Assembly and disassembly sequences of components in computerized multicomponent assembly models

Abstract

The ability to perform Assembly/Disassembly analysis of one or more components of the geometric model (e.g., a CAD model) of a multi-component assembly is helpful for design, construction and tear-down, maintenance (in-place and replacement), and reuse/recycling of the assembly. To facilitate assembly and disassembly analysis of geometric models, methods have been developed which allow generating, editing, validating and animating/digitizing assembly/disassembly sequences and directions for 3D geometric models, e.g., CAD models. These methods allow assembly/disassembly analysis to be performed based on non-contact geometric reasoning (i.e., spatial reasoning rather than contact reasoning) to determine an optimal non-interfering sequence (a valid sequence) to disassemble/assemble the modeled components. The methods are readily implemented in computers and similar electronic processing units to allow automated assembly/disassembly analysis, as exemplified by a software system called Assembly Disassembly in Three Dimensions (A3D). The A3D system maintains a hierarchical assembly structure for the geometric model and allows the user to add constraints to possible assembly/disassembly sequences, edit the overall shape of a modeled component, compute the resultant sequence of component removals/additions and their paths, and visualize assembly/disassembly by displaying the assembled and disassembled model and animating its assembly/disassembly steps.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.