Method of preparing estimate for sheet metal working

A method of preparing an estimate for sheet metal working, comprising:

• storing data of bending lines and data of an associated processing time for the bending lines;
• storing data of holes and data of an associated processing time for the holes;
• preparing a three-dimensional view and a development drawing which realizes the three-dimensional view based on an orthographic drawing;
• detecting a bending line and a hole on a product based on at least one of data of the three-dimensional view and data of the development drawing;
• calculating a processing time of the detected bending line based on the associated data of the bending lines;
• calculating a processing time of the detected hole on the product based on the associated data of the holes;
• storing the processing time of the bending line and the processing time of the hole in a processing time memory;
• calculating a total processing time necessary to process the product by adding the processing times stored in the processing time memory;
• converting the total processing time to a cost of processing the product in consideration of a cost per processing time;
• providing at least one of the three-dimensional view and the development drawing together with an estimate to a customer;
• modifying the three-dimensional view and the development drawing in accordance with a request of the customer for a change in one of shape and dimensions of the product;
• modifying a work time and an associated cost based upon the request of the customer for a change;
• and
• providing an estimate including the modified three dimensional view and the modified development drawing and the modified cost to the customer.