Method for implementing design-for-manufacturability checks

A method for implementing design-for-manufacturing checks during construction of a virtual model of a real part within a computer-aided drafting engine executing on a computing device, the method comprising:

• in response to insertion of a virtual feature into the virtual model, estimating a minimum stock geometry for the real part based on the virtual feature;
• selecting a first material stock cross-section from a set of available material stock cross-sections of a material designated for the real part based on the minimum stock geometry;
• at a first time, prompting a user, through the computer-aided drafting engine, to adjust a dimension of the virtual feature to enable production of the real part with a second material stock cross-section, in the set of available material stock cross-sections of the material, less than the first material stock cross-section, comprising:
• calculating a minimum stock length for the first material stock cross-section based on the minimum stock geometry for the real part;
• calculating a first machining time for the real part with the first material stock cross-section;
• estimating a first cost to manufacture the real part from the first material stock cross-section based on the first machining time and a cost of the first material stock cross-section of the minimum stock length;
• calculating a second machining time for the unit of the part with the second material stock cross-section;
• and
• estimating a second cost to manufacture the unit of the real part from the second material stock cross-section based on the second machining time and a cost of the second material stock cross-section of the minimum stock length;
• and
• displaying, within the computer-aided drafting engine, the first cost and the second cost;
• at a second time succeeding the first time, submitting, to a manufacturing facility and over a computer network, an order for production of a unit of the real part according to the virtual model.