Method and apparatus for composite part data extraction

A computer implemented method for providing ply lay-up data for a composite part, the computer implemented method comprising:

• receiving a location on the composite part from a requestor;
• extracting the ply lay-up data for a section of the composite part within a three dimensional model containing the composite part to form extracted ply lay-up data, wherein the extracted ply lay-up data comprises a grid with a drawing of the composite part, wherein the section is located within the grid;
• and
• sending a response comprising the extracted ply lay-up data to the requestor.

A method for obtaining lay-up data for a composite part, the method comprising:

• receiving a first user input to a user interface on a data processing system, wherein the first user input selects the composite part;
• responsive to receiving the first user input, displaying a three dimensional object;
• receiving a second user input selecting a location on the three dimensional object to form a selected location;
• sending the selected location in a request to a server data processing system for the lay-up data;
• and
• receiving the lay-up data for the composite part in response to sending the request, wherein the lay-up data comprises a drawing of the composite part associated with a grid including the selected location and additional ply lay-up data for a set of plies in a section associated with the selected location.

An apparatus comprising:

• a client data processing system;
• a server data processing system;
• a user application located on the client data processing system, wherein the user application displays a three dimensional object for a composite part and receives user input selecting a location to form location information on the composite part;
• and
• a data extraction tool located on the server data processing system, wherein the data extraction tool receives the location on the composite part, extracts lay-up data for a section around the location from a three dimensional model containing the composite part to form extracted lay-up data comprising a drawing of the composite part overlaid with a grid containing the section and other ply lay-up data, and returns the extracted lay-up data to the client data processing system.

A non-transitory computer recordable storage medium storing a computer program product for providing ply lay-up data for a composite part, the computer program product comprising:

• program code, stored on the computer readable medium, for receiving a location on the composite part from a requestor;
• program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for extracting the ply lay-up data for a section of the composite part within a three dimensional model containing the composite part to form extracted ply lay-up data, wherein the extracted ply lay-up data comprises a grid with a drawing of the composite part, wherein the section is located within the grid;
• and
• program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for sending the extracted ply lay-up data to the requestor.