System and method for design and manufacture using multi-axis machine tools

A method of designing and manufacturing a part, the method comprising:

• training a machine learning module to recognize manufacturing features and to develop a manufacturing plan for those features using a general data set, the manufacturing plan including machine tool parameters for each step in the manufacturing plan;
• training the machine learning module further using a user-specific data set;
• building a 3-D model of the part, the part including a plurality of features;
• analyzing, using the machine learning module the 3-D model to identify features of the part;
• developing a manufacturing plan using the machine learning module, the manufacturing plan including manufacturing steps and machine tool parameters for each step;
• transmitting the manufacturing plan and parameters to a multi-axis machine tool including a cutting head able to support a plurality of available tools and a part support, the cutting head and part support fully controllable in at least two axes;
• and
• implementing the manufacturing plan to manufacture the part.

A design and manufacturing system comprising:

• a multi-axis machine tool including a cutting head able to support a plurality of available tools and a part support, the cutting head and part support fully controllable in at least three axes;
• a user-specific data set specific to a user and including at least past experience data and an available tool inventory;
• a design system operable using a computer to generate a 3-D model of a part to be manufactured, the part including a plurality of features;
• and
• a machine learning model operable using the computer to analyze the part to be manufactured to identify features of the part to be manufactured based at least in part on the user-specific data set, the machine learning model further defining a plurality of operations and a plurality of machining parameters for each of the plurality of operations for each feature of the part to be manufactured, the plurality of machining parameters including a type of tool, a feed-rate, and a speed of the tool.