The method can include at a controller, controlling a manufacturing machine to perform a manufacturing process step for a given feature of a plurality of features of a part, including executing instructions causing the manufacturing machine to perform the manufacturing process step, the instructions comprising an identifier of the given feature and a definition of the manufacturing process step to be executed in relation to the given feature; at the controller, during the manufacturing process step, generating manufacturing data from the manufacturing process step; and by the controller, associating the manufacturing data to the identifier of the given feature in a non-transitory memory.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

A tool for sizing a workspace includes a first link with a link body and a tool element. The tool includes a second link connected to the first link, where the second link is capable of rotation or translation with respect to the first link, and where the first link and the second link are selectively securable relative to each other. The tool includes a third link connected to the second link, where the third link is capable of rotation or translation with respect to the second link, and where the second link and the third link are selectively securable relative to each other.

A tool for sizing a workspace includes a first link with a link body and a tool element. The tool includes a second link connected to the first link, where the second link is capable of rotation or translation with respect to the first link, and where the first link and the second link are selectively securable relative to each other. The tool includes a third link connected to the second link, where the third link is capable of rotation or translation with respect to the second link, and where the second link and the third link are selectively securable relative to each other.

A method for autonomously generating an end effector for interfacing with a part at a manufacturing station includes: accessing a virtual model of an assembly and the part; based on the virtual model, identifying a set of unobstructed surfaces on the part when located in the assembly; selecting a target surface, from the set of unobstructed surfaces, on the part; calculating a virtual interaction surface spanning the target surface on the part defined in the virtual model; locating a virtual end effector base geometry relative to the virtual interaction surface; generating a virtual intermediate structure extending between the virtual interaction surface and the virtual base structure; compiling the virtual interaction surface, the virtual intermediate structure, and the virtual end effector base geometry into a three-dimensional end effector model; and queuing the three-dimensional end effector model for additive manufacturing to form the end effector for installation on a robotic arm.

Fixing a part on a vehicle based on determining a number and a position of locators required to fix a part on a fixture of a vehicle is disclosed. In exemplary aspects, a trained artificial neural network is provided for determining a target number of locators and a target distance between adjacent locators placed on a part to fix the part on a fixture.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

The present disclosure relates to a method of setting up a gear cutting machine, wherein the gear cutting machine is equipped with at least one machine part which can be set up and the parameters relating to the set-up machine part are input into the machine control for the subsequent gear cutting process, wherein a graphical model of the machine part is virtually composed on a display element of the gear cutting machine in a user-controlled manner from one or more graphical part components and the required parameters for the following gear cutting process are derived from the graphical modeling.

The method can include at a controller, controlling a manufacturing machine to perform a manufacturing process step for a given feature of a plurality of features of a part, including executing instructions causing the manufacturing machine to perform the manufacturing process step, the instructions comprising an identifier of the given feature and a definition of the manufacturing process step to be executed in relation to the given feature; at the controller, during the manufacturing process step, generating manufacturing data from the manufacturing process step; and by the controller, associating the manufacturing data to the identifier of the given feature in a non-transitory memory.