Profile-based feature representation method and its application in data exchange from mechanical CAD systems to ship CAD systems

Abstract

The profile-based features of a mechanical Computer aided design (CAD) system commonly have complicated shapes because of the guide curve, which is of free-form type. However, while considering interoperability between heterogeneous CAD systems, this kind of free-form guide curve makes it difficult to represent the corresponding feature shape in other CAD systems; for example, ship CAD systems usually use relatively simple shape primitives to represent objects. Thus, we propose a straightforward algorithm to represent profile-based features that is based on guide curve approximation using line and arcs segments. In addition, the solid alignment and filling operations are also provided to complete the entire process of solid model reconstruction. Furthermore, we apply this technique to a data exchange from a mechanical CAD system to a ship CAD system. Lastly, we use several test cases to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.