Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling, comprising: establishing a coordinate system; adding a base feature; adding a form feature; where the form feature exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. Also disclosed herein is a horizontally structured CAD/CAM model, comprising: a coordinate system; a base feature; a form feature; where the form feature exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. Further disclosed is a storage medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling. The storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement the method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling and manufacturing. Additionally disclosed is a computer data signal for horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling. The computer data signal comprising code configured to cause a processor to implement a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling and manufacturing.

Abstract: A method of horizontally structured manufacturing process modeling for large process models comprising: selecting a blank for machining into an actual part; and establishing a coordinate system. The method also includes: creating a master process model in a first file comprising: a virtual blank corresponding to said blank and a manufacturing feature; virtual machining of the manufacturing feature into the virtual blank, the manufacturing feature exhibiting an associative relationship with the coordinate system; and generating a group reference link of selected manufacturing features of the master process model. The method also includes generating an in-process model in a separate file from the first file employing the group reference link, the in-process model exhibiting another associative relationship with the master process model. The method also includes generating manufacturing instructions to create the actual part by machining the manufacturing feature into the blank.

Abstract: A method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM manufacturing with horizontal coordinate systems including selecting a blank for machining into an actual part, establishing a coordinate system; and establishing an other coordinate system. The other coordinate system exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. The method also includes creating a master process model including a virtual blank corresponding to the blank, a manufacturing feature, virtual machining of the manufacturing feature into the virtual blank, the manufacturing feature exhibiting another associative relationship with at least one of the coordinate system and the other coordinate system, and generating manufacturing instructions to create the actual part by machining the manufacturing feature into the blank.

Abstract: A method of manipulating manufacturing features in horizontally structured manufacturing process models for large parts, comprising: selecting a manufacturing feature from a plurality of manufacturing features; wherein the horizontally structured manufacturing process model includes a first master process model in a first file with an established coordinate system with an existing sequence of virtual machining each manufacturing feature of the plurality of manufacturing features into a virtual blank, and each manufacturing feature exhibiting an associative relationship with the coordinate system and the virtual blank. The method also includes relocating the selected manufacturing feature of another master process model; and re-sequencing the master process model to establish a new sequence for virtual machining each manufacturing feature of the plurality of manufacturing features into the virtual blank indicative of the relocating.

Abstract: A method of manipulating manufacturing features in horizontally structured manufacturing process models for large parts, comprising: selecting a manufacturing feature from a plurality of manufacturing features; wherein said horizontally structured manufacturing process model includes a first master process model in a first file with an established coordinate system with an existing sequence of virtual machining each manufacturing feature of the plurality of manufacturing features into a virtual blank, and each manufacturing feature exhibiting an associative relationship with the coordinate system and the virtual blank. The method also includes relocating the selected manufacturing feature of another master process model; and re-sequencing the master process model to establish a new sequence for virtual machining each manufacturing feature of the plurality of manufacturing features into the virtual blank indicative of the relocating.

Abstract: A method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling, comprising: establishing a coordinate system; establishing another coordinate system or a coordinate reference; adding a base feature; adding a form feature; wherein the another coordinate system exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. The form feature exhibits another associative relationship with at least one of the coordinate system and another coordinate system. A horizontally structured CAD/CAM model is also disclosed. The model comprising: a coordinate system; another coordinate system; a base feature; and a form feature. The another coordinate system exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system; and the form feature exhibits another associative relationship with at least one of the coordinate system and the another coordinate system.

Abstract: A method of horizontally structured manufacturing process modeling for large process models comprising: selecting a blank for machining into an actual part; and establishing a coordinate system. The method also includes: creating a master process model in a first file comprising: a virtual blank corresponding to said blank and a manufacturing feature; virtual machining of the manufacturing feature into the virtual blank, the manufacturing feature exhibiting an associative relationship with the coordinate system; and generating a group reference link of selected manufacturing features of the master process model. The method also includes generating an in-process model in a separate file from the first file employing the group reference link, the in-process model exhibiting another associative relationship with the master process model. The method also includes generating manufacturing instructions to create the actual part by machining the manufacturing feature into the blank.

Abstract: A method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM manufacturing, comprising with horizontal coordinate systems comprising: selecting a blank for machining into an actual part; establishing a coordinate system; and establishing another coordinate system wherein the another coordinate system exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. The method also includes creating a master process model comprising: a virtual blank corresponding to the blank; a manufacturing feature; virtual machining of the manufacturing feature into the virtual blank, the manufacturing feature exhibiting another associative relationship with at least one of the coordinate system and the another coordinate system; and generating machining instructions to create the actual part by machining the manufacturing feature into the blank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM manufacturing, comprising establishing a coordinate system and a master process model. Virtual machining of a virtual blank is modeled to facilitate establishing machining instructions to create an actual part.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling, comprising: establishing a coordinate system; adding a base feature; adding a form feature; where the form feature exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. Also disclosed herein is a horizontally structured CAD/CAM model, comprising: a coordinate system; a base feature; a form feature; where the form feature exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. Further disclosed is a storage medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling. The storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement the method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling and manufacturing. Additionally disclosed is a computer data signal for horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling. The computer data signal comprising code configured to cause a processor to implement a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling and manufacturing.