Method and system for automatic generation of computer-aided manufacturing instructions
AssigneeAutodesk, Inc.
InventorsLuke Edwards, Nathan David Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for creating toolpaths for parts in Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) include a method including: storing information regarding toolpaths used previously to manufacture parts using CAM systems and techniques, selecting stored toolpaths for use with a new part based on similarity of one or more features of the new part to one or more features of one or more previous parts, and using the selected toolpath(s) as a starting point for use in generating a new toolpath for the new part.
Claims20
A method for generation of computer-readable instructions usable to operate at least one computer-controlled manufacturing machine, the method comprising:
- maintaining a library of first data, the first data including (i) historical-toolpaths of one or more computer-controlled manufacturing machines used in parts manufacturing, (ii) information about historical-features of parts that have been manufactured in the parts manufacturing, and (iii) for each historical-feature in the first data, associated information that associates the historical-feature with one or more of the historical-toolpaths with which the historical-feature is manufacturable;
- receiving, for a new part to be manufactured with at least one of the one or more computer-controlled manufacturing machines, second data that includes information about new features of the new part, wherein at least one of the new features has a difference from any of the historical-features in at least one parameter;
- selecting historical-toolpaths from the first data by searching for historical-features in the first data having a similarity to at least one of the new features of the new part;
- assembling a provisional set of toolpaths from the selected historical-toolpaths;
- and
- generating a final set of toolpaths that include at least one new-toolpath by refining at least one of the historical-toolpaths in the provisional set of toolpaths using the difference of the new feature.
A system for generation of computer-readable instructions usable to operate at least one computer-controlled manufacturing machine, the system comprising:
- a computer comprising memory and a processing device, the computer configured to perform operations comprising:
- maintaining a library of first data, the first data including (i) historical-toolpaths of one or more computer-controlled manufacturing machines used in parts manufacturing, (ii) information about historical-features of parts that have been manufactured in the parts manufacturing, and (iii) for each historical-feature in the first data, associated information that associates the historical-feature with one or more of the historical-toolpaths with which the historical-feature is manufacturable;
- receiving, for a new part to be manufactured with at least one of the one or more computer-controlled manufacturing machines, second data that includes information about new features of the new part, wherein at least one of the new features has a difference from any of the historical-features in at least one parameter;
- selecting historical-toolpaths from the first data by searching for historical-features in the first data having a similarity to at least one of the new features of the new part;
- assembling a provisional set of toolpaths from the selected historical-toolpaths;
- and
- generating a final set of toolpaths that include at least one new-toolpath by refining at least one of the historical-toolpaths in the provisional set of toolpaths using the difference of the new feature;
- and
- the computer-controlled manufacturing machine configured to:
- manufacture the new part using the final set of toolpaths.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- maintaining a library of first data, the first data including (i) historical-toolpaths of one or more computer-controlled manufacturing machines used in parts manufacturing, (ii) information about historical-features of parts that have been manufactured in the parts manufacturing, and (iii) for each historical-feature in the first data, associated information that associates the historical-feature with one or more of the historical-toolpaths with which the historical-feature is manufacturable;
- receiving, for a new part to be manufactured with at least one of the one or more computer-controlled manufacturing machines, second data that includes information about new features of the new part, wherein at least one of the new features has a difference from any of the historical-features in at least one parameter;
- selecting historical-toolpaths from the first data by searching for historical-features in the first data having a similarity to at least one of the new features of the new part;
- assembling a provisional set of toolpaths from the selected historical-toolpaths;
- and
- generating a final set of toolpaths that include at least one new-toolpath by refining at least one of the historical-toolpaths in the provisional set of toolpaths using the difference of the new feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.