Performing robust cost analysis of a gas laser application

• US 20070127537A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bell, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A system that performs an analysis of a gas laser application comprises a receiver component that receives an identity of a gas laser and parameters relating to intended use of the gas laser. An analysis component automatically generates a cost analysis of the gas laser application based at least in part upon the received identity and parameters, the cost analysis includes fixed cost and variable cost of the gas laser application.

Claims

1. A computer-executable system that performs an analysis of a gas laser application comprising the following computer-executable components:

a receiver component that receives an identity of a gas laser and parameters relating to intended use of the gas laser; and

an analysis component that automatically generates a cost analysis of the gas laser application based at least in part upon the received identity and parameters, the cost analysis includes fixed cost and variable cost of the gas laser application.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface component that receives user input relating to the identity of the gas laser and automatically provides a user with selectable parameters associated with the gas laser.

3. The system of claim 2, the interface component provides at least one dissimilar parameter given user selection of a different gas laser.

4. The system of claim 2, the interface component comprises a materials component that generates a list of materials that can be cut by the selected gas laser, the interface component receives user input relating to at least one material within the list of materials.

5. The system of claim 4, the analysis component comprises a calculator component that computes estimated consumption of one or more gases associated with the selected gas laser based at least in part upon the received user input relating to the at least one material within the list of materials.

6. The system of claim 2, the interface component comprises a gas component that generates a selectable list of supply modes associated with gases that can be employed in connection with the gas laser application and equipment associated with a mode of supply, the analysis component generates a cost analysis associated with the gas.

7. The system of claim 2, the analysis component determines cost associated with equipment employed in the gas laser application, the interface component provides a summary of equipment costs to the user.

8. The system of claim 2, the interface component comprises a graphics engine that creates a graphical depiction of at least one of assist gas flow, variable cost versus fixed cost, and assist gas pressures.

9. The system of claim 2, the analysis component determines cost of gas that will be incurred over a threshold amount of time with respect to the gas laser application.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a save component that facilitates storage of the cost analysis.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a linking component that links the identity of the gas laser to gases that are associated with the gas laser in a database, the analysis component utilizes the links to create the cost analysis.

12. The system of claim 1, the identified gas laser is a carbon dioxide laser.

13. A method for performing a cost analysis associated with a gas laser process comprising the following computer-executable acts:

receiving identity of a gas laser to be employed in the gas laser process;

receiving identity and thickness of material to be cut by the identified gas laser; and

generating a cost analysis of the gas laser process based at least in part upon the received identity of the gas laser, the received identity of the material to be cut, and the received thickness of material to be cut, the cost analysis includes costs associated with gas utilized by the identified gas laser.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically determining gas pressure and gas flow associated with the identified material based at least in part upon the received thickness of the material.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a mode of supply with respect to gas utilized by the identified gas laser; and

automatically estimating at least one of cost of gas and cost of renting gas-related equipment based at least in part upon the received mode of supply, the determined gas pressure, and the determined gas flow.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically generating an order form based at least in part upon the cost analysis.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising graphically presenting the cost analysis to the user.

18. The method of claim 17, the cost analysis includes a graph indicating fixed cost of the gas laser process versus variable cost of the gas laser process.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

altering thickness of material to be cut by the identified gas laser; and

regenerating the cost analysis based upon the altered thickness.

20. A system for generating a cost analysis associated with a gas laser, comprising:

means for receiving identity of the gas laser;

means for receiving data relating to a process within which the gas laser will be employed; and

means for creating a cost analysis associated with the gas laser, the cost analysis includes estimated cost of gas to be employed by the gas laser.