Methods and software for providing graphical representations of a plurality of objects in a central through opening
Methods and software for generating machine-control instructions for controlling subtractive manufacturing equipment to form a plurality of objects from a single workpiece. In some embodiments, the machine-control instructions are for milling equipment that mills the objects from a single body of material by milling material from obverse and reverse sides of the body of material. Milling from the obverse side forms valleys in the obverse side and leaves interconnecting portions that connect together the plurality of objects. A removable fixating material is added to the valleys for holding the objects firmly in place relative to one another for milling from the reverse side. After the removable fixating material has hardened, milling from the reverse side removes the interconnecting portions. Milling operations from the obverse and reverse sides can include operations in addition to the forming of the valleys and removing of the interconnecting portions.
1. A method of locating graphical representations of a plurality of objects in a central through opening, the method comprising:
generating a workpiece computer model of a workpiece by:
receiving a graphical representation of a temporary support frame with dimensions corresponding to dimensions of a body of material, the temporary support frame to be machined from the body of material, wherein the graphical representation of the temporary support frame includes:
first and second faces spaced from one another; and
a central through-opening for receiving graphical representations of computer models of the plurality of objects, the through-opening extending from the first face to the second face;
receiving a selection of the graphical representations of the plurality of objects to be machined from the body of material;
locating the graphical representations of the plurality of objects in the central through- opening so that the graphical representations of the plurality of objects are spaced from one another and from the graphical representation of the temporary support frame by a network of through-spaces so as to permit separating of the plurality of objects by machining of the body of material by machining equipment; and
generating a machine-control instruction set as a function of the foregoing steps and the body of material, wherein generating the machine-control instruction set further comprises generating the machine-control instruction set based on the foregoing steps and the body of material so as to include machine-control instructions for controlling the machining equipment to:
machine from a first side of the body of material a network of valleys corresponding to the network of through-spaces so as to leave interconnecting portions of the body of material that interconnect the plurality of objects with one another and with the temporary support frame; and
machine away, from a second side of the body of material, the interconnecting portions so as to disconnect the plurality of objects from one another and from the temporary support frame;
wherein the machine-control instructions include machine-control instructions for machining, from the first side of the body of material, the network of valleys so that the interconnecting portions have a thickness that is chosen as a function of the plurality of objects.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the graphical representation of the temporary support frame includes graphical representations of interlock features designed, configured, and located to interact with a fixating material during manufacturing for assisting with holding the plurality of objects in place relative to the temporary support frame; and
the generating of the machine-control instruction set includes machine-control instructions for controlling the machining equipment to form the interlock features of the temporary support frame.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locating of the graphical representations of the plurality of objects in the central through-opening includes executing automated-nesting computer instructions that automatically position the graphical representations of the plurality of object within the central through-opening.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body of material has a lateral perimeter and the temporary support frame has a lateral perimeter that substantially matches the lateral perimeter of the body of material.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body of material has a thickness and the temporary support frame has a thickness that is chosen as a function of the body of material.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting to the user a user interface that allows the user to select the temporary support frame from among a predetermined set of temporary support frames.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating manufacture of the plurality of objects as a function of the foregoing steps and the body of material.