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Abstract

A method and apparatus for partially automatically designing a conduit network and automatically producing patterns for cutting out the sides of conduit sections from laminar material. The CAD-CAM system eliminates the detailing of fittings and other components of a heating and ventilating system, pattern type and dimensional data being fed directly, i.e., without human intervention, from a memory in a CAD system to a CAM pattern generating and fabricating system. The patterns for the closed sides of the conduit network are developed from mathematical relationships specifying the geometry of basic pattern types. The patterns so developed are computed for optimum positioning with other developed patterns, most preferably with alignment of similarly shaped edges for sheet material optimization, and preferably with adjacent grouping of the patterns for each end product to facilitate location and assembly and, most preferably, in such a manner that each grouping can be severed from the sheet material with a single cut to facilitate use of sheet or coil stock shearing machinery.

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First Claim