Apparatus and method for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a sheet metal production facility

A system for manipulating a displayed image of a part, said displayed image of said part being displayed on a screen in 3-D coordinate space, said system comprising:

• an input device for generating command signals, said command signals relating to at least one predetermined viewing function adapted to modify said displayed image of said part;
• a current view determination system for determining a current view of said displayed image, said current view determination system being configured to determine whether said current view of said displayed image of said part on said screen is an entire view of said part or a partial view of said part;
• a setting system for dynamically setting a rotation axis of said part based on said current view of said displayed image;
• and
• an image modification system for modifying said displayed image of said part, in accordance with said viewing function, based on said command signals and said rotation axis.

A method for manipulating a displayed image of a part, said displayed image of said part being displayed on a screen in 3-D coordinate space, said method comprising:

• receiving command signals generated from an input device, said command signals relating to at least one predetermined viewing function which is adapted to modify said displayed image of said part;
• determining a current view of said displayed image of said part on said screen and whether said current view of said displayed image of said part on said screen is an entire view or a partial view of said part;
• dynamically setting a rotation axis of said part based on said current view of said part;
• and
• modifying said displayed image of said part, in accordance with said viewing function, based on said command signals and said rotation axis.