Address: | PDS Enterprise Inc. 1650 West Artesia Blvd, Suite 278 Gardena, CA90248 |
Phone: | 1-843-408-0142 |
Email: | pdsenterprise@gmail.com sales@coolprototyping.com |
43. Automated quoting of CNC machined custom molds and custom parts
The customer sends a CAD file for the project to be manufactured to the system. The system assesses the CAD file to determine various pieces of production tooling information. One or more acceptability criteria are applied to the part, such as whether the part can be machined in two opposing orientations in a 3 axis CNC machine. 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, which allows the customer to select several parameters, such as number of cavities or parts per workpiece block, 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 custom molds or a number of parts, which may include both molded parts and total profiled machined parts. Budget-driven quotation is possible, wherein proposed modifications in the plastic 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.