Production&risk cost calculation system of additive manufacturing methods

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (10) comprising an input unit (120) for receiving parameter data on the physical characteristics of a product to be produced by the manufacturing method; a processor unit (100) for calculating a production cost based on information entered by said input unit (120) and data in a cost database (111) located in a memory unit (110); and a user interface (130) for displaying the production cost calculated by said processor unit (100). Accordingly, its novelty is in that the processor unit (100) is configured to receive parameter data relating to the physical properties of the product to be produced as input via the input unit (120), to access a risk database (112) having predetermined risk values corresponding to the parameter data, to calculate a risk margin based on the risk values in said risk database (112) of the parameter data relating to the physical properties of the product to be produced, to calculate the production cost based on the calculated risk margin and to display the calculated production cost via the user interface (130).

Description

[0001] PRODUCTION & RISK COST CALCULATION SYSTEM OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING METHODS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a system and method for calculating the production cost of a product to be produced by additive manufacturing in an improved accuracy.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Production costs consist of the sum of direct raw materials and materials, direct labor and general production expenses used for the production of a product or service. Production cost is a component that must be followed for production, planning and sales for the manufacturing workplaces. Because the production cost directly affects the workplace profitability. The production cost is usually calculated by calculating the material to be used for the product to be produced, the machinery to be used, the labor and energy expenses.

[0006] There are systems that calculate the production cost according to the product information to be produced entered through an input unit and taken from a memory unit containing the unit cost values of the material to be used, the machine to be used, the worker and the energy to be used for the product to be produced in the present art and display the cost calculated through a user interface.

[0007] European patent EP1202143 (B1 ), in the state of the art, relates to a method for calculating the cost of manufacturing parts machined by a machine for machining parts made of wood or similar materials. The aforementioned method is characterized by obtaining parameters defining the physical and geometric properties; displaying a plurality of items on a user interface of the electronic computing tool that constitute the production cost of the part; allowing the user, through a user interface of the electronic computing tools, to select one or more cost items from said plurality of items and to enter the relevant production cost parameters; calling the cost parameters related to the material and machining operations involved in the production of the made part from an existing database stored in the electronic computing tools; automatically calculating the production cost of the part on the basis of the cost items selected by the user and the parameters called from the database; displaying the resulting calculated production cost of at least one of the parts in the user interface of the computing tool; said machine comprises a step in which a PLC or CNC unit is performed. Applied with the electronic calculation tool, it transfers the parameters related to the operation, installation, or machine operation cycles to the electronic calculation tool to automatically calculate the production cost of the parts.

[0008] US2004139035 (A1 ), in the state of the art, relates to a system for the integration of value- added product costs. This system enables the calculation of the value-added costs of a product according to the production costs and the working time data in the work orders. For the integration of value-added product costs, the system is connected to a number of customer terminals, a master ledger management system, a production process management system, and a work order management system. For the integration of value- added product costs, the system includes a web server, a database server, and a database. The web server connects to the database server that contains the database. The web server stores a set of software function modules to receive and process data from the client terminals and return the results to the client terminals after processing.

[0009] The patent application JP2008250368 (A), in the state of the art, relates to a cost management system for performing cost management for each activity to be performed by a machine device or group of persons forming a production process or a service provision process, and accordingly capturing a cost in real time. Therefore, an inventory management system transmits material cost data to be used for a base cost object to a cost management device, and a time management system transmits one or more activity time data of each core activity related to the core cost object to a base cost object. The cost management device is provided with a memory part for storing unit price data related to each core activity, comprising an activity cost calculation part for calculating an activity cost from the activity time data and the unit price data, and a base cost object cost data storage part for storing the activity cost calculated as material cost data to be distributed to the main cost object.

[0010] There is a single production cost for the part to be produced in the systems in the prior art. This cost is calculated on the basis of the machine consumption costs, which are generalized by dividing the energy consumed, labor and general expenses of the machine by the production quantities, mostly depending on the production time. Although this gives very close results to reality in systems that manufacture with continuous and high-volume traditional manufacturing methods, it does not give high accuracy results with high accuracy in systems such as additive manufacturing, where flexibility and costs vary dramatically with part geometry. Different parts with very different geometric complexity and dimensions can be produced at once in the production chambers of additive manufacturing systems. The costs of such complex situations cannot be estimated with high accuracy by existing calculators. These calculations do not include errors or losses that may occur during production. Sudden stoppages or errors that may be experienced in production are likely to be encountered depending on the physical characteristics of the parts of the product to be produced, especially during the production of the products to be manufactured by the additive manufacturing method. Failure to include such losses and / or errors in the production cost calculation causes errors in the calculated cost values. This situation has the potential to lead to substantial losses for businesses in terms of both cost and time.

[0011] As a result, considering all the above-mentioned problems, an innovation in the relevant technical field has become imperative.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a system and method for eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages and bringing new advantages to the relevant technical field.

[0014] An object of the invention is to provide a system and method for calculating the production cost of a product to be manufactured by the additive manufacturing method in an increased accuracy.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to combine all production methods used in additive manufacturing on a single platform.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that allows the user to enter the production parameters of each production method.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that dynamically calculates the parameters of successive processes such as heat treatment, processing, polishing, painting, sandblasting, packaging, shipment, customs by considering the capacity of the machine to be used and the size and number of parts to be produced.

[0018] On the production table in additive manufacturing systems, many pieces of the same part can be produced at a single time, or certain pieces of different parts can be produced by positioning on a single table. Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that dynamically calculates the costs per part by reflecting these two different production scenarios on energy, machine consumables and raw material. The geometric properties of the parts to be produced in additive manufacturing systems and some special production and positioning rules are very effective in the success of production. There is a high risk of production failures in some specific ranges of geometric values. Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that allows the user to enter the geometric values of the parts to be produced into the system, determines the possible production risk with the database in itself and updates the production cost according to this risk at risk-based increase rates.

[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that separates fixed costs, such as investment and operating expenses, and variable costs such as energy, machine consumption, labor, software, and allows each cost item to be incorporated within the profit margin determined by the user.

[0020] The present invention relates to a system comprising an input unit for receiving parameter data on the physical properties of a product to be produced by the additive manufacturing method, a processor unit for calculating a production cost based on the information entered by said input unit and the data in a cost database in a memory unit, and a user interface for displaying the production cost calculated by said processor unit in order to realize all the objects that will emerge from the abovementioned and the following detailed description. Accordingly, the processor unit is characterized in that it is configured to access a risk database with predetermined risk values corresponding to the parameter data, to calculate a risk margin based on the risk values in said risk database, to calculate the production cost based on the calculated risk margin and to display the calculated production cost through the user interface. Thus, it is ensured that the error and loss risks that the product to be manufactured may encounter during production are included in the production cost calculation and the accuracy of the production cost is increased and presented to the user.

[0021] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the said risk values include the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity, intensity score and risk score values; the said risk margin is a combination of the said risk probability, probability score, risk intensity, intensity score and risk score. Thus, a risk margin is determined for each part of the product to be produced based on predetermined risk values and the accuracy of the production cost calculation is increased through this risk margin. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said risk database comprises production thresholds that express the maximum or minimum thresholds for the product to be produced.

[0022] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface if at least one of the parameter data related to the physical characteristics of the product to be produced entered by the input unit is outside said production threshold. Thus, it is ensured that the losses that may occur during production are prevented.

[0023] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said risk database comprises a predetermined risk threshold value for each risk value.

[0024] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface if at least one risk value exceeds said risk threshold. Thus, if the risks such as error or loss that any part of the product to be produced may encounter during production are more than the predetermined rate, the user is warned.

[0025] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said risk margin is a combination of the risk values of the product to be produced; said risk database includes a predetermined margin threshold; the processor unit is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface if the risk margin exceeds said margin threshold. Thus, if the risks such as error or loss that the product to be produced may encounter during production are more than the predetermined rate, the user is warned.

[0026] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to determine a selling price based on the calculated production cost and a predetermined profit margin and to display said selling price in the user interface.

[0027] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cost database comprises predetermined variable cost data; the processor unit is configured to calculate a variable cost based on said variable cost data and the entered data, allowing said variable cost to be displayed in the user interface. Thus, it is ensured that fixed costs such as investment and operating expenses and variable costs such as energy, machine consumption, labor, and software are separated. In addition, it is possible to enter the profit margin determined in advance by the user for each cost item. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said input unit is a computer.

[0028] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said input unit is a three-dimensional computer-aided design application. Thus, it is ensured that the system receives parameter data through an application where the product to be produced by the additive manufacturing method is designed. In this way, the user does not need to enter data manually. Thus, the time for the user to view the production cost is shortened and the labor cost is reduced.

[0029] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a data bus to enable data exchange between system components such as said input unit, said memory unit and said processor unit.

[0030] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a communication unit associated with the processor unit to enable data exchange with other devices.

[0031] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said memory unit is provided on a remote server. This allows the system to access databases on an external memory unit.

[0032] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to store the calculated production cost for the product to be produced in the memory unit by associating the production cost with the related product. Thus, the user is enabled to view the recorded production costs through the memory unit. In this way, it can be obtained from historical data without the need to calculate the production cost for a product many times.

[0033] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit (100) is configured to display the registered production cost information via the user interface if it detects that the product information to be produced entered by the input unit (120) of the processor unit (100) matches a product with the production cost recorded in the memory unit. Thus, it is possible to compare the previous production cost with the newly calculated production cost. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said parameter data include the machines, materials, production parameters to be used in the production, production time and the post-processing information to be applied. Thus, it is ensured that the production cost of the product to be produced is calculated with high accuracy and breakdown.

[0034] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said cost database contains information on unit energy costs, unit labor costs, depreciation costs, secondary processing costs, raw material costs and consumable costs. Thus, it is ensured that the production cost of the product to be produced is calculated with high accuracy and breakdown.

[0035] The invention also relates to a method performed by a processor unit to calculate the production cost of a product to be produced by the additive manufacturing method to realize all the objects that will emerge from the abovementioned and the following detailed description. Therefore,

[0036] - receiving the parameter data on the physical characteristics of the product to be produced by means of an input unit,

[0037] - accessing a risk database containing parameter data on the physical characteristics of the product and predetermined risk values corresponding to these parameter data

[0038] - calculating a production cost based on data in a cost database for the product for which parameter data is entered via said input unit,

[0039] - calculating a risk margin based on the risk values in said risk database of parameter data on the physical characteristics of the product to be produced,

[0040] - updating the production cost based on the calculated risk margin,

[0041] - displaying the updated production cost through a user interface.

[0042] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized that the said risk values include the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity, intensity score and risk score values; and the process step of calculating the risk score values based on the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity and intensity score for each part of the product to be produced by the processor unit.

[0043] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises the process step of calculating said risk margin based on the risk scores calculated for each part of the product to be produced by the processor unit. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the risk database comprises production thresholds that express the maximum or minimum thresholds for the product to be produced, the process step of sending a warning signal to the user interface if at least one of the parameter data on the physical characteristics of the product to be produced entered by the input unit is outside said production threshold.

[0044] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the risk database comprises a predetermined risk threshold for each risk value, the processing unit comprising the process step of sending a warning signal to the user interface if at least one risk value exceeds said risk threshold.

[0045] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said risk margin is a combination of risk values of the product to be produced; said risk database includes a predetermined margin threshold value; the processor unit includes the process step of sending a warning signal to the user interface if the risk margin exceeds said margin threshold value.

[0046] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to selectively present to the user different cost items for the product to be produced via the user interface. In this way, the user is enabled to make the relevant selection(s) for the engineering and production services provided for each product to be produced through the user interface. Thus, by defining a profit margin for each engineering and service item separately, it is ensured that the sales price is calculated with high accuracy.

[0047] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises the steps of determining the production cost calculated by the processor unit, and a selling price based on a predetermined profit margin; displaying said selling price in the user interface.

[0048] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cost database comprises predetermined variable cost data, calculating a variable cost based on said variable cost data and data entered through the input unit, and displaying said variable cost on the user interface.

[0049] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises the process step of saving the calculated production cost for the product to be produced to the memory unit by associating it with the relevant product. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises the step of displaying the registered production cost information via the user interface in case it is detected that the product information to be produced entered by the input unit matches a product whose production cost is registered in the memory unit.

[0050] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

[0051] Figure 1 shows a representative view of the system.

[0052] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] The system (10) and method of the invention are explained with examples that do not have any limiting effect only for a better understanding of the subject in this detailed description.

[0054] The invention relates to a system (10) for calculating the production cost of a product to be manufactured by additive manufacturing. The additive manufacturing method mentioned herein is a manufacturing method that makes it possible to manufacture parts consisting of flexibility in product design and multiple materials. Said system (10) calculates the fixed and variable costs for each of these product parts together with all their subdivisions according to the desired criteria. Said additive manufacturing can be performed with composite fiber reinforced (CFR) technologies such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), fused deposition modeling (FDM), fiber-supported composite, etc., which is in the state of the art.

[0055] The system (10) of the invention includes a processor unit (100), a memory unit (110) to which the processor unit (100) is associated to read and write data, an input unit (120) to provide command input to the processor unit (100), a user interface (130) to enable the processor unit (100) to provide information to the user, and a communication unit (140) associated with the processor unit (100) to enable the system (10) to communicate with external devices. The system (10) may further include a data bus (150) that allows the components mentioned herein and all other components not mentioned herein but well known in the art and implicitly included in the system (10) to exchange data with each other in an appropriate manner. The processor unit (100) may be a microprocessor (GPU, CPU), etc. The memory unit (110) may include a combination of memory or appropriate memories that enable the data to be stored permanently / temporarily. The input unit (120) may include peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse, or a display, etc., that enable command input to the processor unit (100). The user interface (130) may also be a display that enables data to be presented to the user. The communication unit (140) may include communication equipment that enables connection to wide area networks such as the internet or local area networks or other known wired / wireless networks that can communicate wired or wirelessly. The system (10) of the invention may be a general-purpose computer or a server, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, etc.

[0056] The memory unit (110) may include a software consisting of functional modules consisting of command lines and executed by the processor unit (100) for the realization of the method of the invention and the operation of the system (10).

[0057] The memory unit (110) further includes a cost database (111 ) and a risk database (112). The cost database (111) includes cost information of the predetermined cost items. The cost database (111) includes information such as unit energy costs, unit labor costs, depreciation costs, secondary processing costs, raw material costs and consumable costs in a possible embodiment of the invention. It is clear to a skilled person that the cost information contained in the cost database (111 ) may be extended. The said risk database (112) contains the predetermined risk values for the product to be produced. The said risk values are related to the error rates that the parts of the product to be produced with the entered physical characteristics may be encountered during production. It refers to parameters such as the physical properties of the product to be produced, how many parts it consists of, the material of the parts, the shapes of the parts, the radius, wall thickness, width, length, width, angle depending on the shapes of the parts. Parameter data also refers to the information that defines these features. Parameter data can be information such as, for example, diameter value, wall thickness value, mathematical formula that defines the geometric shape. Accordingly, all this and similar parameter data is input by the input unit (120). The processor unit (100) is configured to calculate a risk margin based on the risk values of the parameter data related to the physical characteristics of the product to be produced in said risk database (112) and to calculate the production cost based on the calculated risk margin. Thus, costs arising from errors or losses during production are prevented from being overlooked. The accuracy of the production cost of the product to be produced in this way is ensured to be calculated in an increased manner. The processor unit (100) is further configured to display the calculated production cost via the user interface (130).

[0058] The risk database (112) mentioned in a possible embodiment of the invention includes risk probability, probability score, risk intensity, intensity score and risk score values. The said risk score is a combination of the said risk probability, probability score, risk intensity and intensity score. The said risk margin is a combination of risk scores. The said values refer to the risk of errors that may occur during the production of the product parts to be produced. These values are the values with predetermined compositions based on the information about the physical properties of the product to be produced entered through the input unit (120). For example, the risk of creating a cavity with a radius of 0.05 mm and a depth of 0.5 mm on a metal part and the risk of creating a cavity with a radius of 1 mm and a depth of 5 mm are different from each other. These risk values are pre-defined in the risk database (112) for each machine, each material, and each process. In addition, the ratio of a part of the product to be produced to the whole product also determines the risk intensity. For example, for a product consisting of 100 pieces, although the risk probability of 1 piece is high, the risk intensity will be low. Accordingly, the processor unit (100) determines a risk score for each part of the product to be produced according to the parameter data entered, depending on the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity and intensity score. The processor unit (100) determines a risk margin for each part depending on the risk scores it determines. This risk margin is added to the cost value of the product to be produced calculated according to the information obtained from the cost database (111 ). Unexpected or uncalculated costs such as errors, losses and consumption arising from production are also included in the production cost. Thus, the cost of a product to be produced is calculated with increased accuracy.

[0059] The risk database (112) also includes the production thresholds for the product to be produced. It is likely that the production of the product outside these thresholds will cause structural distortions in the product and cause the production to stop with a very high probability. Said production threshold values refer to the maximum and minimum threshold values for the part to be produced to be produced with the relevant machine and the relevant process. For example, the processor unit (100) is enabled to send a warning signal to the user interface (130) if the radius value entered by the input unit (120) is less than 0.05 for a machine that is capable of forming a cavity with a minimum radius of 0.05 mm for a given material.

[0060] The risk database (112) comprises a predetermined risk threshold for each risk value in a possible embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the processor unit (100) is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface (130) if at least one risk value exceeds said risk threshold.

[0061] The risk margin is a combination of each risk value in a possible embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the risk database (112) includes a predetermined margin threshold. In this embodiment, the processor unit (100) is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface (130) if said risk margin exceeds said margin threshold.

[0062] The processor unit (100) determines the selling price of the product to be produced in a possible embodiment of the invention. The processor unit (100) calculates a fixed and variable cost according to the cost database (111) located in the memory unit (110) based on the product data entered through the input unit (120). The processor unit (100) calculates a risk margin according to the risk database (112) in the memory unit (110) based on the product data entered through the input unit (120). In a possible embodiment, the processor unit (100) determines a selling price based on a predetermined profit margin, the calculated cost of production, and the calculated risk margin. The processor unit (100) is configured to display said selling price in the user interface (130).

[0063] The processor unit (100) is configured to selectively provide the user with different cost items for engineering and manufacturing services for the product to be produced via the user interface (130) in a possible embodiment of the invention. In this figure, the user is increasing the accuracy of the cost calculation by selecting the costs such as operations, engineering and production services, materials, and machinery to be used, which will be specific to the product to be produced. The user has an option such as selecting the service items to be applied by the enterprise in production through the user interface (130) and deselecting the service items that will not be applied by the enterprise. It is ensured that the accuracy of the production cost calculated in this way is increased for the enterprise. In addition, a precise sales price is obtained by defining a profit margin for each service item separately. In this way, it is ensured that the variable profit rates defined for different service items also increase the accuracy of the sales price.

[0064] The cost database (111 ) includes predetermined variable cost data in a possible embodiment of the invention. Said variable cost data refers to the costs that vary according to the product data to be produced entered by the input unit (120). For example, the cost of consumables resulting from the production of 10 pieces for a product and the cost of consumables resulting from the production of 1000 pieces vary. Accordingly, the cost database (111) includes both fixed costs and variable cost data for the product to be produced. The processor unit (100) calculates a variable cost based on said variable cost data and the data entered. The processor unit (100) is configured to enable the display of said variable cost in the user interface (130). The input unit (120) is a computer in a possible embodiment of the invention. In another possible embodiment, the input unit (120) is a three-dimensional computer-aided design application operating on a computer. In this embodiment, the system (10) receives parameter data from the three-dimensional computer-aided design application operating on a computer. The three-dimensional computer-aided design applications mentioned are computer applications known in the art as "CAD".

[0065] The parameter data also includes the machines, materials, production parameters, production time and the post-processing information to be applied in a possible embodiment of the invention.

[0066] The invention further relates to a method performed by a processor unit (100) for calculating the production cost of a product to be manufactured by additive manufacturing. Accordingly, receiving the parameter data regarding the physical properties of the product to be produced by means of an input unit (120) includes the process step. Here, the input unit (120) may be a three-dimensional computer-aided design application (CAD) operating on an external computer or a computer. In the preferred embodiment, the processor unit (100) receives the parameters for the physical properties of the product to be produced from the CAD application. The processor unit (100) calculates a production cost based on the information it receives via said input unit (120) and the data in the cost database (111 ) contained in a memory unit (110). In a possible embodiment, the cost database (111 ) is located in an internal memory unit (110). In another possible embodiment, the cost database (111) is provided on a remote server. In this embodiment, the processor unit (100) exchanges data with the cost database (111) via a communication unit (140). The cost database (111) may also be provided on a cloud server. The cost database (111) may also be provided as a combination of said embodiments. For example, while information such as unit labor costs, depreciation costs, and consumable costs included in the cost database (111) are provided in an internal memory unit (110), information such as unit energy costs, secondary processing costs, and raw material costs can be provided in an external memory unit (110).

[0067] The method includes the process step of calculating a risk margin based on the risk values in the risk database (112) of the parameter data related to the physical characteristics of the product to be produced by the processor unit (100). In a possible embodiment, the method includes the process step of calculating the risk score values for each part of the product to be produced by the processor unit (100) based on the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity and intensity score. In this embodiment, the risk margin is calculated based on the calculated risk scores. The method also includes the process step of updating the production cost based on the risk margin calculated by the processor unit (100). The accuracy of the production cost calculated in this way is increased. The method further includes the process step of displaying the updated production cost through a user interface (130). In this way, it is ensured that the production cost is presented to the user.

[0068] The method also comprises the process step of selecting different cost items for engineering and manufacturing services for the product to be produced via the user interface (130) in a possible embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the processor unit (100) provides for determining the sales price based on the production cost of the selected service items and the predetermined profit margin. In this way, the user is ensured to increase the accuracy of the cost calculation by selecting the costs such as operations, engineering and production services, materials and machinery to be used to be specific to the product to be produced. The user has an option such as selecting the service items to be applied by the enterprise in production through the user interface (130) and deselecting the service items that will not be applied by the enterprise. A precise sales price is obtained by defining a profit margin for each engineering and service item separately. In this way, it is ensured that the variable profit rates defined for different service items also increase the accuracy of the sales price.

[0069] The processor unit (100) is configured to store the calculated production cost for the product to be produced in the memory unit by associating it with the relevant product in a possible embodiment of the invention. The association mentioned herein may be an expression such as a name or product code characterized by the product to be produced. In this way, the user is enabled to view the recorded production costs via the memory unit. Thus, it can be obtained from historical data without the need to calculate the production cost for a product many times.

[0070] The processor unit (100) is configured, in a possible embodiment of the invention, to display the registered production cost information via the user interface (130) if it detects that the product information to be produced entered by the input unit (120) matches a product with the production cost recorded in the memory unit (110). Thus, it is possible to compare the previous production cost with the newly calculated production cost. It is clear that the system (10) and method subject to the invention can be applied to any advanced manufacturing system (10) as well as the additive manufacturing production technology. Suitable for use in manufacturing sectors and laboratories. The protection scope of the invention is specified in the attached claims and cannot be strictly limited to those explained in this detailed description for illustrative purposes. It is evident that a person skilled in the art may exhibit similar embodiments in light of above- mentioned facts without departing from the main theme of the invention.

[0071] REFERENCE NUMBERS GIVEN IN THE FIGURE

[0072] 10 System

[0073] 100 Processor unit 110 Memory unit

[0074] 111 Cost database

[0075] 112 Risk database

[0076] 120 Input unit

[0077] 130 User interface 140 Communication unit

[0078] 150 Data bus

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system (10) comprising an input unit (120) for receiving parameter data regarding the physical characteristics of a product to be produced by the additive manufacturing method; a processor unit (100) for calculating a production cost based on the information entered by said input unit (120) and the data in a cost database (111) located in a memory unit (110); and a user interface (130) for displaying the production cost calculated by said processor unit (100), characterized in that the processor unit (100) is configured to receive parameter data relating to the physical properties of the product to be produced as input via the input unit (120), to access a risk database (112) having predetermined risk values corresponding to the parameter data, to calculate a risk margin based on the risk values in said risk database (112) of the parameter data relating to the physical properties of the product to be produced, to calculate the production cost based on the calculated risk margin and to display the calculated production cost via the user interface (130).

2. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said risk values include the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity, intensity score and risk score values; the said risk margin is a combination of the said risk probability, probability score, risk intensity, intensity score and risk score.

3. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said risk database (112) contains production thresholds that express the maximum or minimum thresholds for the production of the product to be produced.

4. A system (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the processor unit (100) is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface (130) in the event that at least one of the parameter data related to the physical properties of the product to be produced entered via the input unit (120) falls outside said production threshold value.

5. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said risk database (112) contains a predetermined risk threshold value for each risk value.

6. A system (10) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the processor unit (100) is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface (130) in the event that at least one risk value exceeds said risk threshold value.

7. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said risk margin is a combination of the risk values of the product to be produced; said risk database (112) contains a predetermined margin threshold value; the processor unit (100) is configured to send a warning signal to the user interface (130) in the event that the risk margin exceeds said margin threshold value.

8. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the processor unit (100) is configured to determine a sales price based on a predetermined profit margin of the calculated production cost and to display said sales price in the user interface (130).

9. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the cost database (111) contains predetermined variable cost data; the processor unit (100) is configured to calculate a variable cost based on said variable cost data and the entered data, and to display said variable cost in the user interface (130).

10. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said input unit (120) is a computer.

11. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said input unit (120) is a three-dimensional computer-aided design application.

12. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a data bus (150) to enable data exchange between the components of the system (10) such as said input unit (120), said memory unit (110) and said processor unit (100).

13. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a communication unit (140) associated with the processor unit (100) to enable data exchange with other devices.

14. A system (10) according to Claim 13, characterized in that said memory unit (110) is provided on a remote server.

15. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the processor unit (100) is configured to save the calculated production cost for the product to be produced to the memory unit (110).

16. A system (10) according to Claim 15, characterized in that it is configured to ensure that the registered production cost information is displayed through the user interface (130) in the event that the processor unit (100) detects that the product information to be produced entered by the input unit (120) matches a product with the production cost registered in the memory unit (110).

17. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said parameter data includes the machines, materials, production parameters, production time and postprocessing information to be applied in the production.

18. A system (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said cost database (111) comprises the information of unit energy costs, unit labor costs, depreciation costs, secondary processing costs, raw material costs and consumable costs.

19. A method performed by a processor unit (100) for calculating the production cost of a product to be produced by the additive manufacturing method, characterized in that it comprises the following process steps;- receiving the parameter data on the physical characteristics of the product to be produced by means of an input unit (120),- accessing a risk database (112) containing parameter data on the physical characteristics of the product and predetermined risk values corresponding to these parameter data- calculating a production cost based on data in a cost database (111 ) for the product for which parameter data is entered via said input unit (120),- calculating a risk margin based on the risk values in said risk database (112) of parameter data on the physical characteristics of the product to be produced,- updating the production cost based on the calculated risk margin,- displaying the updated production cost through a user interface (130).

20. A method according to Claim 19, characterized in that the said risk values comprise the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity, intensity score and risk score values; and that it comprises the process step of calculating the risk score values based on the risk probability, probability score, risk intensity and intensity score for each part of the product to be produced by the processor unit (100).

21. A method according to Claim 20, characterized in that it comprises the process step of calculating said risk margin based on the risk scores calculated for each part of the product to be produced by the processor unit (100).

22. A method according to Claim 19, characterized in that the risk database (112) comprises production thresholds expressing maximum or minimum thresholds for the production of the product to be produced; the processor unit (100) comprises the process step of sending a warning signal to the user interface (130) in the event that at least one of the parameter data related to the physical properties of the product to be produced entered via the input unit (120) falls outside the said production threshold value.

23. A method according to Claim 19, characterized in that the risk database (112) comprises a predetermined risk threshold for each risk value, and in that the processor unit (100) comprises the process step of sending a warning signal to the user interface (130) when at least one risk value exceeds said risk threshold.

24. A method according to Claim 19, characterized in that said risk margin is a combination of risk values of the product to be produced; that said risk database (112) comprises a predetermined margin threshold; that the processor unit (100) comprises the process step of sending a warning signal to the user interface (130) in the event that the risk margin exceeds said margin threshold.

25. A method according to Claim 19, characterized in that it comprises the process steps of determining a sales price based on a predetermined profit margin of the production cost calculated by the processor unit (100) and displaying said sales price in the user interface (130).

26. A method according to Claim 19, characterized in that the cost database (111) comprises the predetermined variable cost data; that it comprises the process steps of calculating a variable cost based on said variable cost data and the data entered through the input unit (120), and displaying said variable cost in the user interface (130).

27. A method according to Claim 19, characterized in that it comprises the process step of saving the calculated production cost for the product to be produced to the memory unit (110) by associating it with the relevant product.A method according to Claim 27, characterized in that it comprises the process step of displaying the registered production cost information via the user interface (130) in the event that it is determined that the product information to be produced entered via the input unit (120) matches a product whose production cost is registered in the memory unit (110).

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