3D Manipulator for Simultaneous Rotation and Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing authoring systems, such as CATIA Composer, are cumbersome for users with little or no CAD experience to create animations involving simultaneous rotation and translation of 3D parts, particularly for operations like screwing or unscrewing, as they require navigating outside the 3D scene and creating separate animations for rotation and translation.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that displays a 3D manipulator with three axes anchored to a 3D part, allowing users to drag it along an axis to generate a movement combining rotation and translation proportionally, representing screwing or unscrewing operations, with options to set parameters and select movements through a user-friendly interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user creates rotation and translation animations separately using existing manipulators, then the animation can be created with basic tools, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires navigating outside the 3D scene

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of creating combined rotation-translation animationVSAvoidcomplexity of animation creation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the rotation manipulator and translation manipulator into a single integrated manipulator that can simultaneously control both rotation and translation of a 3D part. This unified manipulator allows users to create combined rotation-translation animations (such as screwing operations) without needing to switch between separate tools or navigate outside the 3D scene, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and process complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the user creates separate rotation and translation animations, then the animation can be achieved, but the time required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of creating animationVSAvoidtime spent on navigation and separate animation creation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the rotation and translation manipulation capabilities into a single manipulator, the system allows users to create combined animations in one continuous operation rather than through multiple separate steps. This eliminates the time lost to navigation and sequential animation creation, directly improving productivity while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user wants to create screwing or unscrewing animation, then the animation can be created, but the process requires creating rotation animation first, then translation animation separately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to create screwing/unscrewing animationVSAvoidease of creating simultaneous rotation and translation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated manipulator combines both rotation and translation controls in a single interface, allowing users to create screwing or unscrewing animations as a unified operation. The manipulator maintains the correct geometric relationship between rotation and translation movements, enabling realistic threaded fastener animations without requiring users to manually coordinate separate rotation and translation animations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the existing manipulator is used for rotation, then the 3D part can be rotated, but the manipulation is not simple for users with no CAD experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of manipulator useVSAvoidcomplexity of manipulator interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulator is designed to be universal, serving multiple functions including both rotation and translation control, as well as creating combined motion paths. This multi-functional design simplifies the interface by providing a single tool that handles various animation needs, making it more accessible to users with no CAD experience while maintaining the necessary complexity for professional applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3623969B1Method for generating a movement comprising at least a rotation

Publication Date: 2023.10.25 DASSAULT SYSTEMES SA

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AI summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for generating a movement of a 3D part (PAR) of a 3D assembly (ASM) in a 3D scene, the movement of the 3D part representing at least a rotation at the most by a predetermined angle, the method comprising the steps of: a) displaying a 3D assembly (ASM) of 3D parts in the 3D scene; b) selecting a 3D part (PAR) of the 3D assembly (ASM); c) displaying in the 3D scene a 3D manipulator (MAN) comprising three axes (AX1, AX2, AX3), said 3D manipulator (MAN) being anchored to the 3D part (PAR) in an anchor point (ANP); d) dragging the 3D manipulator (MAN) along one axis (AX1, AX2, AX3) by a current distance (CD) from the anchor point (ANP) on said one axis (AX1, AX2, AX3), at least the predetermined angle corresponding to a maximum distance (MD) from the anchor point (ANP); e) while dragging the 3D manipulator (MAN), computing a ratio of the current distance (CD) to the maximum distance (MD), and f) generating the movement of the 3D part proportionally to the ratio.