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Automated, custom mold manufacture for a part begins by creating and storing a collection of information of standard tool geometries and surface profiles machinable by each of the standard tool geometries. A customer sends a CAD file for the part to be molded to the system. The system assesses the C

Automated, custom mold manufacture for a part begins by creating and storing a collection of information of standard tool geometries and surface profiles machinable by each of the standard tool geometries. 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 an 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. The quotation is based in part upon mold manufacturing time as automatically assessed from the part drawings and based in part on the independent parameters selected by the customer. The customer's part is geometrically assessed so the system automatically selects appropriate tools and computes tool paths for mold manufacture. In addition to the part cavity, the system preferably assesses the parting line, the shutoff surfaces, the ejection pins and the runners and gates for the mold. The preferred system then generates CNC machining instructions to manufacture the mold, and the mold is manufactured in accordance with these instructions.

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1. A method of automated, custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of a molded part, the mold defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the part to be molded, the method comprising:receiving a CAD file for the part to be molded, the CAD file defining a part surface profile;ass

1. A method of automated, custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of a molded part, the mold defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the part to be molded, the method comprising:receiving a CAD file for the part to be molded, the CAD file defining a part surface profile;assessing cost-affecting parameters of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture determined by the part surface profile;providing the customer with at least one menu of customer-selectable values for a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile;allowing the customer to select one of the provided customer-selectable values;automatically generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture based in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by part surface profile and based in part upon the customer-selected value; andautomatically transmitting the automatically generated quotation to the customer. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the CAD file is received directly from the customer. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one menu of customer-selectable values for a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile comprises a menu of possible number of cavities in the mold, such that the automatically generated quotation varies based upon how many cavities the customer selects for the part. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one menu of customer-selectable values for a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile comprises a menu of available injection moldable plastics, such that the automatically generated quotation varies based upon which plastic the customer selects for the part. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one menu of customer-selectable values for a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile comprises a menu of possible surface finishes, such that the automatically generated quotation varies based upon which surface finish the customer selects for the part. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one menu of customer-selectable values for a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile comprises a menu of number of parts in a production run, such that the automatically generated quotation non-linearly varies based upon how many parts the customer selects to be run. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically generated quotation comprises a series of piece price quotations covering different lot sizes, the series of piece price quotations varying non-linearly based upon how many parts the customer selects to be run. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one menu of customer-selectable values for a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile comprises a menu of potential delivery times, such that the automatically generated quotation non-linearly varies based upon lead time required by the customer. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:automatically determining physical geometry modification locations for the CAD file on the part to be molded;creating a proposed modification CAD file which highlights the physical geometry modification locations relative to remaining unaltered portions of the part surface profile, wherein the automatically generated quotation is based upon the proposed modification CAD file; andtransmitting a rendering of the proposed modification CAD file to the customer together with the automatically generated quotation. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of assessing cost-affecting parameters determined by the part surface profile comprises:computer generating a series of CNC machining instructions corresponding to machining the mold to match the part surface profile, wherein the automatically generated quotation is based upon the computed CNC machining instructions. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of assessing cost-affecting parameters determined by the part surface profile comprises:determining a parting line and corresponding shutoff surfaces between separable portions of the mold, wherein the automatically generated quotation varies based upon complexity of the parting line and corresponding shutoff surfaces. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of assessing cost-affecting parameters determined by the part surface profile comprises:automatically identifying an estimated duration of material removal required for each discrete portion of the part surface profile, and wherein the automatically generated quotation varies based upon a total of estimated durations of material removal. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of assessing cost-affecting parameters determined by the part surface profile comprises:automatically identifying the number and type of tools to be used in selected material removal steps for the mold, and wherein the automatically generated quotation varies based upon the number and type of tools to be used in selected material removal steps for the mold. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of assessing cost-affecting parameters determined by the part surface profile comprises automatically assessing mold block area required for the part, and wherein the automatically generated quotation varies based upon required mold block area. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of assessing cost-affecting parameters determined by the part surface profile comprises automatically assessing amount, depth and steepness of ribbing required for the part, and wherein the automatically generated quotation varies based upon the required amount, depth and steepness of ribbing. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer is provided with at least one menu of customer-selectable values on an internet web page. 17. A method of automated, custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of a molded part; the mold defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the part to be molded, the method comprising:receiving a CAD file for the part to be molded, the CAD file defining a part surface profile;automatically determining physical geometry modification locations for the CAD file on the part to be molded;creating a proposed modification CAD file which highlights the physical geometry modification locations relative to remaining unaltered portions of the part surface profile,automatically generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture based at least in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by part surface profile as modified in the proposed modification CAD file; andtransmitting a rendering of the proposed modification CAD file to the customer together with the automatically generated quotation. 18. A system for automated, custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of a molded part; the mold defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the part to be molded, the system comprising:an address configured to receive a CAD file from a customer for the part to be molded, the CAD file defining a part surface profile; andone or more processors collectively programmed for:providing the customer with an internet page supplying at least one menu of customer-selectable values for a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile;automatically generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture based in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by part surface profile and based in part upon the customer-selected value; andautomatically transmitting the automatically generated quotation to the customer over the internet. 19. A method of automated, custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of a molded pa rt, the mold defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the part to be molded, the method comprising:receiving a CAD file for the part to be molded, the CAD file defining a part surface profile; assessing cost-affecting parameters of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture determined by the part surface profile;receiving additional information from the customer impacting upon a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile;automatically generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture based in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by part surface profile and based in part upon the additional information received; andautomatically transmitting the automatically generated quotation to the customer. 20. A system for automated, custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of a molded part; the mold defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the part to be molded, the system comprising:an address configured to receive a CAD file from a customer for the part to be molded, the CAD file defining a part surface profile; andone or more processors collectively programmed for:assessing cost-affecting parameters of mold manufacture and/part manufacture determined by the part surface profile;automatically generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture based in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by part surface profile and based in part upon additional information received from the customer impacting upon a cost-affecting parameter of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture unassociated with part surface profile; andautomatically transmitting the automatically generated quotation to the customer over the internet.