Method for implementing design-for-manufacturability checks
First Claim
1. A method for implementing design-for-manufacturing checks during construction of a virtual model of a real part within a computer-aided drafting engine executing on a computing device, the method comprising:
- in response to insertion of a virtual feature into the virtual model, estimating a minimum stock geometry for the real part based on the virtual feature;
selecting a first material stock cross-section from a set of available material stock cross-sections of a material designated for the real part based on the minimum stock geometry;
at a first time, prompting a user, through the computer-aided drafting engine, to adjust a dimension of the virtual feature to enable production of the real part with a second material stock cross-section, in the set of available material stock cross-sections of the material, less than the first material stock cross-section, comprising;
calculating a minimum stock length for the first material stock cross-section based on the minimum stock geometry for the real part;
calculating a first machining time for the real part with the first material stock cross-section;
estimating a first cost to manufacture the real part from the first material stock cross-section based on the first machining time and a cost of the first material stock cross-section of the minimum stock length;
calculating a second machining time for the unit of the part with the second material stock cross-section; and
estimating a second cost to manufacture the unit of the real part from the second material stock cross-section based on the second machining time and a cost of the second material stock cross-section of the minimum stock length; and
displaying, within the computer-aided drafting engine, the first cost and the second cost;
at a second time succeeding the first time, submitting, to a manufacturing facility and over a computer network, an order for production of a unit of the real part according to the virtual model.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a method for implementing design-for-manufacturing checks during construction of a virtual model of a real part includes: in response to insertion of a virtual feature into the virtual model, estimating a minimum stock geometry for the real part based on the virtual feature; selecting a first material stock cross-section from a set of available material stock cross-sections of a material designated for the real part based on the minimum stock geometry; at a first time, prompting a user to adjust a dimension of the virtual feature to enable production of the real part with a second material stock cross-section in the set of material stock cross-sections, less than the first material stock cross-section; at a second time succeeding the first time, submitting, to a manufacturing facility and over a computer network, an order for production of a unit of the real part according to the virtual model.
101 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for implementing design-for-manufacturing checks during construction of a virtual model of a real part within a computer-aided drafting engine executing on a computing device, the method comprising:
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in response to insertion of a virtual feature into the virtual model, estimating a minimum stock geometry for the real part based on the virtual feature; selecting a first material stock cross-section from a set of available material stock cross-sections of a material designated for the real part based on the minimum stock geometry; at a first time, prompting a user, through the computer-aided drafting engine, to adjust a dimension of the virtual feature to enable production of the real part with a second material stock cross-section, in the set of available material stock cross-sections of the material, less than the first material stock cross-section, comprising; calculating a minimum stock length for the first material stock cross-section based on the minimum stock geometry for the real part; calculating a first machining time for the real part with the first material stock cross-section; estimating a first cost to manufacture the real part from the first material stock cross-section based on the first machining time and a cost of the first material stock cross-section of the minimum stock length; calculating a second machining time for the unit of the part with the second material stock cross-section; and estimating a second cost to manufacture the unit of the real part from the second material stock cross-section based on the second machining time and a cost of the second material stock cross-section of the minimum stock length; and displaying, within the computer-aided drafting engine, the first cost and the second cost; at a second time succeeding the first time, submitting, to a manufacturing facility and over a computer network, an order for production of a unit of the real part according to the virtual model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for implementing design-for-manufacturing checks during construction of a virtual model of a real part within a computer-aided drafting engine executing on a computing device, the method comprising:
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at the computer-aided drafting engine, receiving a manufacturing file specifying geometries of a set of cutting tools currently in operation at a manufacturing facility; in response to insertion of a virtual feature into the virtual model, preemptively selecting a first cutting tool, from the set of cutting tools specified in the manufacturing file, of greatest dimension suitable for machining the real part according to the virtual feature; at a first time, prompting a user, through the computer-aided drafting engine, to adjust a geometry of the virtual feature to enable machining of the real part with a second cutting tool, in the set of cutting tools, of dimension greater than a dimension of the first cutting tool; at a second time succeeding the first time, submitting, to a manufacturing facility and over a computer network, an order for production of a unit of the real part according to the virtual model. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification