Method and apparatus for computer aided machining

A method for machining parts from a work piece positioned on a numerically controllable (NC) machine, the method utilizing a database of machine instruction records for each of a plurality parts, each of which records includes a part name, a part dimension, a tool name and sequence for each tool required to machine the part, and a plurality of machine paths traversed by each of the tools, said method comprising the acts of:

• defining a job as a selected subset of the plurality of parts and as a corresponding quantity for each part of the selected subset;
• locating the machine instruction records in the database which correspond to the selected subset of the plurality of parts;
• graphically displaying a work piece icon corresponding in scale to an actual dimension of the work piece;
• determining the dimensions of each part in the job on the basis of the part dimension in the located machine instruction records;
• calculating a selected physical location on the work piece, for each part in the job;
• and
• graphically superimposing a scaled part icon on the work piece icon at each of the selected locations in a scaled layout approximating an actual physical layout of the job on the work piece.

A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for machining parts from a work piece positioned on a numerically controllable (NC) machine, the computer readable program code means for causing a computer to utilize a database of machine instruction records for each of a plurality parts, each of which records includes a part name, a part dimension, a tool name and sequence for each tool required to machine the part, and a plurality of machine paths traversed by each of the tools, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising:

• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to define a job as a selected subset of the plurality of parts and as a corresponding quantity for each part of the selected subset;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to locate the machine instruction records in the database which correspond to the selected subset of the plurality of parts;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to graphically display a work piece icon corresponding in scale to an actual dimension of the work piece;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to determine the dimensions of each part in the job on the basis of the part dimension in the located machine instruction records;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to calculate a selected physical location on the work piece, for each part in the job;
• and
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to graphically superimpose a scaled part icon on the work piece icon at each of the selected locations in a scaled layout approximating an actual physical layout of the job on the work piece.