Automated quoting of molds and parts from customer CAD file part data

• US 8,140,401 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Proto Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proto Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Lukis, Lawrence J., Gilbert, John M., Walls-Manning, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Garg, Yogesh C
• Application Number:
  US12/354,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: B22C 19/04 Controlling devices specially designed for moulding machines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3835 Designing moulds, e.g. using CAD-CAM
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

A customer sends a CAD file for the part to be molded to the system. The system assesses the CAD file to determine various pieces of mold manufacturing information. One or more acceptability criteria are applied to the part, such as whether the part can be manufactured in a two-piece, straight-pull mold, and whether the mold can by CNC machined out of aluminum. If not, the system sends a file to the customer graphically indicating which portions of the part need modification to be manufacturable. The system provides the customer with a quotation form, that allows the customer to select several parameters, such as number of cavities, surface finish and material, which are independent of the shape of the part. The quotation module then provides the customer with the cost to manufacture the mold or a number of parts. Budget-driven quotation is possible, wherein proposed modifications in the molding process are controlled by the budget of the customer. Interactivity is also achieved, with the customer being able to modify the quotation interactively by modifying one or more of the initially selected parameters, including selecting a different budgeted amount.

Claims

1. A method of custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of a part, the method comprising:

receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for the part, the CAD file three-dimensionally defining a part surface profile;

computer-assessing cost-affecting parameters of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture determined by the part surface profile, the assessment comprising two or more alternative methods of machining providing differing part surface profiles;

using a processing device automatically generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture based in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by part surface profile, the quotation proposing the two or more alternative methods of machining.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a budgeted dollar amount for the part, wherein the quotation is based in part upon the budgeted dollar amount, the quotation comprising proposed changes to the customer part data including one or more changes to the part surface profile to enable the quotation to fall within the budgeted dollar amount; and

providing the automatically generated quotation including the proposed changes to the customer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the quotation comprises a graphical rendering of the part surface profile as quoted, wherein the graphical rendering highlights portions of the part surface profile as quoted which are changed relative to the received CAD file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the quotation comprises a graphical rendering of the part showing the portions subject to alternative methods of machining as part of the quotation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative methods of machining comprise use of different machining tools.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative methods of machining comprise electro-discharge machining (EDM).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative methods of machining are for machining of an injection mold, and further comprising:

computer-assessing the CAD file data to analyze a shot for the part to be molded thereby generating a quality of part parameter, wherein the quotation is based in part upon the quality of part parameter, such that parts which are more difficult to produce in quality with injection molding are quoted differently than parts which are easier to produce in quality with injection molding.

8. The method of custom quotation of claim 7, wherein the assessing the quality of part parameter comprises calculating likelihood of completing injection mold fill with a selected material.