Automatic Update of Feature Model after Direct Modeling Operation

Abstract

Feature-based modeling and direct modeling are the two mainstream CAD modeling methods complementary to each other. Although major engineering CAD vendors has begun to push out direct modeling module in their products, integration between the two modeling methods is still an open issue. The key technical issue to be resolved is: how to determine the updated feature model after direct modeling operations are conducted? This paper proposes an approach to resolving this issue, consisting of determination of feature volume variations, generation of candidate update operations and determination of optimal update operation. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.