The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 08, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 24, 2006
Christopher Walls-manning, Ramsey, MN (US);
Kevin R. Crystal, Chanhassen, MN (US);
John M. Gilbert, St. Paul, MN (US);
Christopher Walls-Manning, Ramsey, MN (US);
Kevin R. Crystal, Chanhassen, MN (US);
John M. Gilbert, St. Paul, MN (US);
Proto Labs, Inc., Maple Plain, MN (US);
Abstract
A computer program analyzes a CAD file provided by a customer of a custom part to be injection molded. Feedback from the analysis is provided to the customer through a rendering of the part. Rather than merely communicating using color as applied to the rendering file and separate text, the invention applies one or more symbols as 'decals' to the rendering of the part provided to the customer. In one preferred embodiment, the symbols are chevrons or arrows which indicate the direction of additional draft needed on particular faces for the part to be sufficiently manufacturable. The symbols are sized appropriately for the size of the face to which they are applied, and are oriented to match the orientation of the face. The symbols may also indicate other information, such as the magnitude of draft needed, magnitude of thickness required, the surface finish to be applied at that location, or time or location based properties of the injection molding process.