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US 10,534,867 B2Granted
Constructing multi-element features using a 3D CAD system
AssigneeDassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation
InventorsJody Todd Stiles, Satish Rao Kanjarkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method and system creates a multi-element feature in a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model. A first element and a second element are selected to include in the multi-element feature. A single sketch is created comprised of sketch entities, a subset of which defines the first element and another subset of which defines the second element. A connection entity is included in the single sketch. The connection entity joins the first and the second elements. A modeling operation applied to the single sketch creates the multi-element feature.
Claims17
A computer-implemented method for constructing a multi-element feature in a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model, the method comprising:
- selecting a first element and a second element to include in the multi-element feature;
- creating a single sketch defining a two-dimensional (2D) shape of the multi-element feature, wherein:
- the single sketch includes a set of sketch entities;
- the first element is defined by a first subset of the sketch entities;
- and
- the second element is defined by a second subset of the sketch entities;
- adding to the set of sketch entities a connection entity,
- wherein the connection entity joins the first element and the second element;
- and
- constructing the multi-element feature in the 3D CAD model by applying a modeling operation to the single sketch;
- wherein if the first element and the second element share a same center axis, and an end sketch entity in the first subset of the sketch entities and a beginning sketch entity in the second subset of the sketch entities are a same distance from the same center axis and collinear,
- then the connection entity is one of:
- (a) a single sketch entity that replaces the end sketch entity in the first subset of the sketch entities and the beginning sketch entity in the second subset of the sketch entities, (b) the same point, and (c) two coincident points.
10 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium comprising instructions causing a computer to:
- enable selection of a first element type and a second element type to include in a multi-element feature in a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model;
- enable specification of parameters for the first element type and the second element type;
- construct a single sketch defining a two-dimensional (2D) shape of the multi-element feature, wherein:
- the single sketch includes a first subset of sketch entities defining the first element, a second subset of entities defining the second element, and a connecting entity, wherein the connecting entity joins the first element and the second element in the single sketch;
- and
- apply a modeling operation to the single sketch to create the multi-element feature,
- wherein the connecting entity is a new sketch entity that joins an end sketch entity in the first subset and a beginning sketch entity in the second subset if a distance from a center axis differs for the end sketch entity in the first subset and the beginning sketch entity in the second subset, and
- the connecting entity is one of a single sketch entity that replaces the end sketch entity in the first subset and the beginning sketch entity in the second subset, a same point, and two coincident points if:
- (a) the first element and the second element share the same center axis, and
- (b) the end sketch entity in the first subset and the beginning sketch entity in the second subset (i) are a same distance from the same center axis, and (ii) have one of a same direction and an opposite direction.
7 more elements
A computer-aided design system comprising:
- a processor operatively coupled to a data storage system, the data storage system storing a three-dimensional model;
- and
- a data storage memory operatively coupled to the processor and comprising instructions to configure the processor to:
- enable selection of a first element type and a second element type for inclusion in a multi-element feature in a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model;
- enable specification of parameters for the first element type and the second element type;
- construct a single sketch defining a two-dimensional (2D) shape of the multi-element feature, wherein:
- the single sketch includes a first subset of sketch entities defining the first element, a second subset of entities defining the second element, and a connecting entity, wherein the connecting entity joins the first element and the second element in the single sketch;
- and
- create the multi-element feature by applying a modeling operation to the single sketch,
- wherein the connecting entity is one of a single sketch entity that replaces the end sketch entity in the first subset and the beginning sketch entity in the second subset, a same point, and two coincident points in one of the beginning sketch entity and the end sketch entity, if:
- (a) the first element and the second element share the same center axis, and
- (b) the end sketch entity in the first subset and the beginning sketch entity in the second subset (i) are a same distance from the same center axis, and (ii) collinear.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.