Placement and pricing of part marks in computer-modeled structures
AssigneeBenko, LLC
InventorsJames L. Jacobs, II, John E. Cronin, Kyle W. Kulp, Steven M. Lynch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and software for placing, customizing, and pricing part marks for use in one or more part designs that are represented in a computer model. Placement may be performed as a function of particular locations of part designs. Users may customize part marks by determining particular attributes thereof, such as textual content, font, and/or manufacturing method, among others. A user may manipulate a graphical user interface in order to determine various attributes that further define part mark. Pricing may be performed as a function of user-determined attributes and/or data from one or more pricing catalogs.
Claims18
A method of marking a part in a computer aided design (CAD) program associated with a graphical user interface (GUI) and operable on a computer system, the part having information associated therewith, the method being executed using a part-marking software tool that allows a user to provide a part with a mark at a selected location and comprising:
- receiving a first command from the user via the GUI associated with the CAD program, wherein the part is represented in a CAD model stored in a CAD file, the CAD model having a coordinate system, and the first command identifies a first location, corresponding to one or more coordinates within the CAD model, on the part that should receive the mark;
- receiving a second command from the user via the GUI associated with the CAD program, wherein the second command instructs the computer system to create the mark;
- displaying to the user a part mark GUI, wherein displaying the part mark GUI further comprises:
- displaying a text entry field that enables the user to input textual content of the mark;
- and
- displaying a part marking process input including a drop-down menu allowing a user to choose one of a plurality of manufacturing methods for manufacturing the mark, the plurality of manufacturing methods including etching, computer numerical control machining, and stenciling;
- receiving a third command from the user via the part mark GUI, wherein the third command dictates at least one attribute of the mark, the attribute comprising a manufacturing method for creating the mark, the manufacturing method comprising etching, computer numerical control machining, or stenciling, and wherein the user selects the manufacturing method using the part marking process input;
- retrieving, from a database via the part mark GUI, a run time associated with the selected manufacturing method for creating the mark on the part in response to receiving the third command, wherein the selected manufacturing method for creating the mark on the part comprises stenciling;
- receiving a fourth command from the user via the part mark GUI, wherein the fourth command further comprises textual content of the mark, wherein the user selects the textual content of the mark using the text entry field;
- determining, using a pricing algorithm included in the CAD program, a price for the mark as a function of the retrieved run time for creating the mark on the part and the textual content of the mark, wherein the price for the mark includes at least a charge for a programming cost associated with the stenciling and at least a charge for creation of a stencil associated with the textual content;
- modifying the CAD file to include the first location on the part, the manufacturing method, the price for the mark, and the textual content;
- and
- producing a design document, wherein the design document includes one or more elements of data associated with the CAD model and the mark.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.