Abstract: An automated manufacturing system for generating a graphical representation of a discrete object to be manufactured from an additively manufactured body of material. 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.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, software made in accordance with the present invention generates a request for quote (RFQ) based on user-provided information, presents a user interface allowing a user to customize the RFQ, generates an e-mail including the RFQ, and sends the e-mail to one or more suppliers. Various corresponding and related systems, methods, and software are described.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of receiving information corresponding to a designed product and determining initial price(s) as well as initial values of other business variables associated with the price. The method allows a user to enter a change to a price or the other business variable to instantly discover how the change affects other variables and optionally how the change affects one or more allowable ranges of acceptable values of other variables. The user can then lock the value of one or more of the variables and prices and change others to instantly discover how a change to one affects the others and optionally how a change to one affects one or more allowable ranges of acceptable values of the others while any locked values remain unchanged. The user can then order manufacture of the designed product as a function of values of price and other business variables.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, software made in accordance with the present invention generates a request for quote (RFQ) based on user-provided information, presents a user interface allowing a user to customize the RFQ, generates an e-mail including the RFQ, and sends the e-mail to one or more suppliers. Various corresponding and related systems, methods, and software are described.

Abstract: A system that provides automated/semi-automated price quotations for fabricating one or more instantiations of a structure that is modeled in a computer model. The system automatedly extracts price-influencing data from the computer model. The system uses the extracted pricing data and pricing parameters to automatedly determine a firm fabrication-price quotation. In some embodiments, the system further includes fabrication ordering functionality that allows a user place a fabrication order with a fabricator based on the firm price quotation. Such systems can be implemented in any of a wide variety of manners, such as within a single computing device or across a communications network, among others. In some embodiments, functionalities of the system are integrated into computer-modeling software directly of via add-on software.

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.

Abstract: A method of enabling expedited manufacture of one or more instantiations of a structure modeled as a 3D computer model, the method implemented on one or more computer devices including displaying one or more user selectable expedited manufacturing reservation options for a plurality of requests for manufacture, generating a prompt to select a user selectable expedited manufacturing reservation option, receiving an expedited manufacturing, storing the expedited manufacturing reservation, receiving a request for manufacture of one or more instantiations of a structure modeled in an associated 3D computer model from a user, compare one or more of the requests for manufacture and one or more aspects of the associated 3D computer model with the expedited manufacturing reservation, determining an applicability of the expedited manufacturing reservation to the request for manufacture, calculating a total time to complete the request for manufacture, and presenting the total time to complete the request for manufactu

Abstract: A system that provides automated/semi-automated price quotations for fabricating one or more instantiations of a structure that is modeled in a computer model. The system automatedly extracts price-influencing data from the computer model. The system uses the extracted pricing data, non-extracted pricing data, and pricing parameters to automatedly determine a firm fabrication-price quotation. In some embodiments, the system further includes fabrication ordering functionality that allows a user place a fabrication order with a fabricator based on the firm price quotation. Such systems can be implemented in any of a wide variety of manners, such as within a single computing device or across a communications network, among others. In some embodiments, functionalities of the system are integrated into computer-modeling software directly of via add-on software.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a plurality of discrete objects from a body of material created by additive manufacturing using an automated manufacturing device includes an automated manufacturing device, the automated manufacturing device including at least a controller configured to receive at least a graphical model of a plurality of structures, receive at least a graphical representation of at least an interconnecting portion, the at least an interconnecting portion connecting at least a first structure of the plurality of structures to at least a second structure of the plurality of structures, and generate a graphical representation of an additively manufacture body of material, as a function of the graphical model of the plurality of structures, and the graphical representation of the at least an interconnecting portion.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a discrete object from an additively manufactured body of material including a precursor to a discrete object and at least a reference feature is disclosed. The system includes an automated manufacturing device, the automated manufacturing device including at least a controller configured to receive a graphical representation of precursor to a discrete object, receive a graphical representation of at least a reference feature on the precursor to the discrete object, and generate a computer model of the body of material, wherein the computer model of the body of material includes the graphical representation of the precursor to the discrete object and the graphical representation of the at least a reference feature.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a plurality of discrete objects from a body of material created by additive manufacturing using an automated manufacturing device includes an automated manufacturing device, the automated manufacturing device including at least a controller configured to receive at least a graphical model of a plurality of structures, receive at least a graphical representation of at least an interconnecting portion, the at least an interconnecting portion connecting at least a first structure of the plurality of structures to at least a second structure of the plurality of structures, and generate a graphical representation of an additively manufacture body of material, as a function of the graphical model of the plurality of structures, and the graphical representation of the at least an interconnecting portion.

Abstract: A method carried out on a computer system for ordering and executing expedited production options. A user may submit a request for manufacturing a product defined by a 3D computer model. Systems described herein may then verify that the request is subject to an expedited production option and parse the 3D computer model to identify the processes required to manufacture the product. The product may then be manufactured with an expedited lead time that may vary as a function of the processes in question and the nature of the applicable expedited production option.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for filtering components, such as hardware components, compatible with computer-modeled structures are presented. A compatible components system provides selection methods that present components compatible with computer-aided design (CAD) models designed in computer modeling software. The system executes methods designed to filter components made available to designers using attribute information of the features and attribute information of the components. Designers may interact with the compatibility methods numerous times, narrowing components through a series or number of filtering steps until a desired compatible component is easily selected. The computer modeling software may include graphical user interfaces for selecting component source locations, filtering types of components presented by the system, and adding components to CAD models.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, software made in accordance with the present invention interfaces with a supplier database in order to provide a user with an interactive supplier list. The user may then interact with the supplier list to identify one or more preferred providers, select one or more suppliers from the supplier list, and cause the software to generate a request for pricing for each selected provider. Various corresponding and related systems, methods, and software are described.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a discrete object from an additively manufactured body of material including a precursor to a discrete object and at least a reference feature is disclosed. The system includes an automated manufacturing device, the automated manufacturing device including at least a controller configured to receive a graphical representation of precursor to a discrete object, receive a graphical representation of at least a reference feature on the precursor to the discrete object, and generate a computer model of the body of material, wherein the computer model of the body of material includes the graphical representation of the precursor to the discrete object and the graphical representation of the at least a reference feature.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for filtering components, such as hardware components, compatible with computer-modeled structures are presented. A compatible components system provides selection methods that present components compatible with computer-aided design (CAD) models designed in computer modeling software. The system executes methods designed to filter components made available to designers using attribute information of the features and attribute information of the components. Designers may interact with the compatibility methods numerous times, narrowing components through a series or number of filtering steps until a desired compatible component is easily selected. The computer modeling software may include graphical user interfaces for selecting component source locations, filtering types of components presented by the system, and adding components to CAD models.

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.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a discrete object from an additively manufactured body of material including a precursor to a discrete object and at least a reference feature is disclosed. The system includes an automated manufacturing device, the automated manufacturing device including at least a controller configured to receive a graphical representation of precursor to a discrete object, receive a graphical representation of at least a reference feature on the precursor to the discrete object, and generate a computer model of the body of material, wherein the computer model of the body of material includes the graphical representation of the precursor to the discrete object and the graphical representation of the at least a reference feature.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for secret sharing for secure collaborative graphical design. Graphical secret shares are generated from a three-dimensional graphical design and distributed to one or more contributor devices. Contributor graphical designs modifying graphical secret shares may be received from contributor devices. Various corresponding and related systems, methods, and software are described.

Abstract: Methods and software that allow one or more users to utilize custom pricing in the context of an electronic marketplace. Such custom pricing can be implemented by transmitting specifications of custom pricing engines and/or custom design document interrogator engines to the marketplace along with or independently from one or more design documents containing structures to be priced. Various corresponding and related methods and software are described.