Patent Document ID: 5575099
Application ID: 08434388
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of producing prismatic graphic images in sheet material having a predetermined thickness using an automated cutting machine being responsive to tool path signals and having a rotary cutting tool for removing material from the sheet material, the cutting tool having an axis of rotation, a radius extending from the axis to an outer edge of the tool, a cutting surface and a cutting angle defined by the cutting surface and a plane normal to the axis, the graphic images having a preselected, two-dimensional initial graphic representation, the method comprising the steps of: generating signals indicative of an initial graphic representation of the graphic images to be produced in the sheet material in accordance with a graphic images generating program, the initial graphic representation being defined by a predetermined data set; determining a maximum stroke width of the graphic images in accordance with the initial graphic representation and generating signals indicative of the maximum stroke width; determining tool paths in accordance with the signals indicative of the initial graphic representation, the signals indicative of the maximum stroke width, and the signals indicative of the tool radius and cutting angle, the tool paths being oriented generally normal to the axis of rotation, and generating signals indicative of the tool paths; and presenting the signals indicative of the tool paths to the automated cutting machine.