Filtering Redundant Geometric Relationships in CAD Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing product data management systems in computer-aided design and manufacturing struggle to efficiently identify and manage redundancy in geometric relationships, leading to complex and inefficient downstream operations due to the presence of implied redundant relationships.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize Relationship Implications to filter out redundant geometric relationships by grouping geometries based on equivalence relationships and selecting representative geometries, thereby reducing the data processed and improving user interaction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If all geometric relationships are maintained in the CAD model, then design accuracy and completeness are preserved, but downstream operations become complex and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and identifies redundant geometric relationships from the CAD model using equivalence relationships and Relationship Implications. By separating redundant relationships from essential ones, the system maintains design accuracy while removing unnecessary constraints that complicate downstream operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of geometric relationships by marking them as redundant or essential based on equivalence analysis. This parameter change allows the system to differentiate between relationships that must be maintained for design accuracy and those that can be filtered out to reduce operational complexity.
2Productivity
If redundant geometric relationships are filtered out, then data processing efficiency is improved, but risk of losing essential design constraints increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback mechanisms through Relationship Implications to continuously verify which geometric relationships are redundant and which are essential. This feedback loop ensures that filtering operations maintain design constraint integrity while improving data processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and classification of geometric relationships as redundant or essential before the actual filtering operation. This preliminary action ensures that essential design constraints are preserved while redundant relationships are removed, maintaining reliability during the efficiency-improving filtering process.
3Ease of operation
If equivalence relationships are used to group geometries, then redundancy identification is simplified, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the CAD model's geometric relationships into equivalence classes based on shared properties and relationships. This segmentation simplifies redundancy identification by organizing geometries into manageable groups, making it easier to identify redundant relationships without excessive computational overhead.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods for product data management and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving (405) a three-dimensional CAD model in the data processing system, the CAD model including a plurality of geometries. The method includes identifying (410) equivalence relationships between multiple ones of the geometries and receiving at least one Relationship Implication definition. Each Relationship Implication definition defines a relationship implication according to a plurality of the geometries and at least one type of the equivalence relationships. The method includes applying (420) each Relationship Implication definition to the geometries to produce groups of geometries corresponding to each Relationship Implication definition and selecting a representative geometry for each group. The method includes filtering out (435) geometric relationships for each geometry in each group other than the representative geometry and manipulating the CAD model without the filtered-out geometric relationships.