Automated quoting of molds and parts from customer CAD file part data

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 8140401
APP PUB NO 20090125418A1
SERIAL NO

12354546

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

See full text

A customer sends a CAD file for the part to be molded to the system. The system assesses the CAD file to determine various pieces of mold manufacturing information. One or more acceptability criteria are applied to the part, such as whether the part can be manufactured in a two-piece, straight-pull mold, and whether the mold can by CNC machined out of aluminum. If not, the system sends a file to the customer graphically indicating which portions of the part need modification to be manufacturable. The system provides the customer with a quotation form, that allows the customer to select several parameters, such as number of cavities, surface finish and material, which are independent of the shape of the part. The quotation module then provides the customer with the cost to manufacture the mold or a number of parts. Budget-driven quotation is possible, wherein proposed modifications in the molding process are controlled by the budget of the customer. Interactivity is also achieved, with the customer being able to modify the quotation interactively by modifying one or more of the initially selected parameters, including selecting a different budgeted amount.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

See full text

Family

Loading Family data... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
PROTO LABS INCMAPLE PLAIN MN

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Gilbert, John M St. Paul, US 26 594
Lukis, Lawrence J Wayzata, US 22 917
Walls-Manning, Christopher Ramsey, US 7 484

Cited Art Landscape

Load Citation

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cite Landscape

Load Citation