Abstract: A method includes controlling an additive manufacturing system to fabricate a 3D structure using successive layers of material. The additive manufacturing system includes a build platform having a first region, second region, and overlapping third region between the first and second regions; and multiple sources configured to build (e.g., deposit, bond, melt, solidify) the successive layers of material in the regions of the build platform. Controlling the additive manufacturing system includes controlling the additive manufacturing system to build first, second, and third portions of the 3D structure within the regions of the build platform. Each portion of the 3D structure includes (i) one or more test features that are common to the portions of the 3D structure and (ii) a substrate onto or into which the one or more common test features are formed.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing obstacle part can comprise a base structure comprising at least one external obstacle, and at least one internal obstacle that is formed at least partially within the base structure. The at least one internal obstacle can comprise an elongated internal obstacle extending through the base structure between an inlet and an outlet formed in the base structure. The elongated internal obstacle can comprise at least one wall extending along a nonlinear path. The non-linear path can hinder travel of excess material from an additive manufacturing process along a linear path between the inlet and outlet. This can help a designer to assess an additive manufacturers ability to cleanly produce an internal feature to specifications while removing excess material resulting from the additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, systems, and non-transitory media are described to simplify a user's interaction with a quoting application. Some data ordinarily requested by the user may be found from one of several private, public, and/or proprietary sources, so some prompts that would ordinarily need to be answered by the user may be eliminated. The described aspects also include retrieving data associated with one or more prompts, making assumptions about the user from the data, and using this data to prepopulate prompts. A control option indicative of a user's desired level of interaction with the application may affect the number of assumptions made and the number of omitted and/or prepopulated prompts presented to the user. By supplementing the user's prompt answers with database data, the number of prompts that need to be answered by the user may be reduced, thereby saving time for the user.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, systems, and non-transitory media are described to simplify a user's interaction with an insurance quoting application. Some data ordinarily requested by the user may be found from one of several private, public, and/or proprietary sources, so some prompts that would ordinarily need to be answered by the user may be eliminated. The described aspects also include retrieving data associated with one or more prompts, making assumptions about the user from the data, and using this data to prepopulate prompts. A control option indicative of a user's desired level of interaction with the application may affect the number of assumptions made and the number of omitted and/or prepopulated prompts presented to the user. By supplementing the user's prompt answers with database data, the number of prompts that need to be answered by the user may be reduced, thereby saving time for the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that provide multi-level distribution planning utilizing simplified inventory movements to simplify the distribution planning process for inventory movements that include cross-docking while identifying cross-docked inventory to the cross-dock locations to prevent unnecessary handling. A simplified inventory movement is constructed that represents a multi-level route as a single movement from source to destination with an associated lead time that includes all time-related factors that arise in moving the inventory from the source through the cross-dock locations to the destination. The simplified inventory movement is provided to distribution planning solutions and the distribution planning solutions treat the multi-level route in the same manner as a single level route having the same source, destination, and lead time. This simplifies the distribution planning process and prevents the inventory from being re-allocated by the distribution planning solutions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that provide multi-level distribution planning utilizing simplified inventory movements to simplify the distribution planning process for inventory movements that include cross-docking while identifying cross-docked inventory to the cross-dock locations to prevent unnecessary handling. A simplified inventory movement is constructed that represents a multi-level route as a single movement from source to destination with an associated lead time that includes all time-related factors that arise in moving the inventory from the source through the cross-dock locations to the destination. The simplified inventory movement is provided to distribution planning solutions and the distribution planning solutions treat the multi-level route in the same manner as a single level route having the same source, destination, and lead time. This simplifies the distribution planning process and prevents the inventory from being re-allocated by the distribution planning solutions.