IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0114893
(2005-04-25)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lukis,Lawrence J.
- Walls Manning,Christopher
- Kubicek,Mark R.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- The Protomold Company, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
24 인용 특허 :
16 |
초록
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A first customer provides a CAD file defining the surface profile for a part to be molded to the system, and a second customer does the same for a second part. The system determines whether the materials match and the run dates overlap, thereby qualifying the parts for use in a multi-customer mold b
A first customer provides a CAD file defining the surface profile for a part to be molded to the system, and a second customer does the same for a second part. The system determines whether the materials match and the run dates overlap, thereby qualifying the parts for use in a multi-customer mold block. The system assesses the part surface profile (which could have any of a virtually infinite number of shapes) of the parts submitted and lays out the parts from multiple customers on one or more multi-customer mold blocks. Savings are generated, such as by reducing redundancies in press clean-up, in set-up, in tooling, and in surface finishing. Due to these savings, the system provides a quotation of the part to at least one of the customers which differs from the quotation that would be provided if each part was run independent of parts of other customers.
대표청구항
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The invention claimed is: 1. A method of manufacturing two or more molded parts of separate customers, the method comprising: receiving customer part data from a first customer comprising a CAD file for a first part to be molded, the CAD file defining a first part surface profile, the customer part
The invention claimed is: 1. A method of manufacturing two or more molded parts of separate customers, the method comprising: receiving customer part data from a first customer comprising a CAD file for a first part to be molded, the CAD file defining a first part surface profile, the customer part data from the first customer further comprising a selection of material and a selection of a first delivery time; receiving customer part data from a second customer different from the first customer, the customer part data from the second customer comprising a CAD file for a second part to be molded, the CAD file defining a second part surface profile; the customer part data from the second customer further comprising a selection of material and a selection of a second delivery time; automatically determining that the first part and the second part can be molded in a family mold, the automatic determining requiring both the first part and the second part to be molded of the same material, requiring that the first delivery time and the second delivery time overlap, and requiring that a cavity for the first part and a cavity for the second part fit within a single mold block size; machining, within a single mold block, the cavity for the first part based upon the CAD file defining the first part surface profile and the cavity for the second part based upon the CAD file defining the second part surface profile; and running the single mold block in an injection mold press to manufacture the first part and the second part. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: automatically determining that the first part is to be run in a different quantity from the second part; and adding a shut-off valve to the single mold block. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: automatically determining that the first part is to be run in a higher quantity than the second part; and machining a second cavity for the first part in the single mold block. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: machining the cavity for the first part with a first tool; prior to completion of machining the cavity for the first part, machining the cavity for the second part with the first tool without a tool change. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing the first customer with a first quotation for the manufacture of the first parts; and providing the second customer with a second quotation for the manufacture of the second parts. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first quotation is provided to the first customer before the customer part data is received from the second customer. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the amount of the first quotation is reduced after receipt of the customer part data from the second customer based upon a relationship between quantity ordered by the first customer and quantity ordered by the second customer. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the amount of the second quotation varies based upon a relationship between quantity ordered by the first customer and quantity ordered by the second customer. 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining that the first part is to be run in a different quantity from the second part; and adding at least a portion of a cost of a gate shut-off valve to the second quotation. 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising: communicating the first quotation to the first customer via computer; and communication the second quotation to the second customer via computer. 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the second quotation assesses whether identical tooling can be used to machine a cavity for the first part and a cavity for the second part, thereby reducing tool change costs. 12. The method of claim 6, wherein the second quotation assesses whether identical surface finishes can be used for a cavity the first part and a cavity for the second part, thereby reducing surface finishing costs. 13. A method of manufacturing molds for a plurality of separate customers, the method comprising: receiving customer part data from each of a plurality of separate customers, each customer part data comprising a CAD file for at least one part to be molded, each CAD file defining a part surface profile, each customer part data further comprising a selection of material and a selection of a delivery time; automatically determining which parts from the plurality of separate customers qualify for multi-customer family molding, the automatic determining requiring the multi-customer family molded parts to be molded of the same material, and requiring that the delivery times for the multi-customer family molded parts overlap; laying out the multi-customer family molded parts in a fewer number of mold blocks than the number of multi-customer family molded parts in accordance with an automated lay-out algorithm; machining cavities for the multi-customer family molded parts based upon the CAD files and based upon the lay out into one or more multi-customer mold blocks; and running the multi-customer mold block(s) in an injection mold press to manufacture parts; and separately delivering each customer's parts to that customer. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the automated lay-out algorithm minimizes a total number of mold blocks based upon areal lay out of the multi-customer family molded parts. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the automated lay-out algorithm is based upon matching quantities of parts to be molded. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the automated lay-out algorithm is based upon matching plastic flow rates and/or volumes of parts to be molded. 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining that a first part is to be run in a different quantity from a second part on the same multi-customer mold block; and adding a gate shut-off valve to the multi-customer mold block. 18. The method of claim 13, wherein a first tool is used on a first cavity for the first part and on a second cavity for the second part prior to using a second tool on the first cavity for the first part. 19. A computer readable medium storing a program for custom quotation for manufacture of injection molded parts from two or more customers, the computer program comprising: an input dedicated for receiving customers' CAD files, each CAD file defining a shape of a part to be molded; computer code providing a suggested material from a plurality of possible materials and a suggested delivery date from a plurality of possible deliver dates; computer code for analyzing the customer's CAD files to determine at least one cost-affecting parameter of injection mold manufacture; and an output providing a dollar value quotation for injection molded part manufacture which includes costs associated with machining a cavity into the injection mold, the cavity corresponding in shape to the part to be injection molded, the output based in part on the cost-affecting parameter of injection mold manufacture as determined by the computer code analysis of the customer's CAD file, the output also based in part upon whether the customer accepts the suggested material and suggested delivery date to thereby mold the part with at least one other customer's part of the same material and same delivery date. 20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein computer code assesses savings associated with molding the part and the at least one other customer's part together on a multi-customer mold.
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