Method for quoting part production
First Claim
1. A method for transforming material stock into a real part, the method comprising:
- at a computer-aided drafting engine executing on a user workstation, receiving a quote file specifying a set of manufacturing-related parameters for manufacturing the real part, the manufacturing-related parameters including a current manufacturing schedule for a manufacturing facility, and a pricing structure for the manufacturing facility;
generating a first three-dimensional virtual model of the real part, at a first time, in response to insertion of a first three-dimensional virtual geometry into the computer-aided drafting engine;
generating a virtual model of a real custom fixture for supporting machining of the real part, wherein generating the virtual model comprises;
evaluating requirements for manufacturing the real part at the manufacturing facility based on the manufacturing-related parameters and the first three-dimensional virtual model of the real part; and
determining the real custom fixture for manufacturing the real part, based on the requirements;
calculating a manufacturing quote for the real part based on a cost for the real custom fixture and a cost to manufacture the real part according to the first three-dimensional virtual geometry and the manufacturing-related parameters;
displaying the manufacturing quote within the computer-aided drafting engine;
generating a second three-dimensional virtual model of the real part, at a second time succeeding the first time, in response to insertion of a second three-dimensional virtual geometry, wherein the manufacturing quote is updated for display within the computer-aided drafting engine based on;
the second three-dimensional virtual geometry and the manufacturing-related parameters;
machining first stock material into the real custom fixture according to real custom fixture dimensions specified by the virtual model of the real custom fixture; and
while physically supporting second stock material with the real custom fixture, machining the second stock material into the real part according to real part dimensions specified by the second three-dimensional virtual geometry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a method for quoting manufacture of a part during construction of a virtual model of the part within a computer-aided drafting engine includes: receiving a quote file specifying a current manufacturing schedule and a pricing structure for a manufacturing facility; at a first time, in response to insertion of a first three-dimensional virtual geometry into the virtual model, calculating a manufacturing quote for the part based on the first three-dimensional virtual geometry and the quote file; displaying the manufacturing quote; at a second time succeeding the first time, in response to insertion of a second three-dimensional virtual geometry into the virtual model, updating the manufacturing quote based on the second three-dimensional virtual geometry and the quote file; and, at a third time succeeding the second time, submitting a form of the virtual model to the manufacturing facility for manufacture of the part.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for transforming material stock into a real part, the method comprising:
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at a computer-aided drafting engine executing on a user workstation, receiving a quote file specifying a set of manufacturing-related parameters for manufacturing the real part, the manufacturing-related parameters including a current manufacturing schedule for a manufacturing facility, and a pricing structure for the manufacturing facility; generating a first three-dimensional virtual model of the real part, at a first time, in response to insertion of a first three-dimensional virtual geometry into the computer-aided drafting engine; generating a virtual model of a real custom fixture for supporting machining of the real part, wherein generating the virtual model comprises; evaluating requirements for manufacturing the real part at the manufacturing facility based on the manufacturing-related parameters and the first three-dimensional virtual model of the real part; and determining the real custom fixture for manufacturing the real part, based on the requirements; calculating a manufacturing quote for the real part based on a cost for the real custom fixture and a cost to manufacture the real part according to the first three-dimensional virtual geometry and the manufacturing-related parameters; displaying the manufacturing quote within the computer-aided drafting engine; generating a second three-dimensional virtual model of the real part, at a second time succeeding the first time, in response to insertion of a second three-dimensional virtual geometry, wherein the manufacturing quote is updated for display within the computer-aided drafting engine based on;
the second three-dimensional virtual geometry and the manufacturing-related parameters;machining first stock material into the real custom fixture according to real custom fixture dimensions specified by the virtual model of the real custom fixture; and while physically supporting second stock material with the real custom fixture, machining the second stock material into the real part according to real part dimensions specified by the second three-dimensional virtual geometry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for distributing functionality across a computer network connecting a local user workstation and a remote manufacturing facility to improve real-time quoting manufacture of a real part during construction of a corresponding virtual model within a computer-aided drafting engine locally executing on a local computing device, the method comprising:
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at the computer-aided drafting engine locally executing on the local computing device; receiving a quote file specifying a set of manufacturing-related parameters for manufacturing the real part at a manufacturing facility; at a first time, in response to insertion of a first three-dimensional virtual geometry of the virtual model into the computer-aided drafting engine, calculating a manufacturing quote for the real part based on the first three-dimensional virtual geometry and the quote file, wherein calculating the manufacturing quote comprises, in substantially real-time; predicting a fixturing method for the real part based on the first three-dimensional virtual geometry; calculating a cost for the fixturing method, comprising automatically generating a virtual model of a real custom fixture for machining a unit of the real part based on the virtual model; selecting a set of manufacturing-related parameter values based on the virtual model; calculating the manufacturing quote for the real part based on the first three-dimensional virtual geometry, the cost of the fixturing method, and prices associated with the selected set of manufacturing-related parameter values, the prices determined from a pricing structure for the manufacturing facility; displaying the manufacturing quote within the computer-aided drafting engine; at a second time succeeding the first time, in response to insertion of a second three-dimensional virtual geometry of the virtual model into the computer-aided drafting engine, updating the fixturing method for the real part based on the second three-dimensional virtual geometry; updating the manufacturing quote displayed within the computer-aided drafting engine based on the second three-dimensional virtual geometry, the updated fixturing method, a second set of manufacturing-related parameter values selected based on the second three-dimensional geometry, and prices associated with the second selected set of manufacturing-related parameter values determined from the pricing structure for the manufacturing facility; and over the computer network; at a third time succeeding the second time, submitting, an order for manufacture of the real part, according to the fixturing method, to the manufacturing facility; and at the manufacturing facility, machining the real part from stock material, based on the fixturing method and the virtual model. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification