Manipulatable model for communicating manufacturing issues of a custom part

A method for communicating issues associated with manufacture of a part, comprising:

• receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for the part, the CAD file defining a part surface profile;
• assessing the CAD file for compliance with constraints of a manufacturing method for making the part, the assessing act identifying sections of the part surface profile which have manufacturability issues;
• and
• providing the customer with a computer rendering of the part which highlights the sections having identified manufacturability issues, the computer rendering being manipulatable on a computer screen by the customer in zoom, angle or pan so the customer can better locate the sections having identified manufacturability issues on the part surface profile, wherein the computer rendering is manipulatable through a programmed flight pattern stopping on an issue location, wherein the programmed flight pattern zooms out from the issue location before proceeding to highlight a second issue location.

A method for communicating issues associated with manufacture of a customer's part, comprising:

• identifying one or more sections of a part surface profile for the customer's part which have manufacturability issues;
• highlighting the sections having identified manufacturability issues on a part rendering;
• storing orientation information associated with one or more viewpoints which show each highlighted manufacturability issue;
• and
• providing the customer with a viewer having a programmed flight pattern to move the part rendering as shown on a computer screen to each stored orientation.

A method for communicating issues associated with injection molding of a customer's part, comprising:

• identifying one or more sections of a part surface profile for the customer's part which have injection molding manufacturability issues;
• storing orientation information associated with one or more viewpoints which show each identified injection molding manufacturability issue;
• and
• providing the customer with a part rendering of the customer's part on a computer screen, the part rendering having a viewpoint which is movable to better show each identified injection molding manufacturability issue, wherein the viewpoint of the part rendering moves in a flight pattern between each of the stored orientations, with the flight pattern being provided to the customer.