CAD Material Specification Automation for Design Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designers and engineers face challenges in creating manufacturable parts due to uncertainties about the final material, leading to time-consuming and costly redesigns as they must manually ensure compliance with material-specific manufacturing requirements, especially for features like wall thickness, draft angles, and corner radii.
Innovation Solution
A computer-aided design (CAD) program that allows users to select a material specification, automatically generates design aspects based on material manufacturing requirements, and provides real-time feedback and recommendations, reducing the need for manual intervention and redesign.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If designers manually ensure compliance with material-specific manufacturing requirements, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining material specifications and manufacturing requirements in a database before the design process. When a designer selects a material, the system automatically retrieves and applies the associated manufacturing requirements (wall thickness, draft angles, corner radii) without requiring manual intervention, thus ensuring compliance while saving time
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating design aspects and providing real-time feedback on manufacturability compliance. The CAD program monitors design features and automatically alerts designers to violations of material-specific requirements, allowing the design process to self-correct without external intervention
2Adaptability or versatility
If material specifications are changed, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to remodeling
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores pre-configured material specifications with all associated manufacturing requirements in a database. When a material change is requested, the system automatically retrieves the new material's specifications and applies them to relevant design features, eliminating the need for manual remodeling and enabling rapid material substitution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the design system responsive to material changes. The CAD program continuously monitors material selections and automatically updates design aspects (wall thickness, draft angles, etc.) based on the selected material's requirements, allowing the design to dynamically adapt to different materials without time-consuming manual adjustments
3Productivity
If automated generation of design aspects is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex manufacturing knowledge into discrete, manageable material specification profiles stored in a database. Each material specification contains separate parameters (wall thickness, draft angles, corner radii) that can be independently retrieved and applied, making the automation system more manageable and easier to maintain despite its complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design and manufacture of a part by generating a design aspect of a feature of the part with a material specification, include: receiving, by a computer aided design program, selection of a material specification for a part being designed for manufacturing; receiving, by the computer aided design program, input that defines a feature of the part; generating, by the computer aided design program, a design aspect of the feature in accordance with the material specification; and providing, by the computer aided design program, the feature with the design aspect, for facilitating the manufacturing of the part.