Validity Maintenance for Freeform Feature Modeling

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eelco van den Berg ◽  
Willem F. Bronsvoort
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Feature Modeling ◽  
Product Modeling ◽  
Feature Models ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Geometric Information ◽  
Single Product ◽  
Maximum Curvature ◽  
Curvature Constraint

Feature modeling is nowadays the predominant way of product modeling. Functional and geometric information are stored in a single product model, consisting of features such as holes, slots, and ribs. An emerging technology is the application of concepts of feature modeling to freeform shapes. Of particular importance here is that there are often many validity conditions, or constraints, that the resulting freeform feature models should satisfy. An example of this is a maximum curvature constraint on the faces of a particular feature. This paper presents an approach to specify and maintain such validity conditions for freeform feature models.

scholarly journals A Collaborative Framework for Integrated Part and Assembly Modeling

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 256-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Bidarra ◽  
Niels Kranendonk ◽  
Alex Noort ◽  
Willem F. Bronsvoort
Keyword(s):  
Feature Modeling ◽  
Product Modeling ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Assembly Modeling ◽  
Distributed Development ◽  
Assembly Design ◽  
Multiple View ◽  
Actual Design ◽  
Collaborative Sessions

An ideal product modeling system should support both part modeling and assembly modeling, instead of just either of them as is the case in most current CAD systems. A good basis for such integration is multiple-view feature modeling, as it allows focusing on different aspects of the product, while at the same time maintaining consistency of all model views. This paper presents a framework that supports synchronous collaborative sessions via Internet, among members of a distributed development team, with such a modeling system. The framework provides facilities for creating a hierarchical product structure, with single and compound components, and meanwhile assigning tasks to team members. The actual design of a single component is supported by a web-client specialized in part design, whereas the specification of assembly relations among components is supported by a web-client specialized in assembly design. All clients make use of the same server, which runs a multiple-view feature modeling system and maintains the complete product model, guaranteeing consistency of the part design and the assembly design views.

Associations in a Unified Feature Modeling Scheme

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Chen ◽  
Y.-S. Ma ◽  
G. Thimm ◽  
S.-H. Tang
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Feature Modeling ◽  
Human Knowledge ◽  
Feature Models ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Product Life ◽  
Detail Design ◽  
Life Cycle Stages

Features allow one to associate human knowledge and product geometry. The authors proposed, in earlier publications, a unified feature modeling scheme with the aim to maintain the integrity and consistency of a product model. Different application feature models within and across different product life-cycle stages are integrated, and especially, nongeometric relations (besides geometric ones) are handled. In this paper, as an improvement to the previous work, two types of associations are introduced: sharing and dependency. In the context of conceptual and detail design stages, these associations are described and the implementation is discussed in detail.

A Computational Product Model for Conceptual Design Using SysML

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Wo¨lkl ◽  
Kristina Shea
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
System Development ◽  
Concept Design ◽  
Product Modeling ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Mechatronic Systems ◽  
Starting Point

The importance of the concept development phase in product development is contradictory to the level and amount of current computer-based support for it, especially with regards to mechanical design. Paper-based methods for conceptual design offer a far greater level of maturity and familiarity than current computational methods. Engineers usually work with software designed to address only a single stage of the concept design phase, such as requirements management tools. Integration with software covering other stages, e.g. functional modeling, is generally poor. Using the requirements for concept models outlined in the VDI 2221 guideline for systematic product development as a starting point, the authors propose an integrated product model constructed using the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) that moves beyond geometry to integrate all necessary aspects for conceptual design. These include requirements, functions and function structures, working principles and their structures as well as physical effects. In order to explore the applicability of SysML for mechanical design, a case study on the design of a passenger car’s luggage compartment cover is presented. The case study shows that many different SysML diagram types are suitable for formal modeling in mechanical concept design, though they were originally defined for software and control system development. It is then proposed that the creation and use of libraries defining generic as well as more complicated templates raises efficiency in modeling. The use of diagrams and their semantics for conceptual modeling make SysML a strong candidate for integrated product modeling of mechanical as well as mechatronic systems.

Web-Enabled Feature-Based Modeling in a Distributed Design Environment

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Yeol Lee ◽  
Hyun Kim ◽  
Sung-Bae Han
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Feature Modeling ◽  
Feature Model ◽  
Internet Technology ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Dynamic Feature ◽  
Distributed Design ◽  
Product Modeling ◽  
Design Environment ◽  
Feature Based

Abstract Network and Internet technology open up another domain for building future CAD/CAM environments. The environment will be global, network-centric, and spatially distributed. In this paper, we present Web-enabled feature-based modeling in a distributed design environment. The presented approach combines the current feature-based modeling technique with distributed computing and communication technology for supporting product modeling and collaborative design activities over the network. The approach is implemented in a client/server architecture, in which Web-enabled feature modeling clients, neutral feature model server, and other applications communicate with one another via a standard communication protocol. The paper discusses how the neutral feature model supports multiple views and maintains naming consistency between geometric entities of the server and clients as the user edits the part in a client. Moreover, it explains how to minimize the network delay between the server and client according to dynamic feature modeling operations.

Intelligent Computer Methods for Modeling of Manufacturing Processes and Human Intent

1998 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
László Horváth ◽  
◽  
Imre J. Rudas ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Manufacturing Processes ◽  
Feature Models ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Model Concept ◽  
Computer Methods ◽  
Shape Models ◽  
Other Information

This paper presents a novel methodology for modeling manufacturing processes of mechanical parts. The aim was to develop a manufacturing process model that describes all possible process variants in a single model and involves generic process description for a cluster of manufacturing tasks. It must be fit into the product model concept. A four-level generic manufacturing process model has been developed by using Petri net representation for model entities. Advanced shape models do not describe the intent of the designer and other information that is necessary for the application of the model. As a contribution to solving this problem, we propose a methodology for attaching designer intent information and knowledge to geometric and form feature models. This improves communication between the product designer and production engineer. First, the importance of the manufacturing process model and its interconnections with other product related models are emphasized. Then, the structure, entities, creating, evaluation, and application of the manufacturing process model are explained. Next, product and production process modeling procedures are analyzed from the point of view of design intent information to be transferred between product designers and manufacturing engineers. Finally, characteristics of communication between engineers and modeling of human intent are outlined.

A Constraint-Based Approach to the Composition Relation Management of a Product Class in Design

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Alain Yvars
Keyword(s):  
Constraint Satisfaction Problems ◽  
Product Class ◽  
Product Modeling ◽  
Formal Representation ◽  
Connecting Rod ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Architectural Model ◽  
Programming Techniques ◽  
Combinatorial System ◽  
Composition Relation

The choice of solution, which a systems architect is confronted with within the framework of a product structure definition, can very quickly prove to be a thorny problem owing to the possible combinatorial system. In this paper, we will offer an alternative resting on the utilization of constraint-based programming techniques for representing and managing such complexity. More precisely, we will dwell on the presentation of a constraint-based approach to the composition relation management of a product class in design. After setting forth all the potential of the constraint-based approach, we will formally explain, in more detail, the six types of relations that seem to be essential to building a class of products. The approach is based on a three-level architectural model. The first level concerns the product model as such, the second supplies a formal representation of this model, whereas the third consists of rendering an arithmetic constraint-based approach to the intermediate model. We will use the discrete constraint satisfaction problems for operating and solving the latter. Our overall approach, from product modeling to resolution, is intended to be a generic one and the case in point will be the design of a functional pivot link between a connecting rod and a piston. The architect can subsequently make his own choices and the tool will automate their propagation by means of the constraint network modeling the problem. A dimensioning architectural model is, thus, obtained in compliance with the original list of requirements.

Study of Product Modeling Method Based on UML

2009 ◽  
Vol 419-420 ◽  
pp. 765-768
Author(s):  
Hai Tao Zhu ◽  
Wen Lin Pan ◽  
Chao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Modeling Method ◽  
Model Structure ◽  
Product Modeling ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Meta Model ◽  
Consistency Problem ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Model Layer

The product modeling method based on UML is presented in order to solve the consistency problem of definition, process and resources in the product life-cycle, and meet the need of developing the system from various viewports. Through the definition of three-layer product model structure included “product meta-meta model layer”, “product meta model layer” and the “product model layer” and its contents and their interrelation, the definition of a product modeling and constraint unity have been achieved to. The practical application reflects the validity and the feasibility of UML-based product modeling method.

Extracting Grip Areas From Feature Information

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winfried van Holland ◽  
Willem F. Bronsvoort
Keyword(s):  
New Method ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Geometric Information ◽  
Flexible Assembly ◽  
Assembly Features ◽  
Feature Information ◽  
Number Of Faces

Abstract In flexible assembly, an important problem is grip planning, in which possible grips on a component are determined. The first step in determining these grips is to find all finger domains on the component, areas where a gripper finger can be positioned. Finger domains are commonly computed from geometric information of the component only. One way to do this, is to find so-called non-free regions, areas where the finger cannot be positioned, using the Expanded Face Solid (EFS) method. This method creates for every face in the model an envelope volume depending on the finger geometry. The areas where the model intersects the envelope volumes are the non-free regions. The EFS method must be executed for every face in the model, and is therefore time consuming. We present a new method to retrieve the finger domains, minimizing the number of faces that have to be investigated with the EFS method, by making use of feature information stored in the product model of the component. Not only design features, but also assembly features storing assembly-specific information are used for this purpose. We distinguish two types of assembly features: connection and handling features, storing information on connections between components, respectively information for handling a component. In our method, information from these features is exploited in a number of steps to compute the finger domains. The results presented in this paper show that the computation times of finding finger domains using our method are considerably lower compared with using the EFS method.

Parametric Computer Aided Hydraulic Cylinder Design: Cylinder Product Modeling

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans L. Johannesson
Keyword(s):  
Data Base ◽  
Hydraulic Cylinder ◽  
Independent Data ◽  
Product Modeling ◽  
Product Model ◽  
Data Bases ◽  
Cad System ◽  
Wire Frame ◽  
Data Base Management System ◽  
Base Management

Abstract In a hydraulic cylinder each cylinder component contributes to the total function, and the components interact and are dependent on each other. The geometry of some components can be completely determined by other surrounding interacting components. In this work it is shown how computer aid can be applied in hydraulic cylinder design when considering component interaction. A special hydraulic cylinder product model is developed. It is stored in an external CAD system independent data base. The parameters stored in the data base are used when retrieving component data from component family data bases, standard component data bases, and when running parametric component and system design programs. The software system used in this work consists of an ordinary 2D wire frame modeling turn-key CAD system, FORTRAN application programs, a data base management system, CAD system independent data bases and CAD system dependent interface programs.

Feature Validation in a Multiple-View Modeling System

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Dohmen ◽  
Klaas Jan de Kraker ◽  
Willem F. Bronsvoort
Keyword(s):  
Object Oriented ◽  
Feature Modeling ◽  
Feature Model ◽  
Feature Models ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Multiple View ◽  
Feature Parameters ◽  
Constraint Graph ◽  
Geometry Feature ◽  
Model Features

Abstract A new approach to specification and maintenance of feature validity conditions in a multiple-view feature modeling system is presented. Each view of a product contains a feature model. Features are specified declaratively in an object-oriented language, using constraints to specify feature validity conditions. Constraints are also used to specify relations between features. Validation of the feature models is done by a constraint manager that integrates different solving techniques. The constraint graph is mapped by the constraint manager onto constraints that are handled by dedicated solvers. If views are consistent, i.e. their feature models represent the same geometry, feature parameters can be changed. Changes are propagated through link constraints between different views.

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