Feature replication in a CAD model

Computer system for feature replication in a computer-aided design model, the computer system configured for:

• obtaining a region of a reference computer-aided design model, via user drawing of a boundary for the region in a graphical user interface, wherein the boundary:
• entirely encloses one or more entities of the reference computer-aided design model;
• and
• intersects one or more entities of the reference computer-aided design model;
• automatically determining for each intersecting entity a reference point on the intersecting entity and a reference direction at the reference point, and wherein the region encompasses the reference points;
• automatically searching, based on the reference points and reference directions, in a target computer-aided design model, for a candidate set of candidate entities which are spatially compatible with the intersecting entities, wherein a reference point on an intersecting entity defines an inner and an outer part of the intersecting entity, wherein the outer part is positioned at least partially outside said region;
• automatically computing a spatial transformation which maps each reference point and reference direction onto a candidate entity of the candidate set, wherein the spatial transformation maps the reference point onto a candidate point of a candidate entity of the candidate set, wherein the candidate point on the candidate entity defines an inner and an outer part of the candidate entity;
• replicating, or suggesting via a visualization means the replication of, the one or more entirely enclosed entities according to the determined spatial transformation, wherein said step of replicating, or suggesting via a visualization means the replication of, the one or more entirely enclosed entities according to the determined spatial transformation comprises replacing, or suggesting via a visualization means the replacement of, the inner parts of the candidate entities with the inner parts of the intersecting entities according to the determined spatial transformation.

Computer program product for feature replication in a computer-aided design model, the computer program product comprising instructions which, when the computer program product is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

• obtaining a region of a reference computer-aided design model, via user drawing of a boundary for the region in a graphical user interface, wherein the boundary:
• entirely encloses one or more entities of the reference computer-aided design model;
• and
• intersects one or more entities of the reference computer-aided design model;
• automatically determining for each intersecting entity a reference point on the intersecting entity and a reference direction at the reference point, and wherein the region encompasses the reference points;
• automatically searching, based on the reference points and reference directions, in a target computer-aided design model, for a candidate set of candidate entities which are spatially compatible with the intersecting entities, wherein a reference point on an intersecting entity defines an inner and an outer part of the intersecting entity, wherein the outer part is positioned at least partially outside said region;
• automatically computing a spatial transformation which maps each reference point and reference direction onto a candidate entity of the candidate set, wherein the spatial transformation maps the reference point onto a candidate point of a candidate entity of the candidate set, wherein the candidate point on the candidate entity defines an inner and an outer part of the candidate entity;
• replicating, or suggesting via a visualization means the replication of, the one or more entirely enclosed entities according to the determined spatial transformation, wherein said step of replicating, or suggesting via a visualization means the replication of, the one or more entirely enclosed entities according to the determined spatial transformation comprises replacing, or suggesting via a visualization means the replacement of, the inner parts of the candidate entities with the inner parts of the intersecting entities according to the determined spatial transformation.