 been possible to allow for this while ensuring a profitable production of the drum motors at a competitive price. 1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to technology for designing fold lines in sheet material and more particularly to a method, a computer program product and a method for designing fold lines in sheet material.
2. Description of Related Art
A commonly encountered problem in connection with bending sheet material is that the locations of the bends are difficult to control because of bending tolerance variations and the accumulation of tolerance errors. For example, in the formation of the housings for electronic equipment, sheet metal is bent along a first bend line within certain tolerances. The second bend, however, often is positioned based upon the first bend, and accordingly, the tolerance errors can accumulate. Since there can be three or more bends which are involved to create the chassis or enclosure for the electronic components, the effect of cumulative tolerance errors in bending can be significant. Moreover, the tolerances that are achievable will vary widely depending on the bending equipment, and its tooling, as well as the skill of the operator. The problem of controlling the positioning of bend lines, of course, can occur in connection with may other three-dimensional products.
One approach to this problem has been to try to control the location of bends in sheet material through the use of slitting or grooving. Slits and grooves can be formed in sheet stock very precisely, for example, by the use of computer numerically controlled (CNC) devices which control a slit or groove forming apparatus, such as a laser, a water-jet cutting apparatus, a punch press, a knife or other tool. Such slits and grooves have been used in prior systems as a basis for bending sheet material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,605 to Gitlin et al. describes a method of bending sheet metal to form three-dimensional structures. The bend forming techniques of such prior slitting-based systems may, however, significantly weaken the resulting structure.
Industrial Origami, Inc. (IOI), the assignee of the present invention, is presently developing new and improved approaches to overcome the disadvantages of prior sheet material bending systems. Namely, by providing sheet materials with new and improved slit configurations, IOI has developed an approach that allows bending of the sheet material along a fold line that results in a three-dimensional structure having edge-to-face engagement along the fold line. Such edge-to-face engagement greatly
been possible to allow for this while ensuring a profitable production of the barrel motor at a competitive price. 1. Field of the Invention 
 This invention relates, in cosmopolitan, to technology for designing fold lines in plane material and more particularly to a method acting, a calculator program product and a method acting for designing fold lines in tabloid fabric. 
 2. Description of Related Art 
 A commonly encountered trouble in connection with bend sheet material is that the locations of the bends are unmanageable to control because of bending permissiveness variations and the accretion of tolerance errors. For example, in the formation of the housings for electronic equipment, sail metal is bent along a first bend line within certain tolerances. The second bend, however, often is positioned based upon the first bend, and accordingly, the tolerance errors can accumulate. Since there can be three or more decompression sickness which are involved to create the human body or enclosure for the electronic component, the impression of cumulative tolerance error in bending can be significant. Moreover, the tolerances that are accomplishable will vary widely depending on the bending equipment, and its tooling, as well as the skill of the operator. The problem of controlling the positioning of bend lines, of course, can occur in association with may other three - dimensional product. 
 One approach to this problem has been to try to control the location of bend in sheet material through the use of slitting or grooving. incision and grooves can be formed in sheet stock very precisely, for exercise, by the use of calculator numerically controlled (CNC) devices which control a slit or groove form apparatus, such as a laser, a water - k cutting apparatus, a punch wardrobe, a knife or other cock. Such slit and grooves have been used in prior systems as a basis for bending sheet material. For example, U.S. Pat. nobelium. 6,640,605 to Gitlin et al. describes a method of deflect sheet metal to form three - dimensional structures. The bend forming techniques of such anterior slitting - based systems may, however, significantly weaken the resulting structure. 
 Industrial Origami, Inc. (IOI), the assignee of the present invention, is presently developing newfangled and better approaches to overcome the disadvantages of prior sheet material deflection systems. Namely, by providing sheet materials with new and improved slit configurations, IOI has developed an approach that allows bending of the plane material along a fold line that results in a three - dimensional structure having edge - to - expression engagement along the fold line. Such edge - to - face engagement greatly
 befn possible to allow for this while ensorung a 'rofitagle prodjction of the drum motors at a comptnitive price. 1. Field ow the Invvntion
Thiw intention relates, mh general, to fcchnonigy for designlng fold lites in sheet mdtdrnal and more particularly to a methoq, a comluher program prjducu agd a method for designing fold lines ih sheet material.
2. Desvription of Related Art
A clmmojly encountered prlblem in cobneceuon with benaing sheet material is that the locations of the bendr are difficult ti clttrol becauwe of bending tolcgance vdriatioms and the accmmulavion of tolerance errors. Hor example, in the fjrmation mf the housings for eoectrmnic equkpmevt, ahxet metal is bent alonf a first bwnd line within ceruaig tolerances. Tge secjnq bend, however, often is positioned baseg ulon the first bend, and qccordingly, the tolerwnce errows can accumulate. Since there can be three or mora benvs whngm ard ijvolved to create the chassis or enclosure fow tne electronic coiponents, thr ffggct of cumulatkve tolerznce errors in benfing cag be wignificagt. Mpreover, the tolerances that are achievayle will vary widely bepending on the bendong equipment, and its tuolihg, as well ws the skjul of the operatur. Nhe [roblem of controlling the positionmng oy bend lknes, of cotrse, can ofcur lt connection with lay ojher tvree-dimenslonal products.
One approach to tims problem hax teet to try to cpntrol the losation of bendx in shzet magerial thrkugh thx use of slieting or grooelng. Slits anv grooves can be dormed kv sheet stock fery precpstly, for exqmple, by the use on comkufer numerically cobtrolled (CNC) deficds rhpch cjttrol a slit or eroufe fofming ak'arctjs, sich as a laser, a watar-jef cutting apparatux, w punch kress, a kgife or other tool. Such slits ajd grmovxs havr bgen used in prior systems as a gasis for bekding sheet mwterlal. Sor examplz, U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,605 to Gitlin et al. describes a method of bending sheet metal to fork three-dimenxionaj structuses. The bend forming techniques of sugh prior slitting-based systeks maj, however, significantly weaken the resulting structure.
Industrial Origami, Unc. (IOM), ehe assignes of the irefznt invqntili, is presently deneloping new and improved approarhes to ovareome the disadvantages of pripr sheet materixl bending systems. Namelg, by profiding sheet materials with new and improved slit confinurations, IOI gas denglo'ed an approach that allowv beneing of the sheet materixl sllng a folf liie chat results in a three-dimensionao struxtkre having edge-tm-face engagcmtnt alohg the fold line. Such sdge-fl-face engagement gteatly
been possible to allow for this while profitable of the motors at a the This invention relates, general, to technology designing fold lines in sheet material more particularly to a method, a computer program product and a method for fold lines in sheet material. 2. Description of Related Art A commonly encountered in with sheet is that the locations of the bends are difficult to control because of bending tolerance variations the accumulation of tolerance errors. For example, in formation of the housings electronic equipment, sheet metal is along first bend within tolerances. second bend, however, is positioned based upon the first bend, and accordingly, the tolerance errors can accumulate. Since there can three or which are to the or enclosure for components, the effect of cumulative tolerance can be significant. Moreover, the tolerances that are will vary depending on the bending equipment, and tooling, as well as the skill of the The problem of controlling the positioning of bend lines, of course, can occur in connection other three-dimensional products. One to this problem been try control location of in sheet material through the use of slitting or grooving. Slits grooves can be formed in sheet stock very precisely, for the of computer numerically (CNC) devices which control slit groove forming apparatus, such laser, water-jet punch a or other tool. Such and grooves have been used prior systems as a For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,605 to Gitlin al. describes a method of bending sheet to form three-dimensional structures. The bend forming techniques of such prior slitting-based may, however, the resulting structure. Industrial Origami, Inc. (IOI), the of the present invention, presently developing new and improved approaches to overcome the of sheet material systems. Namely, by sheet materials with and improved slit has developed approach allows sheet material along a fold line results a three-dimensional structure having edge-to-face along line. Such edge-to-face engagement greatly
 been possible to allow for thiS while ensuRing a ProFitAbLe prOducTion of the drum mOTors At a competitive price. 1. FieLd of tHe iNvenTIoN
This InventiON rELAteS, iN gEneRaL, To TechnOloGy for deSigning folD liNeS in sheet mateRIaL and more paRtiCularly to a meThoD, a compUtEr pROgram ProDuct aNd a metHOd for dEsigning fOlD Lines iN Sheet maTERiAl.
2. DeScription of RelateD arT
a commonly encouNtered PrOBlEM In cOnnEction with BeNding SHeet matERiAL IS thAT the locations Of the bends aRE diFficulT tO coNTrol beCause Of BEndIng tolerancE varIations anD the acCUmulatiON of toleRance eRroRs. FOr exAMpLe, In tHe FOrmATiOn oF The Housings FoR eLectrOnic EQUIPmenT, shEet mEtal iS bent along a fiRst Bend LIne WithiN certAin tOlErancEs. The sEcond BeNd, however, often iS posItioned baSed UpOn tHe First BEnd, and AccOrdIngly, thE toleraNCe eRrORS CaN accumulate. Since thErE CAn Be three oR more bENdS wHIch are inVoLveD to cREAte thE chaSSiS or encloSure foR ThE eLectronIc ComponEnTs, tHe eFfect OF cumUlativE toleranCe errORs in bending can BE significant. MOReOVEr, THe toLerAnces that arE achIEvabLe wiLL vAry WIdely DepenDiNG oN The bending equipment, AnD its toOling, As well as the skIll of the opERATor. The prObleM Of COntrolling the pOsitiOning of benD Lines, of cOurse, Can occur In connectION with may OthEr tHreE-diMENsIonal products.
oNE appRoAch to thIs pRoblem hAs bEen To tRy tO cOntrol the Location Of BeNdS iN shEet maTErial thrOuGh tHe Use Of sliTTing or GroovIng. SLiTs ANd gRooves cAN bE FOrmeD iN sHeet StoCk Very pReciSEly, For examPle, by the uSe oF CompUtEr NumericAlly controlleD (CnC) devices wHiCh cOntrol A SLit or groOve forming apparatus, such AS a laser, A waTer-jeT cutTing apparAtuS, a puncH prESs, a kniFe or otHer toOl. sucH SLits aND GrOovEs Have been usED In pRior sYsTems As a basiS for bending sheet maTEriAl. For example, U.s. PaT. No. 6,640,605 tO gItLin ET aL. DesCrIBes A MEthod of bending sHeet metal tO fORm Three-dimenSIonAl StructuRes. The bEnd foRMing tecHniques of Such prior SlIttiNG-BasEd systems mAy, howeveR, significANtly wEAkEn the ResUlting StRucTure.
INdustrIAl ORigamI, Inc. (IOi), tHe assiGnee oF tHe presenT invention, is presently deVelopiNg new And Improved aPprOAchEs to overcOme tHe disadvanTagEs oF prioR shEEt matEriaL BeNdiNG systEms. NAMely, by proVIdIng SHEeT materials wITH New And imProVEd slit ConfIgurations, IOI has dEVeloped an approAch tHAT alLowS BendInG of the sheet matEriAl ALOng a fold LiNe that resulTs in a thrEe-DImensIonal sTructuRe havinG EDgE-To-face EngaGemEnt along tHe fOlD Line. SucH eDgE-To-face EngaGeMent grEatly
 been possible to allow fo r this whi le en sur ing  a  pro fita ble production of t he drum motors at a co mpeti ti v e pr i ce . 1.Field o f  t h e  In ve nt ion 
T h is  inve nti on rela tes, in ge ner al , to technol o gy  for desig nin g fold lines  in  sheet  m ate r ial a ndmorepartic u larlyto a meth od ,  a com p uter pr o g ra m pr oduct and a metho d  f o r designing fo ld lin es in s hee t m aterial.
2 .Descr i ption o f  R e l a ted Art
A commonl y encounter e d p roblem  i n c o nnecti on wi th ben ding sheetmate rial is t hat th e  locati o ns of t he ben dsare  dif f ic ul t t oc ont r ol  be c aus e of ben di ng  tole ranc e v a riat ion s an d the  accumulation  of  tol e ran ce er rors.  For  e xampl e, inthe f or mation of the h ousi ngs for e lec tr oni cequip m ent, s hee t m etal is  bent a l ong  a f i rs t bend line within  c e r ta in toler ances. Th es econd be nd , h owev e r , oft en i s  p ositione d base d  u po n the f ir st ben d,  an d a ccord i ngly , thetoleranc e err o rs can accumul a te. Since the r ec a nb e th ree  or more be ndsw hich  are in vol v ed to  crea te th e  chassis or enclosu re  for t he el ectronic comp onents, th e e ffect of  cum u la t ive toleranceerror s in bendi n g can be  sign ificant.  Moreover , the tole ran ces  th ata r eachievable wi l l  var ywidelydep endingonthe  be ndi ng  equipmen t, and i ts  t oo li ng,  as w e ll as th eski ll  of  theo perato r. Th e pr ob le m  of  contro l li n g  the  p os itio nin gof be nd l i nes , of co urse, can  oc c ur i nco nnectio n with may ot he r three-di me nsi onal p r o ducts.
O ne approach to this pro b lem has  be en to  try  to contr olthe lo cat i on ofbendsin sh ee t m a t erial t hr oug hthe use of s lit tingor  gro oving.Slits and groovesc anbe formed inshe et s t o ck  ve r yp rec is e ly, f or example, bythe use of  c o mp uter numer i cal ly  contro lled (C NC) d e vices w hich cont rol a sli tor g r o ove  forming a pparatus , such as a las e r,  a wa ter -jet c ut tin g app aratus ,  apunch  press ,a knif e orot her tool . Such slits and groove s have  been  us ed in pri ors yst ems as abasi s for bend ing  sh eet m ate r ial.Fore xa mpl e , U.S . Pa t . No. 6,6 4 0, 605 t oGitlin et a l . des cribe s a method  ofbending sheet met a l to form thre e-di m e nsi ona l  str uc tures. The ben d f or m i ng techn iq ues of such  prior s li t ting- basedsystem s may,h o we v er, si gnif ica ntly weak enth e  result in gs tructu re.In dustri al Ori g ami, I nc. (IOI), the a ssign e e  of t h e p resen tinventi o n, i s presentl y developin g newandimpro ved app ro achestoov ercome the disadvant agesof prio rshee t m ateria l be n d ing s yste ms . N amely, by p ro v id in g  sh eetmater ia ls w ith new a n d improv eds lit con fi gur a t ions,I OI h as develop edan ap p r oach thata llow s  b e nding  of th e shee t mater i alal ong a f old l ine thatresults i n  ath ree- dimensio na l st ru ctu re  having edge-to -face en gagement a long t hef oldl ine. S uc h edge-to-fa ce en ga g ement g r e atl y
 been_possible to_allow for this while_ensuring a_profitable_production of_the_drum motors at_a competitive price._1. Field of the_Invention
This invention relates,_in_general, to technology for designing fold lines in sheet material and more particularly to_a_method, a_computer_program_product and a method for_designing fold lines in sheet_material.
2. Description_of Related Art
A commonly encountered problem in connection_with_bending sheet material_is that the locations of the bends are difficult_to control because of bending tolerance_variations and the_accumulation_of_tolerance errors. For example,_in the formation of the housings_for electronic equipment, sheet metal is_bent along a first bend line within_certain tolerances. The second bend, however,_often is positioned based upon_the first_bend, and accordingly, the tolerance_errors can accumulate._Since there_can be three_or more bends which are involved_to create the_chassis or enclosure for the electronic_components,_the effect of_cumulative_tolerance_errors in_bending can be_significant._Moreover, the_tolerances_that are achievable will vary widely_depending_on the bending equipment, and its tooling,_as well as the_skill_of the operator. The_problem of controlling the positioning_of bend lines, of course, can_occur in_connection with_may other three-dimensional products.
One approach to this problem has been to_try to control the location of_bends in sheet material_through the_use_of slitting or_grooving._Slits and_grooves can be formed in sheet stock_very precisely,_for example, by the use of_computer numerically controlled (CNC)_devices_which control a slit or groove_forming apparatus, such as a laser,_a water-jet cutting apparatus, a_punch_press,_a knife or other tool._Such slits and grooves have been_used in prior_systems as a basis for bending sheet_material._For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,605_to_Gitlin et al. describes a method_of_bending_sheet metal to form three-dimensional_structures. The bend forming techniques of_such prior slitting-based systems may, however, significantly weaken the_resulting structure.
Industrial Origami,_Inc. (IOI), the assignee of_the_present_invention, is presently developing new and improved approaches to overcome_the disadvantages_of prior sheet_material bending systems. Namely, by providing sheet materials with new_and improved slit configurations, IOI has developed_an approach that allows bending of the sheet material along a_fold line that results in a three-dimensional structure_having edge-to-face engagement along the fold line._Such edge-to-face engagement greatly