Proto Labs, Inc.
METHODS AND SOFTWARE FOR MANUFACTURING A DISCRETE OBJECT FROM AN ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED BODY OF MATERIAL INCLUDING A PRECURSOR TO A DISCRETE OBJECT AND A REFERENCE FEATURE(S)

Abstract:

An automated manufacturing system for manufacturing a discrete object is configured to manufacture a reference feature on a precursor to the discrete object. Reference feature is used to place the precursor at a subtractive manufacturing machine; the reference feature may be based on a locating feature at the subtractive manufacturing machine. Manufacturing reference feature is accomplished by automatedly detecting one or more critical-to-quality features and manufacturing the reference feature based on the one or more detected critical-to-quality features.