Title: Virtual edge/vertex creation from fillets in geometric models for feature extraction

Authors: F. Zhao, R. Sonthi, R. Gadh

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706-1572, USA. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706-1572, USA. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706-1572, USA

Abstract: One of the critical aspects of CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/ Computer Aided Manufacturing) integration is DFM (Design for Manufacturability) analysis of product design, which requires information about the product shape features. However, conventional CAD systems do not explicitly contain shape feature information, making it necessary to extract such information from the product CAD model. Typical feature extraction approaches are based on sharp-edge models and therefore are not appropriate for filleted models. This paper presents an approach, called the Virtual Edge approach, to extract features from filleted geometric models. In the first step, fillet surfaces are determined and categorised based on the nature of the fillets. In the second step, fillet surfaces are represented as virtual sharp edges and vertices. Thus, a filleted model is transformed to a virtual sharp edge model. By doing this, a feature extraction technique based on sharp edge models can be used to determine features from filleted models. The current approach utilizes a C-Loop-based (Cloop is a cycle of concave edges or a cycle of convex edges) feature extraction technique for determining features from the virtual sharp-edge model.

Keywords: feature extraction; filleted model; manufacturing features; virtual edge; CADCAM integration; product design; DFM; design for manufacture; shape features; fillet surfaces; sharp edge models.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1999.005577

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1999 Vol.21 No.2/3, pp.205 - 227

Published online: 20 Oct 2004 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article