Patent ID: 9744727
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: B29C,B33Y,G06F

Claim:
1. A computer system including a layout tool, comprising: a mechanical design engine for configuring mechanical design components to be included in a design, the mechanical design engine for generating for display a user interface (UI) for manipulation by a user for constructing the design, the UI comprising a plurality of tools for placing mechanical components included in a library and for constructing mechanical components for inclusion in the design, the design to be printed on a three-dimensional (3D) printer; an electrical design engine for configuring electrical components to be included in the design, the electrical design engine for generating for display a UI for manipulation by a user for laying out electrical pathways associated with an electrical portion of the design, the electrical pathways to be printed adjacent to one or more surfaces of mechanical components of the design, the electrical design engine comprising an optimization engine for optimizing the electrical pathways based, at least in part, on 3D aspects of the design, the optimization engine configured to review the design and to propose electrical pathways that satisfy electrical needs of the design while taking into account 3D structures included in the design; a constraint engine for identifying the 3D printer to be used to print the design and to provide design constraints including feedback for inoperative or impermissible configurations of one or more mechanical components or electrical pathways associated with the design before the design is printed on the 3D printer; a simulation engine for simulating, at least, electrical performance of the design, based on one or more electrical components added to the design and the electrical pathways; and a library of electrical components that is accessible by the simulation engine to simulate electrical performance of the design.