Automatic strategy determination for computer aided manufacturing

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first virtual part from a user account, the first virtual part comprising a first plurality of part features;

selecting the first virtual part and a second virtual part for a manufacturing job;

determining a relative arrangement of the first virtual part with respect to the second virtual part;

classifying each part feature of the first plurality with a feature class from a predetermined set of feature classes, wherein each feature class is associated with an ordered series of tactics, wherein each successive tactic within an ordered series is dependent upon a preceding tactic within the ordered series;

grouping the tactics across different features into tactic groups;

determining inter-feature tactic dependencies within each tactic group;

sorting the tactics into a master series while preserving the tactic dependencies;

determining a toolpath primitive for each tactic based on the geometry of the respective part feature;

combining the toolpath primitives for the tactics based on the master series and the relative arrangement to generate a master toolpath;

automatically translating the master toolpath into machine code; and

providing the machine code to a machine, wherein the machine executes the manufacturing job for a first physical part and a second physical part according to the machine code, wherein:

the first physical part corresponds to the first virtual part;

the second physical part corresponds to the second virtual part;

during manufacturing, the first physical part is arranged in the relative arrangement with respect to the second physical part; and

after manufacturing, the first physical part is physically distinct and separate from the second physical part.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the second virtual part from a different user account, the second virtual part comprising a second plurality of part features, wherein the master toolpath comprises a first toolpath primitive for a feature of the virtual part immediately preceding a second toolpath primitive for a feature of the second virtual part.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second virtual part comprises a second plurality of part features, and wherein the master toolpath comprises:

a first toolpath primitive for a part feature of the first plurality;

a second toolpath primitive for a part feature of the second plurality, immediately following the first toolpath primitive; and

a third toolpath primitive for the part feature of the first plurality, following the second toolpath primitive.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the first plurality of part features of the first virtual part; and

concurrently with determining the first plurality of part features, determining a second plurality of part features of the second virtual part.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each feature class is associated with a tool, wherein determining the feature class for the part feature comprises:

determining a machining axis for the virtual part;

determining a part face forming the part feature;

determining an angle of the part face relative to the machining axis; and

classifying the part feature with the feature class associated with a tool having a tool angle matching the angle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each tactic is associated with a tactic class, wherein grouping the tactics comprises grouping the tactics based on the respective tactic class.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the tactic classes comprise roughing tactics and finishing tactics, wherein grouping the tactics into a set of tactic groups comprises grouping the roughing tactics from each ordered series of tactics into a roughing group, and grouping the finishing tactics from each ordered series of tactics into a finishing group.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tactic groups comprise a finishing group, wherein each part feature comprises a height along a machining axis, wherein determining inter-feature tactic dependencies within the finishing group comprises, for each part feature:

projecting the part feature along the machining axis;

identifying an adjacent part feature occluded by the projection; and

creating a dependency between an adjacent finishing tactic, associated with the adjacent part feature, on a finishing tactic associated with the part feature.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second physical part comprises a work-holding fixture.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second physical part is manufactured concurrently with the first physical part.