Magnetic Control Plane for CAD Model Handle Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer-aided modeling systems require cumbersome and error-prone processes for modifying multiple parts, as users must select and transfer each part's end individually, which can lead to mistakes, especially in three-dimensional modeling where handles may be difficult to select due to overlap.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a magnetic control plane that allows handles of model parts to adhere automatically, enabling simultaneous transfer and modification by defining the plane, which simplifies complex operations and reduces the risk of errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If handles of model parts are selected and transferred individually, then each part can be precisely controlled, but the process becomes cumbersome and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a magnetic control plane as an intermediary object between the user and multiple handles. The plane magnetically attracts and groups multiple handles together, allowing the user to select and transfer all handles simultaneously by interacting with the single plane object rather than each handle individually. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining precision (all handles are still controlled) while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple handles into a single selectable group by using the magnetic control plane to attract and bind them together. When the user selects the plane, all attached handles are automatically selected and transferred together as a unified group. This combining approach eliminates the need for repetitive individual selection while ensuring all relevant handles are modified consistently.
2Productivity
If multiple handles are selected simultaneously in a three-dimensional picture, then transfer efficiency improves, but selection becomes difficult due to handle overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic control plane serves as a mediator that makes hidden or overlapping handles visible and selectable. Instead of requiring direct selection of individual handles that may be obscured, the user selects the plane object which magnetically reveals and groups all associated handles. This intermediary approach maintains high transfer efficiency while eliminating the selection difficulty caused by overlap.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of interaction by using the magnetic control plane as a spatial organizer in three-dimensional space. The plane provides a new selection dimension - users can select handles by selecting the plane that contains them, rather than directly selecting the handles themselves. This dimensional shift resolves the overlap problem while maintaining productivity.
3Ease of operation
If individual selection of handles is required, then precise control over which parts to transfer is achieved, but the risk of forgetting objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic control plane provides visual feedback by displaying all handles that are magnetically attached to it. This feedback mechanism ensures the user can see all handles that will be transferred when the plane is selected, eliminating the risk of forgetting objects. The system automatically gathers and displays all relevant handles, maintaining control precision while improving reliability through comprehensive visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic control plane performs preliminary action by automatically gathering and grouping all relevant handles before the user initiates the transfer. This preliminary organization ensures that all necessary handles are identified and grouped together in advance, preventing any objects from being forgotten. The plane pre-processes the selection task, maintaining precision while improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Modification of a model in situations, where one end of several parts should be transferred for the same distance, for instance, has posed a problem in modeling systems. The problem can be solved by defining a magnetic control plane to which model part handles locating thereon will adhere without separate definitions given by the user and they move (406) along with the plane. The only thing the user needs to do is to create a plane and to define the plane type to be a magnetic control plane. On the basis of these data given by the user the modeling system knows what to transfer when the magnetic control plane is transferred.