Spatial Technology, Inc.

Spacial Technology, Inc.

Richard M Sowar

William C Heiny

George Celniker

Michael D Raines

Thomas L Dixon

Paul C Olsen

John H Sloan, Iv

Mark R Hotchkiss

Charles W Richard, Jr

For simultaneous deformations of multiple surfaces, a constraint called a link constraint is created to link two faces that are to be deformed together. The link constraint consists of a relationship between a constraint curve in each face to be deformed. The selected constraint curve may be any curve, including trimmed curves and part of a boundary curve. As the faces are deformed, the link constraint limits the deformation of the faces by acting as a zipper between the two surfaces along the selected constraint curve. For local deformations within a surface, a hierarchy is created within specific areas, known as patches, of an individual face in a model, ensuring that when a patch in the hierarchy is deformed, the deformation affects patches lower in the hierarchy than that patch, but the deformation does not affect patches higher in the hierarchy. A constraint curve known as a seam, which may be any simple closed loop curve, is used to define the relationship between a patch, known as a parent patch, and a patch directly below that patch in the hierarchy, known as a child patch. For each seam, a seam constraint is created which limits the deformation of the associated child patch and all its children by forcing the child patch to maintain connectivity with its parent patch along the seam.

Deformable modeling using generalized curve constraints

The present invention relates to processes for the automatic generation of numerical control (NC) tool paths in a CAD/CAM environment. The present invention operates on mechanical parts described as solid models. The process employs well-defined solid models of the part to be machined and the raw stock from which it will be machined. The volumetric difference between the stock and the part defines the material (delta volumes) that must be cut away during the actual machining process. Delta volumes are solid models, and users (or an expert system) can subdivide delta volumes into smaller volumes that are consistent with a manufacturing process plan. A delta volume and a user-defined strategy for machining the delta volume are then input to NC algorithms. The algorithms generate NC tool paths that remove as much delta volume material as possible. Tool volumes are automatically generated from NC tool paths to represent the volume traversed by the cutting tool. By subtracting the tool volume from the delta volume, the material that remains to be machined modeled and stored as new delta volumes. The subtraction of the tool volume from the stock defines a new stock model that represents the incremental change in stock when the NC tool path is processed at the machine tool. The process is repeated until all delta volumes have been machined and the part has been manufactured.

Method and apparatus for solids based machining

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Richard M Sowar