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 non-transitory machine readable medium comprising a three dimensional model representative of a part, and 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 the part;
- display, on a display screen, a first view of the three dimensional model;
- and
- in response to receiving, via a user interface, 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, record (i) the welding sequence instruction, (ii) one or more first view characteristics of the first view, and (iii) an association between the welding sequence instruction and the one or more first view characteristics.
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, a first view of the three dimensional model,
- in response to receiving, via the user interface, 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, record (i) the welding sequence instruction, (ii) one or more first view characteristics of the first view, and (iii) an association between the welding sequence instruction and the one or more first view characteristics.
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, a first view of a three dimensional model representative of the part, the three dimensional model being stored in memory circuitry;
- receiving, via a user interface, 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;
- and
- in response to receiving the association input, recording in the memory circuitry:
- (i) the welding sequence instruction, (ii) one or more first view characteristics of the first view, and (iii) an association between the welding sequence instruction and the one or more first view characteristics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.