CAD Geometry Modification Tool for Merging and Splitting Solids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD systems require users to navigate complex workflows and maintain historical data to merge and split solids and surfaces, making the process time-consuming and non-intuitive, especially when dealing with geometry-only formats without related history information.
Innovation Solution
A single geometry modification tool and interface within a CAD system allows users to merge and split CAD objects by inferring operations from user selections, eliminating the need for historical data and enabling immediate geometry changes, with tools like the Combine tool for merging and splitting solids or surfaces, and the Split Body tool for splitting solids by their own faces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If parametric systems with history features are used to maintain step-by-step modeling information, then object modification capability is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the history feature layer from the CAD system, operating directly on geometry-only format objects without maintaining parametric history. This eliminates the complexity of managing historical steps while preserving the ability to modify objects through direct geometric operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the modeling function from the history management function by working with geometry-only format that strips away historical data. This segmentation allows pure geometric operations without the overhead of maintaining parametric history, reducing operational complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate tools are provided for different combine and split operations, then functional versatility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single unified tool that performs multiple functions including merging solids, splitting solids, merging surfaces, and splitting surfaces. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for multiple separate tools while maintaining full functional versatility, thereby improving ease of operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If Boolean operations are performed with pre-selected tools and recipes, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming workflows
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically infers the intended operation (merge or split) and selects the appropriate tool based on the objects selected by the user, eliminating the need for manual recipe selection. This self-service approach maintains operational precision while dramatically improving productivity by removing time-consuming workflow steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the selected objects to automatically determine the appropriate operation type and parameters before execution. This preliminary inference action ensures precise operations while reducing the time the user needs to spend configuring the operation.
4Ease of operation
If geometry-only format without history is used, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information occurs regarding original object parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the geometric data in a geometry-only format that preserves all essential geometric information needed for operations, while discarding the history layer. This copying approach maintains operational ease by working with clean geometry data while the geometric information itself remains intact and complete.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention relate to merging and splitting intersecting geometry-only solids and surfaces in an intuitive manner. One embodiment is a method of merging and cutting geometry-only format CAD objects without related history information, using a single geometry modification tool and interface. In response to receiving a group selection from the user, of a plurality of CAD objects, the method infers a merge operation and automatically merges the plurality of CAD objects into a single merged CAD object. In response to receiving an individual selection from the user of a CAD object, the geometry modification tool enters a merged state when the subsequent second selection from the user is selected in a manner indicating a merger operation, or alternatively, enters a cut state when the subsequent second selection from the user is selected in a manner indicating a cut operation.