Method and system for laying out perforation patterns

1. A computerized method for generating perforation patterns on building panels comprising:

displaying a drawing of a building panel with a computer aided design (CAD) program running on a computer;

executing on the computer a perforation program that exchanges data with the CAD program and receives user-input perforation pattern parameters;

selecting through a computer input device a first edge and a second edge of the displayed building panel;

displaying a perforation pattern automatically calculated by the perforation program after the second edge of the displayed building panel is selected;

adjusting the perforation pattern display based on a user change to the perforation pattern parameters; and

displaying characteristic information regarding the perforation pattern.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the perforation pattern parameters are selected from a group consisting of holes across an axis, hole spacing, offset from panel edge, hole diameter, hole shape.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic information is selected from a group consisting of total area, total number of holes, area removed, and percentage of open area.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the perforation pattern is automatically calculated by reference to a computer-determined geometric center of the displayed edges.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of saving a CAD drawing file including the displayed perforation pattern.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of generating a computer numerical control (CNC) file from the saved CAD drawing file.

7. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of converting the CAD drawing file into a computer file capable of controlling a computer-controlled machine tool.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of controlling the machine tool with the computer file to perforate the building panel in accordance with the perforation pattern saved on the CAD drawing file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the building panel is a metal ceiling panel.

10. A system for generating perforation patterns on a metal ceiling panel comprising:

a computer aided design (CAD) program capable of displaying a CAD drawing representing a ceiling panel shape;

a perforation software program capable of calculating and laying out perforation patterns on a computer aided drawing of the panel shape;

a graphical user interface capable of (a) querying a user for perforation pattern parameters for the panel shape, (b) receiving input from the user indicative of a desired perforation pattern; and (c) displaying information characteristic of the desired perforation pattern; and

a computer for executing the CAD program, the graphical user interface and the perforation software program.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the perforation software program exchanges data with the CAD program to calculate and lay out perforation patterns on the CAD drawing of the panel.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the perforation pattern parameters are selected from a group consisting of holes across a short axis, hole spacing, offset from panel edge, hole diameter, and hole shape.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the characteristic information is selected from a group consisting of total area, total number of holes, area removed, and percentage of open area.

14. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the perforation software program calculates a geometric center of the desired perforation pattern by intersecting connecting lines between a starting point and an endpoint of each segment of edges of the panel.

15. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the perforation software program calculates the desired perforation pattern to be located in a center of the panel.

16. The system according to claim 10 , further including a computer-controlled machine tool capable of removing material from the panel in accordance with the desired perforation pattern established by the perforation software program.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; a display coupled to the processor;

a user interface selection device coupled to the processor;

and a storage device, coupled to the processor, comprising instructions, executable by the processor, for performing steps of:

displaying on the display a representation of a metal panel without any perforation pattern;

receiving an indication via the user interface selection device of a first selected edge of the panel;

receiving an indication via the user interface selection device of a second selected edge of the panel;

determining the geometric center of the panel in response to selection of the first and second panel edges;

accepting user input defining perforation parameters for the panel;

determining the layout of a user-defined perforation pattern on the panel; and

displaying on a display a representation of the panel with the perforation pattern.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the perforation parameters are selected from a group consisting of holes across an axis, hole spacing, offset from panel edge, hole diameter, and hole shape.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising instructions, executable by the processor, for performing the steps of displaying on a display information characteristic of the perforation pattern.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the characteristic information is selected from a group consisting of total area, total number of holes, area removed, and percentage of open area.