Mark R Kubicek

US Patent:

7123986, Oct 17, 2006

Filed:

Mar 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/074388

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lukis - Wayzata MN, US
Christopher Walls-Manning - Ramsey MN, US
Mark R. Kubicek - Lakeville MN, US

Assignee:

The Protomold Company, Inc. - Maple Plain MN

International Classification:

B29C 39/00

US Classification:

700197

Abstract:

A customer sends CAD files for two or more parts to be molded in a family to the system. The system provides the customer with a quotation form that allows the customer to select several family-level parameters which are independent of the shape of the part, such as material and delivery date. The quotation also allows the customer to select several part-level parameters which are independent off the shape of the part, such as quantity of each part and surface finish. The system assesses the CAD files to determine savings which can be achieved by molding the parts as a family, with multiple parts in the same mold block. If possible, the system machines cavities for the multiple parts into a single mold block, passing on reductions in cost to the customer both in the quote and in the final product delivery.

US Patent:

7840443, Nov 23, 2010

Filed:

Oct 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/586379

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lukis - Wayzata MN, US
Christopher Walls-Manning - Ramsey MN, US
Mark R. Kubicek - Lakeville MN, US

Assignee:

Proto Labs, Inc. - Maple Plain MN

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 26, 705 27, 700 97

Abstract:

A customer sends a CAD file for the part to be manufactured to the system. The system assesses the CAD file to determine various pieces of manufacturing information. One or more acceptability criteria are applied to the part, such as whether the part can be machined in two opposing orientations in a 3 axis CNC machine. If not, the system sends a file to the customer graphically indicating which portions of the part need modification to be manufacturable. The system provides the customer with a quotation form, that allows the customer to select several parameters, such as number of cavities or parts per workpiece block, surface finish and material, which are independent of the shape of the part. The quotation module then provides the customer with the cost to manufacture the mold or a number of parts, which may include both molded parts and total profiled machined parts. Budget-driven quotation is possible, wherein proposed modifications in the molding process are controlled by the budget of the customer.

US Patent:

8239284, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Oct 12, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/902955

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lukis - Wayzata MN, US
Christopher Walls-Manning - Ramsey MN, US
Mark R. Kubicek - Lakeville MN, US

Assignee:

Proto Labs, Inc. - Maple Plain MN

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 265, 705 261, 705 2663, 705 271, 425503

Abstract:

A customer sends a CAD file for the part to be manufactured to the system. The system assesses the CAD file to determine various pieces of manufacturing information. One or more acceptability criteria are applied to the part, such as whether the part can be machined in two opposing orientations in a 3 axis CNC machine. If not, the system sends a file to the customer graphically indicating which portions of the part need modification to be manufacturable. The system provides the customer with a quotation form, that allows the customer to select several parameters, such as number of cavities or parts per workpiece block, surface finish and material, which are independent of the shape of the part. The quotation module then provides the customer with the cost to manufacture the mold or a number of parts, which may include both molded parts and total profiled machined parts. Budget-driven quotation is possible, wherein proposed modifications in the molding process are controlled by the budget of the customer.

US Patent:

7089082, Aug 8, 2006

Filed:

Apr 25, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/114893

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lukis - Wayzata MN, US
Christopher Walls-Manning - Ramsey MN, US
Mark R. Kubicek - Lakeville MN, US

Assignee:

The Protomold Company, Inc. - Maple Plain MN

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700182, 700197, 264453

Abstract:

A first customer provides a CAD file defining the surface profile for a part to be molded to the system, and a second customer does the same for a second part. The system determines whether the materials match and the run dates overlap, thereby qualifying the parts for use in a multi-customer mold block. The system assesses the part surface profile (which could have any of a virtually infinite number of shapes) of the parts submitted and lays out the parts from multiple customers on one or more multi-customer mold blocks. Savings are generated, such as by reducing redundancies in press clean-up, in set-up, in tooling, and in surface finishing. Due to these savings, the system provides a quotation of the part to at least one of the customers which differs from the quotation that would be provided if each part was run independent of parts of other customers.