Patents by Inventor Kenneth D. Merritt

Kenneth D. Merritt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • System and method for rough milling
    Patent number: 6704611
    Abstract: An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical control machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece. The method includes the steps of: (1) determining a first set of Z coordinates for machining a first set of Z level planar slices with a first tool; and (2) determining a second set of Z coordinates for machining a second set of Z level planar slices with the first tool. The second set of Z coordinates is partitioned into one or more subsets. Each subset corresponds to a pair of adjacent Z coordinates belonging to the first set of Z coordinates. A distance between the Z coordinates of each subset is a unit fraction of a distance between the Z coordinates of the pair of adjacent Z coordinates which corresponds to each subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Surfware, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn I. Coleman, Kenneth D. Merritt
  • System and method for rough milling
    Publication number: 20030040834
    Abstract: An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical control machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece. The method includes the steps of: (1) determining a first set of Z coordinates for machining a first set of Z level planar slices with a first tool; and (2) determining a second set of Z coordinates for machining a second set of Z level planar slices with the first tool. The second set of Z coordinates is partitioned into one or more subsets. Each subset corresponds to a pair of adjacent Z coordinates belonging to the first set of Z coordinates. A distance between the Z coordinates of each subset is a unit fraction of a distance between the Z coordinates of the pair of adjacent Z coordinates which corresponds to each subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: Surfware, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn I. Coleman, Kenneth D. Merritt