초록 ▼

A customer sends CAD files for two or more parts to be molded in a family to the system. The system provides the customer with a quotation form that allows the customer to select several family-level parameters which are independent of the shape of the part, such as material and delivery date. The q

A customer sends CAD files for two or more parts to be molded in a family to the system. The system provides the customer with a quotation form that allows the customer to select several family-level parameters which are independent of the shape of the part, such as material and delivery date. The quotation also allows the customer to select several part-level parameters which are independent off the shape of the part, such as quantity of each part and surface finish. The system assesses the CAD files to determine savings which can be achieved by molding the parts as a family, with multiple parts in the same mold block. If possible, the system machines cavities for the multiple parts into a single mold block, passing on reductions in cost to the customer both in the quote and in the final product delivery.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of manufacturing a mold for two or more parts, the method comprising: receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a first part to be molded, the CAD file defining a first part surface profile; receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of manufacturing a mold for two or more parts, the method comprising: receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a first part to be molded, the CAD file defining a first part surface profile; receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a second part to be molded, the CAD file defining a second part surface profile; automatically determining that the first part and the second part are eligible for molding in a family mold, the automatic determining requiring both the first part and the second part to be molded of the same material 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, such that the single mold block comprises at least two cavities for the first part and a cavity for the second part. 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. A method of custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of two or more parts, the method comprising: receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a first part to be molded, the CAD file defining a first part surface profile; receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a second part to be molded, the CAD file defining a second part surface profile; assessing cost-affecting parameters of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture determined by the first part surface profile and by the second part surface, the assessment including an automated determination that the first part and the second part are eligible for molding in a family mold; and generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture for the first part, for the second part or for both the first and second parts, the quotation based at least in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by the first part surface profile, the second part surface profile, or both the first and second part surface profiles, the quotation including an adjustment if the first part and the second part are eligible for molding in the family mold differing. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer part data for the first part to be molded comprises a customer indication of material for molding of the first part, wherein the customer part data for the second part to be molded comprises a customer indication of material for molding of the second part, and wherein the automated determination that the first part and the second part are eligible for molding in a family mold comprises an automated verification that the first part and the second part are to be molded from the same material. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: providing the customer with a menu of available injection moldable plastics from which the customer makes a selection of plastic for the parts, and wherein the quotation varies based upon which plastic the customer selects for the parts. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the automated determination that the first part and the second part are eligible for molding in a family mold comprises an automated assessment of whether a cavity for the first part and a cavity for the second part fit into a standard mold block size. 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer part data for the first part to be molded comprises a customer indication of quantity for molding of the first part, wherein the customer part data for the second part to be molded comprises a customer indication of quantity for molding of the second part, and wherein the automated determination that the first part and the second part are eligible for molding in a family mold comprises a verification that the first part is to be run in the same quantity as the second part. 10. The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining that the first part is to be run in a different quantity from the second part; and adding a cost of a gate shut-off valve to the quotation. 11. The method of claim 5, further comprising: providing the customer with an opportunity to include more than two parts in the family mold quotation, the assessment including an automated determination that all the customer included parts are eligible for molding in a single family mold. 12. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the quotation comprises assessing manufacturing set-up costs and adjusting the quotation when manufacturing set-up costs are shared by the two or more parts. 13. The method of claim 5, further comprising: communicating the quotation to the customer via computer. 14. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the quotation for molding the first part and the second part in the family mold comprises: identifying tooling for machining a cavity for the first part and for machining a cavity for the second part; assessing whether one or more tools identified for machining the cavity for the first part are identical to one or more tools identified for machining the cavity for the second part: and if identical tooling is identified, adjusting the quotation for reduced tool change costs. 15. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the quotation for molding the first part and the second part in the family mold comprises: identifying surfaces finishes for a cavity the first part and a cavity for the second part; assessing whether at least one identified surface finish for the cavity for the first part is identical to at least one identified surface finish for the cavity for the second part; and if at least one identical surface finish is present, adjusting the quotation for reduced surface finishing costs. 16. The method of claim 5, further comprising: upon acceptance of the quotation by the customer, machining multiple cavities into a mold block corresponding in shape to the parts to be molded as defined by the customer's CAD files. 17. The method of claim 16, 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. 18. A method of custom quotation for manufacture of a mold and/or manufacture of two or more parts, the method comprising: receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a first part to be molded, the CAD file defining a first part surface profile; automatically querying the customer as to whether the first part is to be molded as part of a family; if the customer responds that the first part is to be molded as part of a family, receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a second part to be molded, the CAD file defining a second part surface profile; assessing cost-affecting parameters of mold manufacture and/or part manufacture determined by the first part surface profile and by the second part surface profile; and generating a quotation for mold manufacture and/or part manufacture for the first part, for the second part or for both the first and second parts, the quotation based at least in part upon the cost-affecting parameters determined by the first part surface profile, the second part surface profile, or both the first and second part surface profiles, the quotation including an adjustment if the customer has responded that the first part and the second part are to be molded as part of a family. 19. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for custom quotation for manufacture of an injection mold and/or manufacture of two or more injection molded parts in a family, the computer program comprising: an input dedicated for receiving a customer's CAD files, each CAD file defining a shape of a part to be molded; computer code for analyzing the customer's CAD files to determine at least one cost-affecting parameter of injection mold manufacture, the computer code also reviewing information including material of the part to be molded to determine whether the part is eligible for running in a family mold with one or more additional other parts; and an output providing a dollar value quotation for injection mold manufacture and/or part manufacture which includes costs associated with machining cavities into an injection mold block, the cavities corresponding in shape to the parts 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 files, the dollar value quotation being adjusted for reduced costs associated with running multiple parts in the same family mold when the computer code has determined that the part is eligible for running in the family mold with other additional parts. 20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer program provides the customer with a menu of available injection moldable plastics for a first part to be molded, and automatically requires all other additional parts to be molded in the same family with the first part to be molded of the material selected by the customer for the first part. 21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer code determines whether a cavity for the first part and a cavity for an additional part to be molded in the same family fit into a standard mold block size. 22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer program further comprises an input for the customer to identify the number of parts to be run for the first part and the number of parts to be run for an additional part to be molded in the same family, and wherein, if different quantities are selected, the computer code increases the dollar value quotation to add a cost of a gate shut-off valve to the dollar value quotation. 23. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the reduced costs associated with running multiple parts in the same family mold are set up costs associated with running an injection mold press. 24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the reduced costs associated with running multiple parts in the same family mold are tool change costs associated with machining a cavity for the first part and a cavity for an additional part in one mold block.