ADVANCED DIRECT MANIPULATION OF FEATURE MODELS

Rafael Bidarra, Alex Noort, Daniel Lourenço, Pedro Oliveira

2007

Abstract

In current commercial feature modelling systems, support for direct manipulation of features is not commonly available. As a result, re-designing is time-consuming due to the inefficient feedback, the insight given is rather poor, and user interaction often lacks intuitiveness. This is partly due to the lack of speed of current constraint solvers, but also to deficient interactive facilities. In this paper, we argue that providing advanced direct manipulation facilities for feature models is possible and can significantly speed up the product design process, by giving designers a much more intuitive interface, with immediate feedback and deeper insight into the consequences of each modelling action. An approach to such a direct manipulation interface is presented that brings together the advantages of direct manipulation of feature models with the necessary emphasis on fundamental feature modelling paradigms like feature parametrisation and feature validity maintenance. In particular, it offers a powerful combination of various 3D handles for real-valued feature parameters, with a preview overlay facility for all modelling operations. Details are provided on how this approach was successfully implemented in a prototype feature modelling system.

References

  1. Bidarra, R. and Bronsvoort, W. F. (2000). Semantic feature modelling. Computer-Aided Design, 32(3):201-225.
  2. Borning, A. and Duisberg, R. (1986). Constraint-based tools for building user interfaces. ACM Transactions on Graphics, 5(4):345-374.
  3. Card, S., Moran, T., and Newell, A. (1983). The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction. Lawrance Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, N.J.
  4. Freeman-Benson, B. N. (1993). Converting an existing user interface to use constraints. In Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, pages 207-215. ACM Press.
  5. Hosobe, H. (2001). A modular geometic constraint solver for user interface applications. In Proceedings of the 14th annual ACM symposium on User interface software and technology, pages 91-100. ACM.
  6. Hsu, C., Huang, Z., Beier, E., and Brüderlin, B. (1997). A constraint-based manipulator toolset for editing 3d objects. In Proceedings of the fourth ACM symposium on Solid modeling and applications, pages 168-180. ACM.
  7. Lourenço, D., Oliveira, P., Noort, A., and Bidarra, R. (2006). Constraint solving for direct manipulation of features. Journal of Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing, 20(4):369-382.
  8. Shah, J. J. and Mäntylä, M. (1995). Parametric and Feature-based CAD/CAM. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
  9. SolidWorks Corporation (2006). Solidworks 2006 product information. http://www.solidworks.com.
  10. UGS Corporation (2006). Unigraphics NX product information. http://www.ugs.com.
  11. van Emmerik, M. J. G. M. (1991). Interactive design of 3D models with geometric constraints. The Visual Computer, 7(5/6):309-325.
Download


Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Bidarra R., Noort A., Lourenço D. and Oliveira P. (2007). ADVANCED DIRECT MANIPULATION OF FEATURE MODELS . In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: GRAPP, ISBN 978-972-8865-71-9, pages 130-136. DOI: 10.5220/0002080301300136


in Bibtex Style

@conference{grapp07,
author={Rafael Bidarra and Alex Noort and Daniel Lourenço and Pedro Oliveira},
title={ADVANCED DIRECT MANIPULATION OF FEATURE MODELS},
booktitle={Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: GRAPP,},
year={2007},
pages={130-136},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0002080301300136},
isbn={978-972-8865-71-9},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: GRAPP,
TI - ADVANCED DIRECT MANIPULATION OF FEATURE MODELS
SN - 978-972-8865-71-9
AU - Bidarra R.
AU - Noort A.
AU - Lourenço D.
AU - Oliveira P.
PY - 2007
SP - 130
EP - 136
DO - 10.5220/0002080301300136