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US 12,090,581 B2Granted
Welding sequence guidance using three dimensional models
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsVincent Nicholas Romano, Todd Michael McEllis, Leland Daryl Falde
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed relating to welding sequence guidance using three-dimensional (3D) models. In some examples, a welding sequence program may use 3D models, rather than two-dimensional (2D) images, to guide operators through welding sequences. Since only one 3D model must be saved for each sequence, rather than potentially hundreds of 2D images, substantial memory space may be saved. Additionally, the same 3D model may be used for several welding sequences. Further, the 3D model may be animated to help the operator understand changes in perspective between steps of the welding sequence.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a display screen;
- a user interface;
- processing circuitry;
- and
- memory circuitry comprising a three dimensional model representative of a part, and machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
- generate a welding sequence comprising a plurality of welding sequence instructions relating to welding of the part,
- display, on the display screen, an initial view of the three dimensional model,
- in response to receiving, via the user interface, a manipulation input, manipulate the three dimensional model such that the display screen displays a first view of the three dimensional model instead of the initial view of the three dimensional model, the first view of the three dimensional model being different from the initial view of the three dimensional model with respect to at least one or more perspective characteristics,
- in response to receiving, via the user interface, a guidance input identifying a particular portion of the three dimensional model visible in the first view as particularly relevant to a welding sequence instruction of the plurality of welding sequence instructions, manipulate the three dimensional model such that the display screen displays an emphasized first view of the three dimensional model instead of the first view of the three dimensional model,
- the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model being the same as the first view of the three dimensional model except at the particular portion, the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model being different from the first view of the three dimensional model at the particular portion with respect to one or more emphasis characteristics,
- the one or more emphasis characteristics comprising one or more of a lighting, a color, a shadow, a highlighting, a hidden element, a transparency, or a layering of the three dimensional model at the particular portion,
- in response to receiving, via the user interface, an association input identifying the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model as relevant to the welding sequence instruction, associate the particular portion of the three dimensional model and the one or more perspective and emphasis characteristics of the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model with the welding sequence instruction, and
- record the particular portion of the three dimensional model, the one or more perspective and emphasis characteristics of the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model, and the association between the particular portion of the three dimensional model, the one or more perspective and emphasis characteristics of the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model, and the welding sequence instruction.
10 more elements
A non-transitory machine readable medium having machine readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- generate a welding sequence comprising a plurality of welding sequence instructions relating to welding of a part;
- display, on a display screen, an initial view of a three dimensional model representative of the part;
- in response to receiving a manipulation input, manipulate the three dimensional model such that the display screen displays a first view of the three dimensional model instead of the initial view of the three dimensional model, the first view of the three dimensional model being different from the initial view of the three dimensional model with respect to at least one or more perspective characteristics;
- in response to receiving a guidance input identifying a particular portion of the three dimensional model visible in the first view as particularly relevant to a welding sequence instruction of the plurality of welding sequence instructions, manipulate the three dimensional model such that the display screen displays an emphasized first view of the three dimensional model instead of the first view of the three dimensional model,
- the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model being the same as the first view of the three dimensional model except at the particular portion, the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model being different from the first view of the three dimensional model at the particular portion with respect to one or more emphasis characteristics,
- the one or more emphasis characteristics comprising one or more of a lighting, a color, a shadow, a highlighting, a hidden element, a transparency, or a layering of the three dimensional model at the particular portion;
- in response to receiving an association input identifying the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model as relevant to the welding sequence instruction, associate the particular portion and the one or more perspective and emphasis characteristics of the first view with the welding sequence instruction;
- and
- record the particular portion of the three dimensional model, the one or more perspective and emphasis characteristics of the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model, and the association between the particular portion of the three dimensional model, the one or more perspective and emphasis characteristics of the emphasized first view of the three dimensional model, and the welding sequence instruction.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- generating, via processing circuitry, a welding sequence comprising a plurality of welding sequence instructions relating to welding of a part;
- displaying, on a display screen, an initial view of a three dimensional model representative of the part;
- in response to receiving a manipulation input, manipulating the three dimensional model such that the display screen displays a first view of the three dimensional model instead of the initial view of the three dimensional model, the first view of the three dimensional model being different from the initial view of the three dimensional model with respect to at least one or more perspective characteristics;
- in response to receiving an association input identifying the first view of the three dimensional model as relevant to a welding sequence instruction of the plurality of welding sequence instructions, associating one or more perspective characteristics of the first view with the welding sequence instruction;
- and
- recording the welding sequence instruction, and the association between the one or more perspective characteristics of the first view of the three dimensional model and the welding sequence instruction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.