CAD Surface Alignment via Drawn Curve Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD systems require time-consuming and cumbersome iterative processes to modify surfaces by adjusting control points or faces, lacking intuitive tools for designers to achieve desired shapes.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows designers to draw a desired shape on a computer screen, generating a smoothed curve and reference surface to automatically recalculate and modify existing surfaces, eliminating the need for piecemeal adjustments of control points or faces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If control points are adjusted iteratively to modify surface shape, then surface shape accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of iteratively adjusting control points to approximate a desired shape, the patent inverts the approach by allowing direct drawing of the desired shape curve and then automatically calculating the control point positions that make the surface align with this drawn curve. This transforms a time-consuming iterative process into a direct one-step operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the drawn curve as a reference template or 'copy' of the desired shape. The surface modification process copies the geometric information from the drawn curve and applies it to the surface by calculating corresponding control point positions, eliminating the need for manual iterative adjustments.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple control points are modified individually to achieve desired shape, then surface shape control is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the modification of multiple control points into a single operation. By allowing users to draw a single curve that represents the desired shape, the system automatically calculates and adjusts all necessary control points simultaneously, transforming a complex multi-step process into a simple one-step operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating the optimal positions of multiple control points based on the drawn curve, without requiring the user to manually adjust each control point. The software itself handles the complex calculations and adjustments that would otherwise require extensive user intervention.
3Manufacturing precision
If surfaces are modified through iterative recalculation, then shape accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the user draw the complete desired shape curve before any surface modification occurs. This drawn curve serves as a predefined target that guides the subsequent automatic calculation of control point positions, eliminating the need for multiple iterative recalculations and significantly improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method and system modifies a pre-existing surface. The invention method/product/data storage medium/system generates an outline of a shape of an object, which is a curve. A reference surface is then created by extruding the curve. Selected entities of the pre-existing surface are projected to a location on the reference surface, after which the pre-existing surface is regenerated using the location for each entity to calculate a modified pre-existing surface.