# US 2018/0101162 A1 · Methods, Systems, and Devices For Designing and Manufacturing Flank Millable Components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0101162 A1 - Document ID: US20180101162A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/847,374 - Filed: 2017-12-19 - Published: 2018-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-30 - Assignees: Concepts NREC, LLC - Applicants: Concepts NREC, LLC - Inventors: Alexander Plomp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180101162A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/4097: characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM (G05B19/4093 takes precedence) - G05B 19/40931: {concerning programming of geometry} - G05B 2219/35028: Adapt design as function of manufacturing merits, features, for manufacturing, DFM - G05B 2219/35032: Check correctness, violation of design, rule check - 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) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Methods, systems, and devices for designing and manufacturing flank millable components. In one embodiment, devices, systems, and methods for designing a flank millable component are provided, in which a user is notified when a component geometry option is selected that will result in the component not being flank millable. In another embodiment, the user is prevented from selecting a geometry option that would result in the component not being flank millable. In yet another embodiment, devices, systems, and methods are provided for manufacturing a component with a flank milling process, in which optimized machine instructions are determined that minimize milling machine motion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of designing a flank millable component comprising: providing a user with a plurality of options for defining a geometry of a component; and notifying the user when the user selects an option from said plurality of options that will result in the component not being flank millable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said notifying step further comprises providing the user with one or more suggestions for modifying the geometry of the component to make the component flank millable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises providing the user with at least one geometry option that requires the selection of a sub-option for the component to be flank millable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising, checking, when the user selects said at least one geometry option that requires the selection of a sub-option, if the user has selected said sub-option; said notifying step further comprising notifying the user if the user has not selected said sub-option. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said providing step comprises providing the user with a geometry option that, when selected, results in a surface of the component no longer being fully defined as a two-section ruled surface; and said checking step comprising checking, when the user selects said geometry option, that results in the component surface no longer being fully defined as a two-section ruled surface checking if the user selected a sub-option that allows the component to be represented by more than two sections. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said providing step comprises providing the user with a geometry option that removes at least a portion of a leading edge or trailing edge of a turbomachinery blade. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said providing step further comprises providing the user with an option to specify a rounded edge; and said checking step comprises, if the user selects said geometry option that removes at least a portion of a leading edge or trailing edge, and has also selected said rounded edge geometry option, checking if the user selected a sub-option that allows the edge of the component to be point milled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said component comprises a turbomachinery blade, and wherein said providing step comprises providing the user with a geometry option that allows the definition of a separate blade generation sheet of the turbomachinery blade; and said checking step comprises checking if the user selected a sub-option that requires a thickness of the turbomachinery blade to be based on blade generating lines. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said checking step further comprises checking if the user selected a second sub-option that interpolates the thickness in non-Cartesian coordinates; said notifying step further comprising prompting the user to de-select said second sub-option when said second sub-option is selected. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises providing the user with at least one geometry option that has a small deviation from a flank millable geometry, and said method further comprises, if the user selects said at least one geometry option that has a small deviation from a flank millable geometry, automatically modifying the geometry of the component to make the component flank millable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein, when said at least one geometry option that has a small deviation from a flank millable geometry is selected, the geometry of the component when thickness is applied along flow quasi-orthogonal (“QO”) lines has minimal variation from the geometry of the component when thickness is applied along geometry QO lines. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one geometry option that has a small deviation from a flank millable geometry is selected from the group consisting of (1) fully radial, (2) 2-D with Bezier beta distribution, (3) 2-D with straight arc blades, and (4) 2-D with circular arc blades. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of options include a first category that comprises a geometry that is flank millable, a second category that comprises a geometry that is flank millable when additional conditions are imposed, and a third category that comprises a geometry that is assumed to be not flank millable; and said notifying step comprises providing a first notification when the user selects a geometry in said second category but has not selected a sub-option for imposing said additional conditions, and providing a second notification when the user selects a geometry in said third category. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said component comprises a turbomachinery blade, and wherein said providing step comprises providing the user with a geometry option selected from the group consisting of (1) a geometry that defines a non-linear thickness of the turbomachinery blade along a mean camber sheet, (2) a geometry option for bowing said turbomachinery blade, (3) a geometry option for a component ruled in cylindrical or spherical coordinates rather than Cartesian coordinates, (4) a geometry option for the addition of a fillet, and (5) a geometry option for smoothing a surface of the component; and said notifying step comprising, if the user selects one of said geometry options in said group of geometry options, notifying the user that the turbomachinery blade will not be flank millable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said component comprises a turbomachinery blade, and wherein said providing step comprises providing the user with a geometry option selected from the group consisting of (1) a geometry option for the addition of a fillet, and (5) a geometry option for smoothing a surface of the component. said notifying step comprising, if the user selects one of said geometry options in said group of geometry options, checking if a sub-option has been selected that allows the program to consider at least a portion of the component as flank millable, and, if said sub-option is not selected, prompting the user to select said sub-option. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said sub-option is selected from the group consisting of (1) a sub-option allowing the blade to be represented by more than two sections, and (2) a sub-option allowing a section of the blade to be point milled.