relate to an opening of said part.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein said rotation axis is set to pass through said center of said screen, at a depth corresponding to a Z-coordinate of the geometric center of said part, when said picked portion of said part relates to an opening of said part.

40. A method according to claim 32, wherein said current view is determined by comparing a view volume of said screen with a boundary base size of said part.

41. A method according to claim 32, further comprising generating said command signals with a joystick device, said command signals being generated based on predetermined movements of said joystick device.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein said joystick device comprises a joystick virtual space, said command signals including information relating to said movements of said joystick device within said joystick virtual space.

43. A method according to claim 42, said modifying comprising mapping said movements of said joystick device within said joystick virtual space to cursor movements within a screen space of said screen, such that said modifying modifies said displayed image of said part based on said cursor movements mapped from said joystick movements.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein said mapping maps said movements of said joystick device in said joystick virtual space to cursor movements in said screen space based on a ratio of the size of said screen space to the size of said joystick virtual space.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said cursor movements are mapped by said mapping in accordance with the following equation:

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said mapping comprises adjusting said scale_factor used by said mapping, said adjusting multiplying the ratio of the size of said screen space to the size of said joystick virtual space by a predetermined adjustment factor to provide an adjusted scale_factor, said mapping using said adjusted scale_factor when mapping said joystick movements.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein said adjustment factor is set to a value of 3.

48. A method according to claim 46, wherein said adjustment factor is set to a value of 6.

49. A method for displaying dimensional information with an image of a part displayed on a screen, said dimensional information relating to features of said part, said method comprising:

determining a current view of said displayed image of said part and determining which of said features are visible on said screen based on said current view; and

selectively displaying, on said screen with said displayed image of said part, dimensional information for only each of said features of said part that are determined to be visible on said screen.

50. A method according to claim 49, further comprising accessing bend model data relating to said part and determining, based on said bend model data, all possible locations on said screen for displaying said dimensional information for each of said features of said part.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein said selectively displaying includes applying predetermined heuristics to determine where to display said dimensional information of said visible features based on said possible locations.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein said heuristics comprise displaying said dimensional information at a location on said screen that is outside of said displayed image of said part.

53. A method according to claim 51, wherein said heuristics comprise displaying said dimensional information at a location on said screen that is closer to a viewpoint of a viewer.

54. A method according to claim 51, wherein said heuristics comprise displaying said dimensional information so that said dimensional information does not overlap on said screen.

55. A method according to claim 51, wherein said dimensional information comprises the bendline length and bend angle for each bendline of said part.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein said dimensional information further comprises the inside bend radius and bend deduction amount related to each bendline of said part, wherein said displaying displays the bendline length, bend angle, bend radius and bend deduction amount for each bendline of said part determined to be visible based on said current view.

57. A method according to claim 49, wherein said dimensional information comprises the flange length of each flange portion of said part.

58. A method according to claim 49, further comprising displaying additional information, said additional information comprising the width, depth and height of said part.

59. A method according to claim 49, wherein said selectively displaying includes performing an auto-dimensioning operation to display said dimensional information of only predetermined features of said part, such that said dimensional information is displayed for only said predetermined features that are determined to be visible.

60. A method according to claim 59, wherein said dimensional information of said predetermined features comprises the bendline length and bend angle for each bendline of said part, and the flange length of each flange portion of said part.

61. A method according to claim 49, wherein said selectively displaying includes performing a manual dimensioning operation to display user-selected dimensional information relating to features of said part, such that each said user-selected dimensional information is displayed for only said features of said part that are determined to be visible.

62. A method according to claim 49, wherein said displayed image of said part comprises a representation of said part in 3-D coordinate space.

63. A system for displaying dimensional information with an image of a part displayed on a screen, said dimensional information relating to features of said part, said system comprising:

a system for determining a current view of said displayed image of said part and determining which of said features are visible on said screen based on said current view; and

a system for selectively displaying, on said screen with said displayed image of said part, dimensional information for only said features of said part that are determined to be visible on said screen.

64. A system according to claim 63, further comprising an accessing system for accessing bend model data relating to said part and a system for determining, based on said bend model data, all possible locations on said screen for displaying said dimensional information for each of said features of said part.

65. A system according to claim 64, wherein said selective displaying system includes a system for applying predetermined heuristics to determine where to display said dimensional information of said visible features based on said possible locations.

66. A system according to claim 65, wherein said heuristics comprise displaying said dimensional information at a location on said screen that is outside of said displayed image of said part.

67. A system according to claim 65, wherein said heuristics comprise displaying said dimensional information at a location on said screen that is closer to a viewpoint of a viewer.

68. A system according to claim 65, wherein said heuristics comprise displaying said dimensional information so that said dimensional information does not overlap on said screen.

69. A system according to claim 65, wherein said dimensional information comprises the bendline length and bend angle for each bendline of said part.

70. A system according to claim 69, wherein said dimensional information further comprises the inside bend radius and bend deduction amount related to each bendline of said part, wherein said selective displaying system is adapted to display the bendline length, bend angle, bend radius and bend deduction amount for each bendline of said part determined to be visible based on said current view.

71. A system according to claim 63, wherein said dimensional information comprises the flange length of each flange portion of said part.

72. A system according to claim 63, further comprising a system for additionally displaying the width, depth and height of said part.

73. A system according to claim 63, wherein said selective displaying system includes a system for performing an auto-dimensioning operation to display said dimensional information of only predetermined features of said part, such that said dimensional information of said predetermined features are displayed for only said predetermined features that are determined to be visible.

74. A system according to claim 73, wherein said dimensional information of said predetermined features comprises the bendline length and bend angle for each bendline of said part.

75. A system according to claim 74, wherein said dimensional information further comprises the flange length of each flange portion of said part.

76. A system according to claim 63, wherein said selective displaying system includes a system for performing a manual dimensioning operation to display user-selected dimensional information relating to features of said part, such that each said user-selected dimensional information is displayed for only said features of said part that are determined to be visible.

77. A system according to claim 63, wherein said displayed image of said part comprises a representation of said part in 3-D coordinate space.