Multi-user collaborative tool path planning using process decomposition

Single-user computer-aided engineering applications force a strictly serial design process, which ultimately lengthens time to market. We created multi-user tool path planning software, which allows the work to be done in parallel by several users who are experts in various processes. Key to decreasing the time spent developing tool paths is the decomposition of the various operations needed to manufacture a part among various users. By observing the use of other multi-user applications as well as observing users developing tool paths using current CAM software, we developed a method to decompose the paths among the users. Finally, we estimate the process time saved.