Patent ID: 8285413

Claim:
A method of fabricating sheet metal to form a part for an HVAC system using robotic devices, comprising: providing a plurality of robotic devices comprising a cutting robotic device, wherein said plurality of robotic devices are adapted to manipulate sheet metal; creating a part in a CAD program, wherein said part is comprised of ductwork for an HVAC system; saving said part in a part file; creating a fabrication file for said part, wherein said fabrication file is comprised of instructions to control said plurality of robotic devices, wherein said instructions include cutting instructions for said cutting robotic device to cut said section of sheet metal into a plurality of sheet metal pieces and connection instructions to connect said plurality of sheet metal pieces together; sending said fabrication file to a controller, wherein said controller controls said plurality of robotic devices per said fabrication file; feeding a section of sheet metal to one of said plurality of robotic devices; fabricating said section of sheet metal according to said fabrication file; and forming a finished sheet metal product with said at least one robotic device, wherein said finished sheet metal product is comprised of a ductwork part for an HVAC system.