CAD/CAM design methodologies patented

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Dec 19, 2005

Complete machining sequences and operations can be performed in CAD/CAM without encountering file size limitations, providing greater business flexibility and efficiency in the process

Delphi Technologies, a subsidiary of Delphi Corp, has announced further validation of its standardised design methodologies with the addition of two more patents.

Delphi's Design Methodologies (DDM) are used in CAD/CAM design to help reduce product and process design costs and increase productivity throughout the design-to-manufacturing cycle.

With the addition of these two patents, Delphi further strengthens its growing patent portfolio for its innovative CAD/CAM methodologies.

DDM are a set of standardised methodologies.

Using existing CAD software programs, designers can produce higher quality 3D CAD models that are easier to edit and change in design, engineering and other downstream functions.

Like Six Sigma and other popular standardised methodologies, the business benefits of DDM include reduced cycle times, faster change processing, reduced waste, greater efficiency and faster time to market.

The two new patents, the horizontal structured manufacturing process model and the vertical to horizontal conversion process, increase the strength of the standardised methodologies developed by Delphi Technologies (DTI) by allowing more flexibility.

"The first patent has a feature that allows for a 3D in-process model element to link to its corresponding 3D master model while being in a different file location," said Diane Landers, CAD coordinator at Delphi Steering, and one of the inventors of the methods.

"This allows complete machining sequences and operations to be performed without encountering file size limitations, providing greater business flexibility and efficiency in the process".

The second patented design, the vertical to horizontal conversion process, converts vertical models into a horizontal format.

This helps minimize the amount of rework required to use legacy data and increases design reuse.

"This process may allow engineers to salvage old data by reconstructing a portion of the feature structure of the data, thus making it useful to a new design," said Kevin Marseilles, advanced manufacturing designer at Delphi Steering, another inventor of the methods.

"In turn, this prevents designers from reinventing the wheel, so to speak, by using successful work and building on it".

Engineers and support personnel at Delphi continue to work on this standardised methodology specifically for CAD/CAM design, as more flexibility means vital time and cost savings for anyone who works in the field.

"By having a strong portfolio of patents now and additional applications pending at the patent office Delphi continues to validate the strength of this process," said Tim Forbes, director, new markets, commercialization and licensing, Delphi.

"In addition to helping us internally, these processes are now available to help other companies or organisations to streamline their design and redesign process methodologies.".