Logical Port Traversal for Non-Manifold Solid Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD systems face challenges in efficiently managing and analyzing complex products with millions of parts and components, particularly in traversing non-manifold solids, which are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and costly, and require manual re-evaluation after modifications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for traversing vertices, edges, and faces of manifold or non-manifold solids, using a logical reasoning system to count adjacent elements exactly once, independent of the solid type, allowing for efficient analysis and manufacturing instructions generation without storing traversal data in geometric structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional CAD systems are used to traverse and analyze complex assemblies with millions of parts, then design completeness can be achieved, but processing time and computational resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex assembly traversal problem into distinct topological element types (vertices, edges, faces) and processes them through specialized traversal methods. By dividing the traversal into discrete topological operations rather than treating the assembly as a monolithic structure, the system achieves comprehensive design analysis while reducing overall processing time through parallelizable operations on different element types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-computing and storing topological adjacency relationships (which vertices, edges, and faces are adjacent to each other) before the actual design analysis begins. This preliminary topological indexing allows subsequent queries and modifications to be executed rapidly without re-traversing the entire assembly, significantly reducing processing time for iterative design evaluations.
2Manufacturing precision
If comprehensive traversal of all assembly components is performed to ensure design accuracy, then manufacturing precision is improved, but computational resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing traversal methods that focus computational effort on specific topological elements (vertices, edges, or faces) based on the particular design analysis requirement. Rather than uniformly processing all assembly components, the system selectively traverses only the relevant topological elements needed for the current analysis, reducing overall computational resource consumption while maintaining design accuracy for the elements of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary topological indexing and adjacency computation, storing these relationships in advance. This preliminary action creates a reusable topological database that eliminates the need for repeated full-traversal computations during iterative design analyses, significantly reducing computational resource consumption while preserving design accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual re-evaluation is performed after each design modification to maintain design integrity, then design quality is ensured, but engineering labor and time consumption are multiplied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that automatically detect and report topological inconsistencies arising from design modifications. The system continuously monitors the assembly's topological integrity by leveraging the pre-computed adjacency relationships, and when modifications are made, it automatically evaluates whether topological rules are still satisfied. This automated feedback loop maintains design quality without requiring manual re-evaluation, thereby preserving engineering efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary computation of topological relationships and establishes rules for detecting topological inconsistencies. These preliminary actions create a framework that automatically evaluates design modifications against topological constraints, eliminating the need for manual re-evaluation while ensuring design quality is maintained through automated consistency checking.
4Measurement precision
If detailed geometric data structures are stored to enable comprehensive analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments geometric data storage into distinct topological categories (vertices, edges, faces) with specialized data structures for each type. Rather than using a single complex unified data structure, the system creates simpler, optimized data structures for each topological element type and their relationships. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through type-specific optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary organization of geometric data into topological relationships (adjacency graphs, connectivity matrices) before analysis operations begin. This preliminary structuring creates an efficient query framework that enables rapid geometric data access without requiring complex real-time computations, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing the operational complexity of the data structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A process and machine for designing an assembly of solid models, comprising non-manifold solids, of a product, the assembly comprising: parts, part-usages of the parts in higher-level assemblies, and part-occurrences for the parts in hierarchical classifications by part types and comprising physical and functional ports as interfaces between uses of the parts in the assembly, the process comprising: transforming a computer system to a logical reasoning system comprising a logical mechanism, for traversing: ports of the parts, uses of the ports, and a connected port in the assembly of the product, fully connected with the parts and non-manifold solid models; traversing and determining for the non-manifold solids: parts, part-usages, part-occurrences, ports, and part types of the assemblies, such that each of corresponding adjacent: parts, part-usages, part-occurrences, ports, and part types are counted exactly once in the traversing; generating manufacturing instructions for and based thereon manufacturing the product.