3d virtual manufacturing process

Abstract

A method of is disclosed of checking the feasibility or other properties of a process involving movement and/or assembly of items or components. The method comprises setting up, within a computer, in terms of corresponding sets of data, a virtual three-dimensional space and, in such space, virtual versions of the items or components concerned, represented by corresponding sets of data, and operating a program in the computer so as to manipulate the virtual items or components in that virtual space. The method makes it possible to determine, by operation of the computer, potential difficulties in manipulating corresponding real items or components in real space. The method can be used to set up, within a computer, a virtual factory in virtual manufacturing premises with dimensions corresponding to the real premises available, with virtual machinery with data as to dimensions, to positioning, movement and timing of such machinery, and virtual personnel with corresponding data as to dimensions, limits of safe movement, speed of movement and the like. It is thus readily possible to adjust the data which is variable, and thus represents degrees of freedom, to arrive at an efficient workable arrangement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.