Methods and software for manufacturing a discrete object from an additively manufactured body of material including a precursor to a discrete object and a reference feature(s)

A method of manufacturing a discrete object from an additively manufactured body of material including a precursor to a discrete object and at least a reference feature, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an automated manufacturing device, a graphical representation of precursor to a discrete object;
• receiving, at the automated manufacturing device, a graphical representation of at least a reference feature to be additively manufactured on the precursor to the discrete object;
• generating, at the automated manufacturing device, a computer model of the body of material, wherein the computer model of the body of material includes the graphical representation of the precursor to the discrete object and the graphical representation of the at least a reference feature;
• and
• determining a position of the body of material relative to the automated manufacturing device according to a location of the at least a reference feature on the discrete object.