Segmenting a 3d model of a mechanical part

A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium having recorded thereon a computer program comprising instructions for performing a method for segmenting a discrete 3D model representing a mechanical part, the method comprising:

• obtaining the discrete 3D model;
• and
• applying a hierarchical segmentation to the discrete 3D model, the hierarchical segmentation including:
• a first segmentation which comprises identifying, among elements of the discrete 3D model, first segments each corresponding to a primitive exhibiting at least one slippable motion;
• then
• a second segmentation which comprises identifying, among non-identified elements of the discrete 3D model, second segments each corresponding to a surface produced by a CAD feature;
• and then
• a third segmentation which comprises identifying, among non-identified elements of the discrete 3D model, third segments each corresponding to a free-form surface of the discrete 3D model.

A computer comprising:

• a processor coupled to a memory, the memory having recorded thereon a computer program comprising instructions for segmenting a discrete 3D model representing a mechanical part that when executed by the processor cause the processor to be configured to:
• obtain the discrete 3D model;
• and
• apply a hierarchical segmentation to the discrete 3D model, the hierarchical segmentation including:
• a first segmentation in which the processor is configured to identify, among elements of the discrete 3D model, first segments each corresponding to a primitive exhibiting at least one slippable motion;
• then
• a second segmentation in which the processor is configured to identify, among non-identified elements of the discrete 3D model, second segments each corresponding to a surface produced by a CAD feature;
• and then
• a third segmentation in which the processor is configured to identify, among non-identified elements of the discrete 3D model, third segments each corresponding to a free-form surface of the discrete 3D model.