Patent ID: 8357286

Claim:
A method of refining a first and a second layer of a workpiece, each having an effect on a cost of manufacture of the workpiece, the method comprising: applying a first refining energy to the first layer of the workpiece for a first layer refining; sensing an in situ process information for the first layer of the workpiece with an at least one operative sensor for the first layer refining; determining a change for an at least one first layer control parameter “A” using an at least one tracked information related to the workpiece and the in situ process information for the first layer of the workpiece with an at least one processor for the first layer refining; controlling the at least one first layer process control parameter “A” to change a first workpiece surface with an at least one operative controller for the first layer refining; storing for future availability a stored information related to the at least one first layer process control parameter “A”, the at least one tracked information related to the workpiece, and the in situ process information for the first layer of the workpiece; applying a second refining energy to the second layer of the workpiece having an at least one second layer control parameter “B” for a second layer refining; sensing an in situ process information for the second layer of the workpiece with an at least one operative sensor for the second layer refining; determining a change for the at least one second layer control parameter “B” using the at least one tracked information related to the workpiece, the in situ process information for the first layer of the workpiece, and the in situ process information for the second layer of the workpiece with an at least one processor for the second layer refining; controlling the at least one second layer process control parameter “B” to change a second workpiece surface with an at least one operative controller for the second layer refining; and using at least in part an at least one process model during the method and wherein the method makes an appreciable change to the cost of manufacture of the workpiece.