Patent ID: 9180624
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: A61C,B29C,B33Y,G16H

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of arranging three-dimensional virtual designs configured to be manufactured as physical designs on a production batch, the method comprising: providing the virtual designs, where each virtual design is based on a three-dimensional representation of an object, and where at least a number of the virtual designs belongs to a group, where the virtual designs in a respective group satisfy at least one common criterion; arranging said virtual designs relative to the production batch; allocating a first virtual design belonging to a first group at a first arbitrary position on the production batch; allocating a second virtual design belonging to a second group at a second arbitrary position different from the first arbitrary position on the production batch; allocating a third virtual design belonging to the first group at a third arbitrary position, which is different from the first and the second arbitrary positions on the production batch, and which is in the vicinity of the first arbitrary position; allocating each successive virtual design belonging to a group at an arbitrary position, which is different from all the previous positions, and which is in the vicinity of its group members on the production batch; continuously evaluating whether there is more space left on the production batch, and whether there are further virtual designs to be manufactured; if there is more space left on the production batch, allocating the further virtual designs according to the above step of allocating successive virtual designs; if there is no more space left on the product batch, stopping the allocating of virtual designs and finalizing the arrangement.