Patent ID: 6515258
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A method for determining and physically replicating a shape for a long reach device having a length suitable for use within a portion of an object along a joint curve, said method comprising:(a) dissecting said long reach device into number of portions L; (b) assigning a first degree of freedom having a first movement range between each of said L portions; (c) discretizing said first movement range into a predetermined number of intervals; (d) determining a total number of shapes M based on said L portions having said first movement range; (e) generating a representation of the joint curve including the portion of the object; (f) comparing a representation of said long reach device having one of said M shapes with said representation of the portion of the object, wherein said one of said M shapes is deemed acceptable if less than a predetermined portion of said representation of said long reach device interferes with said representation of the portion of the object; and (g) physically replicating the shape determined by steps (a)-(f).