Graph-Based Product Part Assembly for One-Click CAD Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD systems lack the ability to anticipate user intents when assembling parts, requiring tedious steps and failing to suggest solutions based on available information such as model assembly, user rules, and context, leading to inefficient part selection and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that builds a non-hierarchical graph from product data, allowing for smart part selection and assembly by identifying nodes with closest relationships to the selected part, using geometric intersections and similarity metrics to suggest optimal connections and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional selection mechanism is used in CAD systems, then users can select parts and faces for assembly, but the process becomes tedious and complex requiring multiple steps including selection of faces to put in coincidence and definition of position state
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes and stores relationship graphs between parts during the modeling phase, capturing geometric relationships, orientations, and positional data. When assembly is needed, this pre-computed information is directly utilized, eliminating the need for users to perform tedious face selection and coincidence operations during the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate relationship graph structure that mediates between the user's assembly intent and the actual part positioning. This graph serves as a knowledge base that automatically interprets user selections and translates them into appropriate assembly operations, replacing the traditional multi-step manual selection process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If CAD systems use traditional selection mechanisms, then basic part selection is possible, but the system cannot anticipate user intents or suggest solutions based on available information
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously analyzing user selections against the pre-computed relationship graph and providing intelligent suggestions for next steps. The system learns from user patterns and adapts its suggestions based on the current assembly context, available parts, and historical assembly data, making the system progressively more intelligent without increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The relationship graph automatically identifies and suggests appropriate parts for assembly based on the user's current selection and the pre-stored geometric relationships. The system performs self-analysis of the assembly context and generates suggestions without requiring complex user input or manual configuration, enabling intelligent automation while keeping the interface simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual face selection and position definition are required, then precise assembly control is achieved, but the process requires two tedious steps reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes and stores precise geometric relationships, orientations, and positional data in the relationship graph during the modeling phase. This pre-computed information ensures assembly precision is maintained while eliminating the need for manual face selection and position definition steps during actual assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies pre-computed geometric relationships and positional information from the relationship graph directly to the assembly operation. Instead of requiring users to manually define positions and orientations, the system retrieves and applies stored relationship data, ensuring precision is preserved while dramatically reducing the number of steps required.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure notably relates to a computer-implemented method of assembling parts of a product. The method comprises building a non-hierarchical graph from at least one products, the graph comprising nodes and edges between nodes, a node representing a part of the product to be assembled and an edge representing a relationship between a pair of parts represented by nodes, providing a part of the product to be completed, performing, upon user action, a selection on the provided part, identifying in the graph a node representing the selected part and one or more nodes that have the closest relationships to the node representing the selected part.