Design of a Part Modeled by Parallel Geodesic Curves

A computer-aided design system comprising:

• a database suitable for storing parameterizations of a surface and a base curve lying on the surface;
• and
• a graphical user interface suitable for designing a part with a computer implemented method for designing the part, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• providing the surface and the base curve lying on the surface;
• sampling the base curve into a list of base points;
• determining a grid of points of perpendicular geodesic curves, the points belonging to a respective level, each level corresponding to a respective geodesic distance to the base curve, wherein each perpendicular geodesic curve lies on the surface and departs perpendicularly from the base curve at a respective base point;
• then,
• computing a plurality of parallel geodesic curves lying on the surface by using the grid of points, each parallel geodesic curve corresponding to a respective level;
• and
• displaying a representation of the part.

A computer readable storage medium having recorded thereon a computer program comprising instructions for execution by a computer, the instructions comprising means for causing a computer-aided design system comprising a database, suitable for storing parameterizations of a surface and a base curve lying on the surface, to perform a computer implemented method for designing a part, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• providing the surface and the base curve lying on the surface;
• sampling the base curve into a list of base points;
• determining a grid of points of perpendicular geodesic curves, the points belonging to a respective level, each level corresponding to a respective geodesic distance to the base curve, wherein each perpendicular geodesic curve lies on the surface and departs perpendicularly from the base curve at a respective base point;
• then,
• computing a plurality of parallel geodesic curves lying on the surface by using the grid of points, each parallel geodesic curve corresponding to a respective level;
• and
• displaying a representation of the part.