3D Model Corner Trimming Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing steel and wooden structures in a CAD environment is tedious due to the time-consuming process of specifying trim geometry and placing connection elements at multiple corners, which requires significant user effort and is prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatically propagating corner trimming options across a 3D model by identifying topologically similar corners and applying user-defined trimmings to these corners, reducing user interaction and increasing design efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If corner trimming is specified for each individual corner manually, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically copies the trimming configuration from a seed corner to multiple target corners that share the same topological characteristics. This allows the trimming design created once to be replicated across numerous corners, maintaining precision while dramatically reducing the time required compared to manual specification for each corner.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational mode from manual parameter specification to automatic parameter propagation. By identifying topologically similar corners and applying the same trimming parameters automatically, the system maintains manufacturing precision while improving productivity through automated parameter replication.
2Ease of operation
If manual trimming specification is used for each corner, then ease of operation is maintained through direct control, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of topologically similar corners and automatically prepares the trimming propagation before the user completes the design process. This preliminary automated action reduces the time required while maintaining user control over the seed corner selection and review of results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically identifying suitable target corners and applying trimming configurations without requiring continuous user intervention. The user defines the trimming once for a seed corner, and the system autonomously propagates it to matching corners, significantly reducing design time while preserving user oversight.
3Reliability
If individual corner trimming is specified manually, then reliability is maintained through user verification, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the corner set into groups based on topological similarity, allowing trimming to be applied systematically to each group. This segmentation reduces process complexity by organizing corners into manageable categories while maintaining reliability through automated consistency within each topological group.
Solution Approach 2:
By copying the trimming configuration from a verified seed corner to multiple target corners, the system ensures design accuracy is maintained across all similar corners. This automated copying reduces process complexity compared to manual specification while preserving reliability through consistent replication of the verified design.
Data Source
AI summary
A method automatically propagates a corner trimming in a 3D modeled object having a plurality of corners with a plurality of structural corner-members. Each corner includes a corner location and a count of its corner-members. The features of each corner-member include a cross-sectional shape and size, a corner-member location, and its relative orientation with respect to the other corner-members. A list of the corners and a selection of a seed corner is received. A target corner in the model is identified as topologically similar to the seed corner. A user definition of a trimming of the seed corner is automatically applied to the target corner.