CAD Clearance Analysis via Variable Partitioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clearance analysis in CAD environments for product assemblies is computationally intensive and time-consuming, especially for large assemblies, leading to prolonged design iteration times and increased costs due to the n^2 complexity of interference evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that iteratively decompose the product space into variable-sized partitions, using machine learning models to predict clearance analysis costs and distribute tasks among clearance workers, optimizing the partitioning strategy to reduce computational resources and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clearance analysis is performed on large sized product assemblies, then comprehensive interference evaluation is achieved, but computational resources and time requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the product assembly into multiple sub-assemblies and further into individual components, creating a hierarchical structure that enables selective clearance analysis. This segmentation allows the system to process large assemblies by breaking them into manageable units, reducing overall computational time while maintaining comprehensive interference evaluation through the hierarchical review process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective clearance analysis where different levels of analysis are applied to different components based on their importance and complexity. Critical components undergo more thorough clearance evaluation while less critical components receive simplified analysis, optimizing the balance between analysis completeness and computational time requirements.
2Reliability
If clearance analysis is performed on large sized product assemblies, then comprehensive interference evaluation is achieved, but computational resources and time requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the product assembly into hierarchical levels (sub-assemblies and components), enabling selective clearance analysis that processes only necessary portions of the assembly. This reduces the computational resources required by avoiding unnecessary interference evaluations of all possible component pairs in large assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs partial clearance analysis by evaluating only the necessary clearance relationships between components based on their spatial proximity and functional relevance. This partial action approach avoids the excessive computational resources that would be required to evaluate all possible interference scenarios in large assemblies.
3Reliability
If clearance analysis is performed on large sized product assemblies, then comprehensive interference evaluation is achieved, but design iteration times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clearance analysis process into hierarchical levels that can be processed independently and in parallel. This enables faster design iteration by allowing multiple clearance evaluations to occur simultaneously at different levels of the assembly hierarchy, maintaining validation accuracy while reducing overall analysis time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous clearance validation through automated hierarchical analysis that operates throughout the design process. This continuous action ensures clearance issues are identified and resolved promptly, maintaining design iteration speed while ensuring comprehensive interference evaluation.
4Reliability
If clearance analysis is performed on large sized product assemblies, then comprehensive interference evaluation is achieved, but the complexity of the analysis process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex clearance analysis process into manageable hierarchical levels (sub-assemblies and components). This segmentation simplifies the overall analysis process by breaking down complex interference evaluation into systematic, stepwise procedures that are easier to implement and manage while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of product data into hierarchical structures before conducting clearance analysis. This preliminary action simplifies the subsequent analysis process by pre-arranging components and sub-assemblies in a structured format, reducing the complexity of interference evaluation while ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for performing clearance analysis of a product assembly in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment is disclosed. A method includes receiving a request for evaluating clearance between components of a product assembly in a CAD environment from a user device. The request includes a unique identifier of the product assembly. The method includes obtaining product data associated with the product assembly from a PDM database based on the unique identifier of the product assembly, and iteratively decomposing a product space including the product assembly in the CAD environment into a plurality of variable-sized partitions based on the product data. The method also includes selecting one or more variable-sized partitions for evaluating clearance between the components in the product assembly from the plurality of the variable-sized partitions, and evaluating clearance between the components in the selected variable-sized partitions.