Volumetric cut planning

A data processing system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• an accessible memory, the data processing system particularly configured to
• receive a three-dimensional (3D) solid part model and an associated 3D solid blank;
• define an initial in-process workpiece (IPW) to be the same as the 3D solid blank;
• define a cut volume in-process feature to be removed from the IPW, including receiving a user section selection of features of the part model, automatically extending open faces of the selected features of the part model to one or more boundaries or faces of the workpiece, and determining the cut volume in-process feature from the selected features and the extended open faces;
• calculate an updated IPW by removing the cut volume in-process feature from the IPW;
• and
• store the updated IPW with the removed cut volume in-process feature in the data processing system.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more data processing systems to:

• receive a three-dimensional (3D) solid part model and an associated 3D solid blank;
• define an initial in-process workpiece (IPW) to be the same as the 3D solid blank;
• define a cut volume in-process feature to be removed from the IPW, including receiving a user section selection of features of the part model, automatically extending open faces of the selected features of the part model to one or more boundaries or faces of the workpiece, and determining the cut volume in-process feature from the selected features and the extended open faces;
• calculate an updated IPW by removing the cut volume in-process feature from the IPW;
• and
• store the updated IPW with the removed cut volume in-process feature in the data processing system.