eNotes: Design
   



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DQ:18.2 GEOMETRIC MODELS


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There are many ways to model a part, the major categories are,

- Elemental (using lines and points like drafting)
- Surfaces (such as polygons used in ES 206)
- Solids - Swept
- Solids - BRep
- Solids - CSG
- Features

If describing a block with a hole in it, each of the methods above will result in different descriptions













Which is best???? all of them in the right situations.

Each method has its particular advantages, and disadvantages.

The best software and hardware supports a combination of all methods.

It is assumed that other information is used to describe the geometries above, like,

- Position
- Orientation
- Dimensions

The geometries can also be used to associate other information,

- Materials
- Tolerances
- Finishes
- Inspection information



DQ:18.2.1 Elemental Depiction:

Depicted with the simplest of details (lines, points arcs, etc.)

Advantages,

- very easy to store and alter
- well suited to line based problems
- does not require a powerful computer
- easy to perform traditional drafting

Disadvantages,

- not capable of carrying complex information
- ambiguous
- complex items require long time to model
- requires repetition
- very hard to connect to programs for FEM, etc.

Typically used in older CAD systems like AUTOCAD, CADKEY, etc.

A classic demonstration of the arbitrary nature is shown below,



DQ:18.2.2 Surface Description

The geometry is described with polygons which should represent an entire surface of an object.

Generally these polygons do not indicate which side a volume lies on, but inside/outside is defined with tricks like defining polygon vertices so that counter-clockwise is out.

STL is a good example of an engineering use of this surface representation.

This method is also used in computer games where speed is important, and the overhead of the full solid information is not desired.

Advantages,

- gives appearance of solids.
- well known, and fast software and hardware for drawing.

Disadvantages,

- because objects are not solid, they may be subject to ambiguities
- hard to pass data to other systems, like FEA
- not well suited to CAD
- polygon selection is problematic

Commonly used in graphics packages like HOOPS, PHIGS, CORE, etc. Also acts as the basis for the SGI computer graphics.

An example of the polygon meshes is given below.



We can also define these geometries using edge meshes.



DQ:18.2.3 Solid - Swept

A profile is created in 2D, and then swept along a path to create a volume, or to cut a volume.

The path may be straight, rotating about an axis, rotation along a helix, following a curved twisting path.

Advantages,

- Can make very complex parts quickly

Disadvantages,

- Requires a powerful computer
- Some operations difficult

DQ:18.2.4 Solid - B-Rep (Boundary Representation)

This still bears a remote resemblance to Surface Modelling.

Major differences are that,

- inside/outside is defined for each surface
- the edges, and vertices of touching faces are defined

Advantages,

- can store very complex geometries
- easy to propagate changes to faces, edges and vertices
- can easily generate and store complex surfaces
- many systems support this method, such as PARASOLIDS, ACIS, etc.
- can be used to mimic CSG

Disadvantages,

- high Level information is still not present in model
- requires a powerful computer
- hard to recognize some simple features like a block

A BRep object is pictured below,



Each feature in a B-Rep object can be varied independently

Geometry is kept in parallel with the object topology. One example of a data structure is seen below.



A common data focus uses the edges of an object to define the shape (vertices and faces can also be used)



Euler operations can be used to build an object.

We can check to see if the solid model is valid using the basic Euler equation, or the more involved Euler-Poincare tologoical equation. These equations must be satisfied for the models to be valid.



When developing solid modelers we can use the Euler operations to ensure that the model stays topographically valid at all times.

DQ:18.2.5 Solid - CSG

Does not calculate lines/vertices/faces when storing part geometries

Uses primitive shapes such as planes, blocks, spheres, cylinders, wedges, torii, etc. to model shapes

The primitives can be rescaled to meet requirements

Uses a basic set of operators to combine or cut with the primitives,

Union - Both primitives are joined into one (boolean OR)
Intersection - The part of the primitives which overlaps (boolean AND)
Not - The inverse of a shape
Assemble - Parts may overlap without being joined
Difference - The area of one primitive is removed from another

Basic common primitives are,

- blocks
- cylinders
- wedges
- tetrahedrons
- spheres
- torii
- cones

Advantages,

- Very compact representation
- Primitive shapes match human though processes
- Very fast when creating parts with standard geometrical features

Disadvantages,

- Slow because all interpretation is done at once
- may be difficult to incorporate irregular surfaces

Used in systems like PADL2, Romulus, Build, etc.

CSG designs can be stored in trees

Various types of CSG operators are possible based on closure of sets. In particular we can consider two boxes that touch, but don't overlap.

Halfspaces can be used for defining boundaries of an object.

DQ:18.2.6 Tessellated Models

Space is broken down as a regular/irregular grid.



locations in space are marked as occupied/empty/partially filled.

this method is most common when using scanners such as CAT and MRI that collect data in voxels (these are small rectangular volumes)

DQ:18.2.7 Features

The designer would simply define a part in terms of fundamental manufacturing features, such as chamfers, through slots, blind slots, etc.

Very high level, but can complicate additions of unanticipated features, like a ridge in a car hood.

Advantages,

- very intuitive and easy to use
- can simplify other aspects of CIM (eg. If a standard feature is used there will be a standard process plan to make that feature).
- emphasizes the use of standard components.

Disadvantages,

- restrictive when dealing with nonstandard features
- interaction of features can be hard to estimate
- a complete set of all possible features would be very large

There are two levels of features commonly used in these systems,

- micro
- macro

A set of standard features for rotational parts might be,

Macro Features,
- cylinder
- taper
External Features
- rotational fillet
- thread
- square neck
- chamfer
- shoulder
- external radius
- key seat
- spline
- flat
- thread
Internal Features
- internal taper
- internal slot]
- internal tapered radial slot
- internal round slot
- countersink
- internal spline
- woodruff keyseat

A set of prismatic features might be,

Macro Features,
- box
External Features
- linear chamfer
- linear round
- linear v slot
- linear slot
- linear round slot
- linear t-slot
Internal features
- rectangular pocket
- linear fillet

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