Patent ID: 7561937
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: C23C,G05B,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for manufacturing a metal target, the method comprising: comparing one or more physical or chemical values of a respective one of a plurality of metal target blanks to one or more comparable values of at least one desired criterion, wherein the one or more physical or chemical values are stored in a data management system; selecting one of the metal target blanks from a plurality of metal target blanks as a work-in-progress; assigning a serial route for the work-in-progress, wherein the serial route comprises a plurality of nodes selected from a subset of a plurality of stations including at least one inspection station, wherein at least one node of the plurality of nodes comprises one or more respective events to be completed at the respective node and at least one of the plurality of nodes comprises a desired machine configuration for the respective node; processing the work-in-progress by translating the work-in-progress from node-to-node with an automated transport, after completion of the events at each node; and rejecting or accepting the work-in-progress as a metal target by evaluating a result of at least one event of the one or more respective events to be completed at, at least one of the plurality of nodes.