Freeform surface models are conventionally used to model sheet metal components, such as automobile body parts. Finite element meshes generated automatically for such models have poor quality around small detailed features. Manual correction of the mesh is extremely tedious. An approach presently receiving attention in industry aims to alleviate this problem by automatically simplifying these features in the surface model such that an acceptable mesh is automatically generated. Simplification involves recognition of the feature and modification of its geometry or complete suppression of the feature. Since features such as holes, notches, etc. are punched after the basic shape has been formed, such a simplification will also help in the modelling of forming dies and molds. The ability to detect features will also allow part comparison and classification in surface models. This paper proposes techniques to directly query the CAD data structure to recognize and suppress two basic features, viz. holes and fillets in freeform surface models. It further demonstrates how these techniques can be extended to suppress compound features that are composed of a combination of basic features. Results of a software implementation for the same are discussed with suitable examples and the improvement in mesh quality is demonstrated.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: njoshi@umich.edu
e-mail: dutta@umich.edu
Article navigation
September 2003
Technical Papers
Feature Simplification Techniques for Freeform Surface Models
Nikhil Joshi,
e-mail: njoshi@umich.edu
Nikhil Joshi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125
Search for other works by this author on:
Debasish Dutta
e-mail: dutta@umich.edu
Debasish Dutta
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125
Search for other works by this author on:
Nikhil Joshi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125
e-mail: njoshi@umich.edu
Debasish Dutta
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125
e-mail: dutta@umich.edu
Contributed by the Computer-Aided Product Development (CAPD) Committee for publication in the JOURNAL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING. Manuscript received Dec. 2002; Revised Jun. 2003. Associate Editor: K. Lee.
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. Sep 2003, 3(3): 177-186 (10 pages)
Published Online: September 16, 2003
Article history
Received:
December 1, 2002
Revised:
June 1, 2003
Online:
September 16, 2003
Citation
Joshi, N., and Dutta, D. (September 16, 2003). "Feature Simplification Techniques for Freeform Surface Models ." ASME. J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. September 2003; 3(3): 177–186. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1603307
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Manufacturing Feature Recognition with a Sparse Voxel-based Convolutional Neural Network
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng
Ontology-Guided Data Sharing and Federated Quality Control With Differential Privacy in Additive Manufacturing
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng (January 2025)
Related Articles
Efficient Adaptive Meshing of Parametric Models
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng (December,2001)
Special Issue on Computing Technologies to Support Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng (March,2003)
Analysis of Tube Hydroforming by Means of an Inverse Approach
J. Manuf. Sci. Eng (May,2003)
As-Built Modeling of Objects for Performance Assessment
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng (December,2006)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Datum Targets
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Handbook: Applications, Analysis & Measurement
Datum Targets
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing: Applications, Analysis, Gauging and Measurement [per ASME Y14.5-2018]
3D Frame Structural Analysis Based on Imported Geometry at Preprocessing
International Conference on Mechanical and Electrical Technology 2009 (ICMET 2009)