A Mesh Reduction Approach to Parametric Surface Polygonization

Author(s):  
M. Asif Khan ◽  
Judy M. Vance

Abstract Surface polygonization is the process by which a representative polygonal mesh of a surface is constructed for rendering or analysis purposes. This work presents a new surface polygonization algorithm specifically tailored to be applied to a large class of models which are created with parametric surfaces. This method has particular application in the area of building virtual environments from computer-aided-design (CAD) models. The algorithm is based on an edge reduction scheme that collapses two vertices of a given polygon edge onto one new vertex. A two step approach is implemented consisting of boundary edge reduction followed by interior edge reduction. A maximin optimization is used to determine the location of the new vertex. The concept of a visible region as the location space of the new vertex is introduced. The method presented here differs from existing methods in that it takes advantage of the fact that for many models, the exact surface representation of the model is known before the polygonization is attempted. Because the precise surface definition is known, a maximin optimization procedure, that uses the surface information, can be used to locate the new vertex. The algorithm attempts to overcome the deficiencies in existing techniques while minimizing the number of polygons required to represent a surface and still maintaining surface integrity in the rendered model. This paper presents the algorithm and testing results.

1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Asif Khan ◽  
Judy M. Vance

Surface polygonization is the process by which a representative polygonal mesh of a surface is constructed for rendering or analysis purposes. This work presents a new surface polygonization algorithm specifically tailored to be applied to a large class of models which are created with parametric surfaces having triangular meshes. This method has particular application in the area of building virtual environments from computer-aided-design (CAD) models. The algorithm is based on an edge reduction scheme that collapses two vertices of a given triangular polygon edge onto one new vertex. A two step approach is implemented consisting of boundary edge reduction followed by interior edge reduction. A maximum optimization is used to determine the location of the new vertex. The criterion that is used to control how well the approximate surface represents the actual surface is based on examining the angle between surface normals. The advantage of this approach is that the surface discretization is a function of two, user-controlled variables, a boundary edge angle error and a surface edge angle error. The method presented here differs from existing methods in that it takes advantage of the fact that for many models, the exact surface representation of the model is known before the polygonization is attempted. Because the precise surface definition is known, a maximum optimization procedure, that uses the surface information, can be used to locate the new vertex. The algorithm attempts to overcome the deficiencies in existing techniques while minimizing the number of triangular polygons required to represent a surface and still maintaining surface integrity in the rendered model. This paper presents the algorithm and testing results.


Author(s):  
Andreas Apostolatos ◽  
Altuğ Emiroğlu ◽  
Shahrokh Shayegan ◽  
Fabien Péan ◽  
Kai-Uwe Bletzinger ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study the isogeometric B-Rep mortar-based mapping method for geometry models stemming directly from Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is systematically augmented and applied to partitioned Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) simulations. Thus, the newly proposed methodology is applied to geometries described by their Boundary Representation (B-Rep) in terms of trimmed multipatch Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) discretizations as standard in modern CAD. The proposed isogeometric B-Rep mortar-based mapping method is herein extended for the transformation of fields between a B-Rep model and a low order discrete surface representation of the geometry which typically results when the Finite Volume Method (FVM) or the Finite Element Method (FEM) are employed. This enables the transformation of such fields as tractions and displacements along the FSI interface when Isogeometric B-Rep Analysis (IBRA) is used for the structural discretization and the FVM is used for the fluid discretization. The latter allows for diverse discretization schemes between the structural and the fluid Boundary Value Problem (BVP), taking into consideration the special properties of each BVP separately while the constraints along the FSI interface are satisfied in an iterative manner within partitioned FSI. The proposed methodology can be exploited in FSI problems with an IBRA structural discretization or to FSI problems with a standard FEM structural discretization in the frame of the Exact Coupling Layer (ECL) where the interface fields are smoothed using the underlying B-Rep parametrization, thus taking advantage of the smoothness that the NURBS basis functions offer. All new developments are systematically investigated and demonstrated by FSI problems with lightweight structures whereby the underlying geometric parametrizations are directly taken from real-world CAD models, thus extending IBRA into coupled problems of the FSI type.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Nenad Bojcetic ◽  
Filip Valjak ◽  
Dragan Zezelj ◽  
Tomislav Martinec

The article describes an attempt to address the automatized evaluation of student three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) models. The driving idea was conceptualized under the restraints of the COVID pandemic, driven by the problem of evaluating a large number of student 3D CAD models. The described computer solution can be implemented using any CAD computer application that supports customization. Test cases showed that the proposed solution was valid and could be used to evaluate many students’ 3D CAD models. The computer solution can also be used to help students to better understand how to create a 3D CAD model, thereby complying with the requirements of particular teachers.


2018 ◽  
Vol Vol.18 (No.1) ◽  
pp. 96-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lam NGUYEN ◽  
Johannes BUHL ◽  
Markus BAMBACH

Three-axis machines are limited in the production of geometrical features in powder-bed additive manufacturing processes. In case of overhangs, support material has to be added due to the nature of the process, which causes some disadvantages. Robot-based wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is able to fabricate overhangs without adding support material. Hence, build time, waste of material, and post-processing might be reduced considerably. In order to make full use of multi-axis advantages, slicing strategies are needed. To this end, the CAD (computer-aided design) model of the part to be built is first partitioned into sub-parts, and for each sub-part, an individual build direction is identified. Path planning for these sub-parts by slicing then enables to produce the parts. This study presents a heuristic method to deal with the decomposition of CAD models and build direction identification for sub-entities. The geometric data of two adjacent slices are analyzed to construct centroidal axes. These centroidal axes are used to navigate the slicing and building processes. A case study and experiments are presented to exemplify the algorithm.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailin Huang ◽  
Bing Li ◽  
Jianyang Zhu ◽  
Xiaozhi Qi

This paper proposes a new family of single degree of freedom (DOF) deployable mechanisms derived from the threefold-symmetric deployable Bricard mechanism. The mobility and geometry of original threefold-symmetric deployable Bricard mechanism is first described, from the mobility characterstic of this mechanism, we show that three alternate revolute joints can be replaced by a class of single DOF deployable mechanisms without changing the single mobility characteristic of the resultant mechanisms, therefore leading to a new family of Bricard-derived deployable mechanisms. The computer-aided design (CAD) models are used to demonstrate these derived novel mechanisms. All these mechanisms can be used as the basic modules for constructing large volume deployable mechanisms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 603-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mutahar Safdar ◽  
Tahir Abbas Jauhar ◽  
Youngki Kim ◽  
Hanra Lee ◽  
Chiho Noh ◽  
...  

Abstract Feature-based translation of computer-aided design (CAD) models allows designers to preserve the modeling history as a series of modeling operations. Modeling operations or features contain information that is required to modify CAD models to create different variants. Conventional formats, including the standard for the exchange of product model data or the initial graphics exchange specification, cannot preserve design intent and only geometric models can be exchanged. As a result, it is not possible to modify these models after their exchange. Macro-parametric approach (MPA) is a method for exchanging feature-based CAD models among heterogeneous CAD systems. TransCAD, a CAD system for inter-CAD translation, is based on this approach. Translators based on MPA were implemented and tested for exchange between two commercial CAD systems. The issues found during the test rallies are reported and analyzed in this work. MPA can be further extended to remaining features and constraints for exchange between commercial CAD systems.


Author(s):  
Thomas R. Langerak ◽  
Joris S. M. Vergeest

Modeling with free form features has become the standard in Computer-Aided Design (CAD). With the increasing complexity of free form CAD models, features offer a high-level approach to modeling shapes. However, in most commercial modeling packages, only a static set of free form features is available. Researchers have tried to solve this problem by coming up with methods for user-driven free form feature definition, but failed to connect their methods to a means to instantiate these user-driven free form features on a target surface. Reversely, researchers have proposed tools for modeling with free form features, but these methods are time-intensive in that they are as of yet unsuitable for pre-defined features. This paper presents a new method for user-driven feature definition, as well as a method to instantiate these user-defined features on a target surface. We propose the concept of a dual environment, in which the definition of a feature is maintained simultaneously with its instance on a target surface, allowing the user to modify the definition of an already instantiated feature. This dual environment enables dynamic feature modeling, in which the user is able to change the definition of instantiated features on-the-fly. Furthermore, the proposed instantiation method is independent from the type of shape representation of the target surface and thereby increases the applicability of the method. The paper includes an extensive application example and discusses the results and shortcomings of the proposed methods.


Author(s):  
Aditya Balu ◽  
Sambit Ghadai ◽  
Soumik Sarkar ◽  
Adarsh Krishnamurthy

Abstract Computer-aided Design for Manufacturing (DFM) systems play an essential role in reducing the time taken for product development by providing manufacturability feedback to the designer before the manufacturing phase. Traditionally, DFM rules are hand-crafted and used to accelerate the engineering product design process by integrating manufacturability analysis during design. Recently, the feasibility of using a machine learning-based DFM tool in intelligently applying the DFM rules have been studied. These tools use a voxelized representation of the design and then use a 3D-Convolutional Neural Network (3D-CNN), to provide manufacturability feedback. Although these frameworks work effectively, there are some limitations to the voxelized representation of the design. In this paper, we introduce a new representation of the computer-aided design (CAD) model using orthogonal distance fields (ODF). We provide a GPU-accelerated algorithm to convert standard boundary representation (B-rep) CAD models into ODF representation. Using the ODF representation, we build a machine learning framework, similar to earlier approaches, to create a machine learning-based DFM system to provide manufacturability feedback. As proof of concept, we apply this framework to assess the manufacturability of drilled holes. The framework has an accuracy of more than 84% correctly classifying the manufacturable and non-manufacturable models using the new representation.


Author(s):  
Hamza Arshad ◽  
Vrushank Phadnis ◽  
Alison Olechowski

Abstract We present the results of an experiment investigating two different modes of collaboration on a series of computer-aided design (CAD) tasks. Inspired by the pair programming literature, we anticipate that partners working in a fully synchronous collaborative CAD environment will achieve different levels of quality in CAD models depending on their mode of collaboration — one in which the pair is free to work in parallel, and another where the pair must coordinate to share one control. We found that a shared CAD control led to significantly better overall CAD quality than parallel CAD control. In addition, the shared control mode led to more complete and consistent CAD models, as well as the tendency for participants to follow instructions to correctly replicate features for the design task. As is predicted in the literature, a trade-off relationship (albeit weak) between quality and speed via the parallel collaboration was found. In contrast, the shared control mode shows no clear relationship between speed and quality. Collaborative CAD is increasingly seen as an appealing tool for modern product design teams. This study suggests that the benefits of this tool are not solely the effect of the tool itself, but result from the collaboration style of the designers using the tool.


Author(s):  
Christopher B. Knowlton ◽  
George Hanson ◽  
Diego Orozco ◽  
Michel P. Laurent ◽  
Markus A. Wimmer

Wear of the polyethylene tibial components in total knee replacements remains a limiting factor of implant life. Studies have used coordinate measuring machines (CMM) to estimate volumetric wear in retrieved components. This technique requires knowledge of the original pre-worn surfaces. Pre-worn surfaces have been successfully approximated in literature by nominal computer-aided design (CAD) models or, more commonly, size-matched unused inserts [1,2]. However, models and drawings of implants are proprietary, and many design parameters can have large tolerances. Unworn components are costly, often unattainable for obsolete implants and subject to deviation between batches.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document