System and method for preflighting a computer aided design file corresponding to a tool for processing sheet media

An article of manufacture comprising non-transitory computer readable media programmed with computer program code readable by a computer, the code comprising instructions for performance of a design rule check of a computer aided design (CAD) file by a computer processor, the CAD file defining a geometry of at least one individual periphery to be cut with a cutting tool comprising at least one steel die rule, the cutting tool for use in a packaging-manufacture process for making an article of packaging from a starting material, including:

• (a) instructions for causing the computer processor to store in a computer memory one or more design rules in computer code readable by a design rule checking (DRC) module of the computer processor, the one or more design rules comprising a plurality of process operation inefficiency design rules applicable to the CAD file and defined to avoid an inefficient but not inoperable geometry of the cutting tool documented as causing an inefficiency in a non-printing or non-platemaking operation of the process, wherein the plurality of process operation inefficiency design rules include at least one design rule corresponding to an inefficiency in a step for manufacturing the cutting tool, at least one design rule corresponding to an inefficiency in a step of a converting process comprising a cutting step using the cutting tool, and at least one design rule corresponding to an inefficiency in a waste stripping or waste ejection step, a gluing step, or a scoring step downstream of the cutting step, and the inefficient geometry is known to increase processing time in a process operation relative to a more efficient geometry when used in the process;
• (b) instructions for causing the DRC module to process the CAD file relative to the one or more stored design rules file;
• (c) instructions for causing the DRC module to identify a violation of the at least one process inefficiency design rule,
• (d) instructions for causing the DRC module to automatically suggest at least one design change responsive to the violation of the process inefficiency design rule and automatically providing information regarding an estimated impact on the process corresponding to implementation of the suggested at least one design change, wherein:
• the automatically suggested at least one design change is selected from the group consisting of:
• eliminating a slot, increasing a slot width, changing a round corner to an angled corner, and replacing a perforation line with a score line, and
• the automatically provided information regarding the estimated impact on the process comprises an estimation of an increase in process throughput;
• (e) instructions for causing the DRC module to receive a user input responsive to the suggested design change;
• and
• (f) instructions for causing the DRC module to modify the CAD file in response to the user input.

A computer aided design (CAD) system for designing an article for manufacture from a starting material using a cutting tool in a process, the cutting tool comprising at least one steel die rule, the system comprising:

• a computer processor having a design rule checking (DRC) module;
• a user interface configured to enable a user to interactively provide a user input;
• a computer memory, the computer memory configured to store (a) one or more design rules in a format readable by the DRC module and (b) a CAD file that defines a geometry of at least one individual periphery to be cut with the cutting tool for use in a packaging-manufacture process for making an article of packaging from the starting material, the one or more design rules comprising a plurality of process inefficiency rules corresponding to an inefficient but not inoperable geometry of the cutting tool documented as causing an inefficiency in a non-printing or non-platemaking operation of the process, wherein the plurality of process operation inefficiency design rules include at least one design rule corresponding to an inefficiency in a step for manufacturing the cutting tool, at least one design rule corresponding to an inefficiency in a step of a converting process comprising a cutting step using the cutting tool, and at least one design rule corresponding to an inefficiency in a waste stripping or waste ejection step, a gluing step, or a scoring step downstream of the cutting step, and the inefficient geometry is known to increase processing time in a process operation relative to a more efficient geometry when used in the process;
• wherein the DRC module is configured to:
• evaluate the CAD file relative to the one or more design rules;
• identify in the CAD file one or more violations of the at least one process inefficiency design rule;
• automatically suggest at least one design change responsive to each identified violation of the at least one process inefficiency design rule and automatically provide information regarding an estimated impact on the process corresponding to implementation of the suggested at least one design change, wherein:
• the automatically suggested at least one design change is selected from the group consisting of:
• eliminating a slot, increasing a slot width, changing a round corner to an angled corner, and replacing a perforation line with a score line, and
• the automatically provided information regarding the estimated impact on the process comprises an estimation of an increase in process throughput;
• process a user input received in responsive to the suggested design change;
• modify the CAD file in response to the user input.