Automatic standard part positioning method, electronic equipment and storage medium

Abstract

The invention discloses a standard component automatic positioning method, electronic equipment and a storage medium, and relates to the technical field of computer-aided engineering. The automatic positioning method for the standard part comprises the following steps: acquiring an established standard part finite element model and a solid geometric model of a to-be-mounted position; identifying a plurality of mutually corresponding feature positioning points from the finite element model and the solid geometric model; based on the mutually corresponding feature positioning points, moving and rotating the standard component finite element model to be aligned with the target position of the solid geometric model through model transformation; and copying the positioned standard component finite element model, and applying the standard component finite element model to the installation positions of other standard components of the same type. A large amount of repeated manual operation is replaced by the automatic script, the positioning time of the standard component is shortened, and the modeling efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of computer-aided engineering technology, and in particular to an automated positioning method for standard parts, electronic equipment, and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In vehicle development, finite element analysis is a crucial tool for simulating structural durability, vibration, and noise. The body-in-white contains a considerable number of standard components, such as various connecting plates. During the creation of the complete vehicle model, it is often necessary to borrow finite element models of these standard components from other projects.

[0003] Currently, existing technologies aim to improve the automation level of finite element preprocessing. For example, prior art document 1 (CN115248953A) discloses a vehicle model simulation preprocessing modeling method, which classifies the geometric model into connectors and non-connectors, and performs mid-surface extraction, connection information extraction, mesh generation, and material matching respectively to finally complete finite element modeling. This method focuses on generating new finite element models from geometric models, especially the creation of connectors.

[0004] However, in actual engineering, a large amount of work involves repetitively positioning existing standard part finite element models to new vehicle body locations. This process still heavily relies on manual operation; engineers need to manually identify positioning points, invoke positioning commands, and repeat the process to apply it to multiple identical standard parts. This operation is not only inefficient but also prone to errors introduced by human factors, becoming a bottleneck restricting modeling efficiency. The method disclosed in Comparative Document 1 does not address the issue of automated positioning and reuse of existing finite element models. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides an automated positioning method for standard parts, aiming to achieve rapid, accurate, and batch positioning of existing standard parts finite element models across different projects, thereby improving processing efficiency.

[0006] The first technical solution adopted in this application is: providing an automated positioning method for standard parts, including the following steps:

[0007] Obtain the established finite element model of the standard part and the solid geometric model of the location to be installed;

[0008] Multiple corresponding feature positioning points are identified from the finite element model and the solid geometric model, respectively.

[0009] Based on the corresponding feature positioning points, the standard part finite element model is moved and rotated to align with the target position of the solid geometric model through model transformation;

[0010] Copy the finite element model of the standard part that has been positioned and apply it to the installation location of other standard parts of the same type.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the step of identifying feature localization points from the entity geometry model includes:

[0012] Identify the geometric elements representing through-hole features in the solid geometric model;

[0013] Calculate the coordinates of the center point of the geometric element;

[0014] Based on the coordinates of the center point, at least three non-collinear points are determined as feature positioning points of the entity geometric model.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, the step of identifying feature location points from the finite element model includes:

[0016] Identify the mesh boundaries representing hole features in the finite element model;

[0017] The grid boundaries are identified and classified, and circular hole features are selected.

[0018] Calculate the geometric center coordinates of the circular hole feature;

[0019] Based on the geometric center coordinates, at least three non-collinear points are determined as feature positioning points of the finite element model.

[0020] In an optional embodiment, after determining the feature localization points, the method further includes a step of filtering the feature localization points:

[0021] Calculate the geometric relationship of multiple point combinations from all candidate feature localization points;

[0022] Based on the preset geometric conditions, exclude point combinations that do not meet the requirements;

[0023] A set of optimal feature localization points is selected for model alignment.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, for a standard part having multiple mounting holes, the preset geometric conditions include:

[0025] The selected combination of points should form a triangle with the largest possible area; and / or

[0026] The selected combination of points should include points located on one side of the model's symmetry feature.

[0027] In an optional embodiment, the step of aligning the finite element model through model transformation is implemented by executing an automated script, specifically including:

[0028] Trigger the graphical user interface for model localization in the automated process;

[0029] The acquired feature location point coordinate data is automatically filled into the corresponding input parameters of the graphical user interface;

[0030] Perform a positioning operation to enable the finite element model to move and rotate based on the coordinate data.

[0031] In an optional embodiment, the step of replicating the finite element model includes:

[0032] Based on the model topology, all mesh elements associated with the located finite element model are automatically selected.

[0033] Generate a copy of the grid cell.

[0034] In an optional embodiment, the standard component is a perforated connecting plate used in the automotive body-in-white.

[0035] The second technical solution adopted in this application is: providing an electronic device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the steps of the standard part automated positioning method of any of the preceding claims.

[0036] The third technical solution adopted in this application is: providing a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the standard part automated positioning method described in any of the preceding claims.

[0037] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, this application has at least one of the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0038] 1. Automated scripts replace a large number of repetitive manual operations, shortening the positioning time of standard parts and improving modeling efficiency.

[0039] 2. Based on geometric features, the positioning points are automatically identified, avoiding errors that may occur when manually picking coordinates, and ensuring high accuracy and consistency in model positioning.

[0040] 3. By analyzing free edges, clustering into rings, and identifying circular holes, the algorithm can automatically extract key features from complex finite element meshes. Furthermore, by calculating the area of ​​triangles and considering symmetry, the algorithm selects the optimal combination of positioning points, effectively eliminating invalid cases such as collinearity and enhancing its robustness and applicability. Attached Figure Description

[0041] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0042] in:

[0043] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an automated positioning method for standard parts provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this application and not for limiting it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts related to this application are shown in the accompanying drawings, not all structures. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0047] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0048] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0049] In existing technologies, the process of copying and positioning the finite element model of a standard part to the new installation location mainly relies on manual operation. Engineers need to identify the corresponding points of the source model and the target location one by one in the finite element software, manually input coordinates or perform interactive picking, and then perform transformation operations such as moving and rotating. This process is not only cumbersome, time-consuming, and inefficient, but also prone to errors in the selection of positioning points or deviations in coordinate input due to human negligence when dealing with a large number of repetitive standard parts, thus affecting the accuracy of the model and the reliability of subsequent simulation results.

[0050] This application automates the process of acquiring finite element models and solid geometric models of standard parts, identifies multiple corresponding feature positioning points on both, automatically performs model movement and rotation alignment based on these corresponding points, and finally copies the positioned model for use in other identical locations. This achieves full automation from feature recognition and model transformation to batch application, effectively solving the problems of low efficiency and error-proneness in existing technologies, and significantly improving the accuracy and consistency of standard part positioning. Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the automated positioning method for standard parts provided in this application includes:

[0051] Obtain the established finite element model of the standard part and the solid geometric model of the installation location; in HyperMesh or other CAE software, this step can be automated by script; the standard part is a perforated connecting plate used in the body-in-white of an automobile; for example, the script can preset a standard part library, and the user only needs to select the six-hole corner bracket - model A through a graphical interface (GUI) drop-down menu, and the system will automatically load the finite element model of the standard part from the specified path.

[0052] Meanwhile, by selecting a face or feature of the target installation area in the graphics window, the script can automatically identify and capture the solid geometric model (such as a body sheet metal part) at that location as a positioning reference.

[0053] In this embodiment, a six-hole corner bracket standard is installed on a solid geometric model; multiple corresponding feature positioning points are identified from the finite element model and the solid geometric model respectively; the step of identifying feature positioning points from the solid geometric model includes:

[0054] Identify geometric elements representing through-hole features in the solid geometric model; initiate a geometric feature recognition algorithm, which first filters out all edges with geometric types of arcs or circles.

[0055] Because sheet metal parts have thickness, a through hole will geometrically appear as two parallel concentric arcs with equal radii, i.e., one through hole on the front and one on the back. By comparing the radius, center position and normal direction of the arcs, the arcs are intelligently clustered into pairs of arcs, and each pair of arcs represents a physical through hole.

[0056] In this embodiment, the geometric element is a circular through hole; in other embodiments, the geometric element may be a rectangle, a square or other geometric shape, and there is no limitation thereto.

[0057] Calculating the center point coordinates of the geometric elements is equivalent to calculating the center of the paired arc group; obtaining the coordinates of the 6 center points represents the precise geometric center of the through hole in three-dimensional space.

[0058] Based on the center point coordinates, at least three non-collinear points are determined as feature positioning points of the solid geometric model.

[0059] The steps for identifying feature localization points from a finite element model include:

[0060] Identify mesh boundaries representing void features in the finite element model; initiate a mesh topology analysis algorithm that traverses all element edges; in a solid mesh, for a complete, void-free volume, all element edges are shared by two elements. Edges located at voids, surfaces, or cracks belong to only one element and are called free edges; connect these free edges end-to-end according to their connected nodes to form one or more closed loops; each closed loop represents a mesh boundary.

[0061] The grid boundaries are identified and classified to filter out circular hole features. All nodes of the closed loop are fitted onto a plane using the least squares method. Then, these nodes are projected onto this fitted plane, and the projected two-dimensional point set is fitted into a circle using the least squares method. The roundness error is calculated. If the roundness error is less than a preset threshold, it is a circular hole; if the roundness error is greater than the preset threshold, it is a non-circular hole.

[0062] Calculate the geometric center coordinates of the circular hole feature; the steps for calculating the geometric center coordinates are the same as those for calculating the geometric center coordinates from the solid geometric model, and will not be repeated here.

[0063] Based on the geometric center coordinates, at least three non-collinear points are determined as feature positioning points of the finite element model. After determining the feature positioning points of the finite element model and the solid geometric model, the process also includes a step of filtering the feature positioning points.

[0064] From all candidate feature locating points, calculate the geometric relationship of multiple point combinations; obtain six candidate feature locating points (i.e., the geometric centers of the six mounting holes). Since model transformation requires at least three non-collinear points, the system will generate all possible three-point combinations from these six points, resulting in 20 possible combination relationships.

[0065] Based on preset geometric conditions, exclude point combinations that do not meet the requirements; the preset geometric conditions include that the selected point combinations should form a triangle with the largest area; and / or the selected point combinations should include points located on one side of the model's symmetry feature.

[0066] Check the area of ​​the triangle formed by each combination. If the area is less than the preset area threshold, it is determined that the three points are approximately collinear and cannot uniquely determine a spatial plane, which will cause errors when the model is rotated and positioned. The combination is then excluded.

[0067] Among the remaining valid combinations, those forming triangles with an area greater than a preset area threshold, the system further filters based on preset optimization conditions. For example, it can select the combination that forms the largest triangle. The larger the area, the more dispersed the three positioning points are, resulting in a more stable positioning reference and a higher tolerance for small coordinate errors, thus achieving more accurate and robust model alignment.

[0068] In addition, for six-hole corner brackets with symmetrical structures, the selected point combination should include a point located on one side of the model's symmetry feature to ensure that the orientation of the standard part after positioning meets the design requirements and avoids mirror errors caused by symmetry.

[0069] A set of optimal feature localization points is selected for model alignment.

[0070] Based on corresponding feature points, the finite element model of the standard part is moved and rotated to align with the target position of the solid geometric model through model transformation. The specific steps include the following:

[0071] Trigger the graphical user interface for model localization in the automated process;

[0072] The acquired feature location point coordinate data is automatically filled into the corresponding input parameters of the graphical user interface;

[0073] Perform a positioning operation to enable the finite element model to move and rotate based on the coordinate data.

[0074] In this embodiment, in the secondary development environment based on HyperMesh (finite element preprocessing software), the developer uses its built-in Process Studio to create an automated process; in the graphical interface of the process, an auto-positioning button is set, which is associated with a custom process (proc) written in Tcl (scripting language).

[0075] When the user clicks the button, the system executes the hm_callpanel position command, where position corresponds to the position transformation panel in the HyperMesh software used for model movement and rotation. This command will automatically pop up the graphical user interface (GUI) of this panel.

[0076] After the position transformation panel pops up, the Tcl script in the system background immediately executes the `hm_setpanelvalue` command. This command automatically fills in the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the first feature location point in the standard part finite element model, calculated earlier using the feature recognition algorithm, based on the internal parameter names of each input box in the position transformation panel, such as "Source Point 1 Coordinate X", "Source Point 1 Coordinate Y", and "Source Point 1 Coordinate Z". Similarly, it automatically fills in the corresponding input boxes of the panel with the coordinates of the second and third source points, as well as the coordinates of the three corresponding target points on the solid geometry model.

[0077] After the coordinate data is filled in, the Tcl script can continue to execute the `hm_activatepanelbutton` command, automatically clicking the "Apply" button on the position transformation panel; or the user can manually click the "Apply" button on the interface. At this time, the HyperMesh software kernel will automatically calculate a rigid body transformation matrix based on the coordinates of these three pairs of filled corresponding points and perform the following operations: First, translate the finite element model from its original position so that source point 1 coincides with target point 1; then rotate it about the axis passing through point 1 so that the line connecting source point 1 to source point 2 is aligned with the line connecting target point 1 to target point 2; finally, rotate it about the aligned 1-2 axis so that the plane defined by source points 1, 2, and 3 coincides with the plane defined by target points 1, 2, and 3; through this series of operations, the standard part finite element model is accurately moved and rotated to the target installation position.

[0078] By calling HyperMesh's own mature and stable position panel, developers do not need to write complex 3D spatial transformation algorithms (such as translation and rotation matrix calculations) or design the interactive interface from scratch. This greatly simplifies the workload of secondary development, shortens the development cycle, and avoids positioning failures caused by inaccurate self-developed algorithms, thus ensuring the reliability of the technical solution.

[0079] Duplicate the finite element model of the positioned standard part and apply it to the installation location of other standard parts of the same type; the steps for duplicating the finite element model include:

[0080] Based on the model topology, all mesh elements associated with the located finite element model are automatically selected; copies of the mesh elements are generated.

[0081] After the finite element model of a standard part is automatically positioned, it needs to be copied to other identical installation locations. Taking a successfully positioned six-hole corner bracket connecting plate as an example, this connecting plate is composed of multiple shell elements connected by shared nodes, forming a continuous mesh area.

[0082] To completely replicate the entire connection plate, the system performs the following operations: First, the script starts from any mesh element on the connection plate using the API (Application Programming Interface) of HyperMesh (the finite element preprocessing software). Then, based on the model's topology, the system initiates the "select by attached" function. This function automatically iterates through all adjacent elements that share nodes with the starting element and adds these adjacent elements to the selection set; then, it iterates through the adjacent elements of these newly added elements, and so on, until all elements interconnected by nodes are selected. This process ensures that all mesh elements physically connected to the positioned model are completely and accurately selected, without omitting any parts or incorrectly including meshes of other irrelevant components. Finally, the system executes the "duplicate" command, generating an independent copy of this entire set of selected mesh elements and storing it in the model for subsequent use when moving to the next target installation location.

[0083] Automatic selection based on model topology ensures that all components of the standard part are fully selected; this method avoids omissions or misselections that may be caused by manual selection or selection by name, and guarantees that the copied model is completely consistent with the original model in terms of geometry and topology.

[0084] In summary, the automated positioning method for standard parts in this embodiment includes the following steps: acquiring an established finite element model of the standard part and a solid geometric model of the installation location; identifying multiple corresponding feature positioning points from the finite element model and the solid geometric model respectively; based on the corresponding feature positioning points, moving and rotating the finite element model of the standard part to align with the target position of the solid geometric model through model transformation; copying the positioned finite element model of the standard part and applying it to the installation locations of other standard parts of the same type. By replacing a large number of repetitive manual operations with automated scripts, the positioning time of standard parts is shortened, and modeling efficiency is improved.

[0085] Regarding the above embodiments, this application provides a computer device; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer device according to an embodiment of the present application. The computer device includes a memory and a processor, wherein the memory and the processor are coupled to each other. The memory stores program data, and the processor executes the program data to implement the steps of any embodiment of the above-described automated positioning method for standard parts.

[0086] In this embodiment, the processor may also be referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. The processor may also be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0087] The methods described in the above embodiments can be implemented as computer programs; therefore, this application proposes a computer-readable storage medium. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a computer-readable storage medium according to an embodiment of the present application. The computer-readable storage medium stores program data that can be executed by a processor to implement the steps of any embodiment of the above-described automated positioning method for standard parts.

[0088] In this embodiment, the computer-readable storage medium can be a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, or a medium that can store program data. Alternatively, it can be a server that stores the program data. The server can send the stored program data to other devices for execution, or it can run the stored program data itself.

[0089] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed methods and devices can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed.

[0090] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment, depending on actual needs.

[0091] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0092] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An automated positioning method for standard parts, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Obtain the established finite element model of the standard part and the solid geometric model of the location to be installed; Multiple corresponding feature positioning points are identified from the finite element model and the solid geometric model, respectively. Based on the corresponding feature positioning points, the standard part finite element model is moved and rotated to align with the target position of the solid geometric model through model transformation; Copy the finite element model of the standard part that has been positioned and apply it to the installation location of other standard parts of the same type.

2. The automated positioning method for standard parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steps for identifying feature localization points from the physical geometric model include: Identify the geometric elements representing through-hole features in the solid geometric model; Calculate the coordinates of the center point of the geometric element; Based on the coordinates of the center point, at least three non-collinear points are determined as feature positioning points of the entity geometric model.

3. The automated positioning method for standard parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steps for identifying feature localization points from the finite element model include: Identify the mesh boundaries representing hole features in the finite element model; The grid boundaries are identified and classified, and circular hole features are selected. Calculate the geometric center coordinates of the circular hole feature; Based on the geometric center coordinates, at least three non-collinear points are determined as feature positioning points of the finite element model.

4. The automated positioning method for standard parts according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, After determining the feature localization points, the method further includes a step of filtering the feature localization points: Calculate the geometric relationship of multiple point combinations from all candidate feature localization points; Based on the preset geometric conditions, exclude point combinations that do not meet the requirements; A set of optimal feature localization points is selected for model alignment.

5. The automated positioning method for standard parts according to claim 4, characterized in that, For standard parts with multiple mounting holes, the preset geometric conditions include: The selected combination of points should form a triangle with the largest possible area; and / or The selected combination of points should include points located on one side of the model's symmetry feature.

6. The automated positioning method for standard parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of aligning the finite element model through model transformation is implemented by executing an automated script, specifically including: Trigger the graphical user interface for model localization in the automated process; The acquired feature location point coordinate data is automatically filled into the corresponding input parameters of the graphical user interface; Perform a positioning operation to enable the finite element model to move and rotate based on the coordinate data.

7. The automated positioning method for standard parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of replicating the finite element model includes: Based on the model topology, all mesh elements associated with the located finite element model are automatically selected. Generate a copy of the grid cell.

8. The automated positioning method for standard parts according to claim 1, characterized in that, The standard component is a perforated connecting plate used in the body-in-white of an automobile.

9. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the program, it implements the steps of the standard part automated positioning method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the standard part automated positioning method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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