Multi-dimensional resource optimization in the manufacture of three-dimensional elements background

A computerized system for producing an efficient production floor work plan schedule for producing three-dimensional products by cutting a three-dimensional block of material via three-dimensional nesting, said system comprising:

• an input interface configured to receive input parameters comprising job data, due dates, product design data, production floor resources available;
• inventory data and manufacturing rules and objectives;
• a processing unit operatively connected to the input interface;
• a storage unit operatively connected to the processing unit to store the input parameters;
• the storage unit also containing instructions that when executed by the processing unit cause the processing unit to:
• a) receive input parameters comprising job data, due dates, product design data, production floor resources available and inventory data;
• b) maintain in memory manufacturing rules and objectives, comprising material utilization rules and further comprising one or more of:
• nesting restrictions, manufacturing limitations, and machine run rules;
• c) wherein said material utilization rules for utilization of said three-dimensional block of material, comprises:
• rules to avoid creation of unnecessary surplus parts;
• rules to avoid creation of odd-shaped remnants;
• rules for selection between use of pre-sliced material or use of large blocks of material to be cut by horizontal cutting machines;
• and
• rules for selecting an optimal nesting pane upon a large block of material, wherein the optimal nesting pane involves rules for selecting between pre-slicing and post-slicing of said large block of material,
• wherein said pre-slicing comprises cutting the large block of material in a horizontal plane into a plurality of sheets, generating nests upon said sheets, followed by vertical cutting to produce the three-dimensional products, and
• wherein said post-slicing comprises cutting the large block of material in a first direction to create lengthened shapes, followed by cutting said lengthened shapes to one or more desired thicknesses, in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction to produce the three-dimensional products;
• and
• rules for selecting common or specialized material size;
• d) assign relative weights of importance to said input parameters and to said manufacturing rules and objectives;
• e) compute, based on said input parameters, on said manufacturing rules and objectives and on said relative weights of importance, a production floor work plan schedule for production of three-dimensional products for selected jobs associated with the job data, whereby a production order specifies for at least one given job, one or more nests and resources to cut the one or more nests and to produce a final three-dimensional product;
• f) determine whether the production floor work plan schedule is efficient in utilization of materials and of said production floor resources available;
• if said schedule is determined to be efficient, outputting said production floor work plan schedule;
• if said computed production floor work plan schedule is determined to be inefficient, repeat steps (d) and (e) until said production floor work plan schedule is determined to be efficient.

A non-transitory machine readable storage medium containing instructions associated with producing an efficient production floor plan for manufacturing three-dimensional products by cutting a three-dimensional block of material via three-dimensional nesting;

• the instructions when executed causing the following:
• a. receiving input parameters comprising job data, due dates, product design data, production floor resources available and inventory data;
• b. maintaining in memory manufacturing rules and objectives, comprising material utilization rules and further comprising one or more of:
• nesting restrictions, manufacturing limitations, and machine run rules;
• c. wherein said material utilization rules for utilization of said three-dimensional block of material, comprises:
• rules to avoid creation of unnecessary surplus parts;
• rules to avoid creation of odd-shaped remnants;
• rules for selection between use of pre-sliced material or use of large blocks of material to be cut by horizontal cutting machines;
• and
• rules for selecting an optimal nesting pane upon a large block of material, wherein the optimal nesting pane involves rules for selecting between pre-slicing and post-slicing of said large block of material,
• wherein said pre-slicing comprises cutting the large block of material in a horizontal plane into a plurality of sheets, generating nests upon said sheets, followed by vertical cutting to produce the three-dimensional products, and
• wherein said post-slicing comprises cutting the large block of material in a first direction to create lengthened shapes, followed by cutting said lengthened shapes to one or more desired thicknesses, in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction to produce the three-dimensional products;
• and
• rules for selecting common or specialized material size;
• d. assigning relative weights of importance to said input parameters and to said manufacturing rules and objectives;
• e. computing, based on said input parameters, on said manufacturing rules and objectives and on said relative weights of importance, a production floor work plan schedule for production of three-dimensional products for selected jobs associated with the job data, whereby a production order specifies for at least one given job, one or more nests and resources to cut the one or more nests and to produce a final three-dimensional product;
• f. determining whether the production floor work plan schedule is efficient in utilization of materials and of said production floor resources available;
• if said schedule is determined to be efficient, outputting said production floor work plan schedule;
• if said computed production floor work plan schedule is determined to be inefficient, repeating steps (d) and (e) until said production floor work plan schedule is determined to be efficient.