# US 2006/0155402 A1 · 3d virtual manufacturing process

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- Number: US 2006/0155402 A1
- Document ID: US20060155402A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/502,004
- Filed: 2002-11-20
- Published: 2006-07-13
- Earliest claimed: 2001-11-21
- Inventors: Dale Read
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060155402A1

## CPC

- G05B 19/41805: {characterised by assembly}
- G05B 19/41885: {characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system}
- G06F 30/13: Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
- G06F 30/20: Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30)
- G06F 30/23: using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]
- G05B 2219/31052: Find feasable assembly sequences
- G05B 2219/32085: Layout of factory, facility, cell, production system planning
- G05B 2219/32358: Strain, stress of manual work, operator strain
- G06F 2119/18: Manufacturability analysis or optimisation for manufacturability
- Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of checking the feasibility or other properties of a process involving movement and/or assembly of items or components comprising 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 programme in the computer so as to manipulate the virtual items or components in said virtual space and determine, by operation of the computer, potential difficulties in manipulating corresponding real items or components in real space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 wherein the data representing each said virtual article or component includes data as to nominal dimensions and data as to tolerances for deviations from said nominal dimensions in the corresponding real items or components and wherein the computer is programmed to detect intrusion of an envelope of one virtual component or item into an envelope of any other said item or component during such manipulations, such an intrusion representing a collision between components.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2 wherein, where such a collision is detected at an intermediate stage of moving a virtual component from one virtual position to another, along one path, said program is operable to test variations in such path in order to determine, if possible, a non-colliding path.

### Claim 4

A method of setting up a manufacturing facility, such as an assembly line, comprising setting up, within a computer, in terms of corresponding sets of data, a virtual factory in virtual manufacturing premises with dimensions corresponding to the real premises available, virtual machinery comprising 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 and adjusting the data which is variable and thus represents degrees of freedom of the facility to arrive at an efficient workable arrangement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4 including providing a visual display of the operation of the virtual factory.

### Claim 6

A method according to any preceding claim and substantially as hereinbefore described.