Method and apparatus for placing fasteners in a model-based definition

A computer implemented method for placing fasteners in a three dimensional product definition, the computer implemented method comprising:

• identifying a fastener from a plurality of different fasteners to fasten a set of components in a three dimensional product definition using a policy to form a selected fastener;
• receiving as input by the computer a set of points on the set of components for which fasteners are to be placed to form a set of defined points;
• generating by the computer a set of locations in the set of components in the three dimensional product definition using the set of defined points to form a set of defined locations;
• and
• placing automatically by the computer the selected fastener into the set of defined locations in the three dimensional product definition without placing a corresponding hole for the selected fastener in the three dimensional product definition while automatically placing the selected fastener into the set of defined locations in the three dimensional product definition, and wherein no hole modeling information is generated for the set of defined points in the three dimensional product definition prior to and during placing automatically the selected fastener into the set of defined locations in the three dimensional product definition.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer usable medium having computer usable program code for placing fasteners in a three dimensional product definition, the computer useable medium comprising:
• computer usable program code for identifying a fastener from a plurality of different fasteners to fasten a set of components in a three dimensional product definition using a policy to form a selected fastener;
• computer usable program code for receiving a set of points on the set of components for which fasteners are to be placed to form a set of defined points;
• computer usable program code for generating a set of locations in the set of components in the three dimensional product definition using the set of defined points to form a set of defined locations;
• and
• computer usable program code for placing the selected fastener into the set of defined locations in the three dimensional product definition without placing a corresponding hole for the selected fastener in the three dimensional product definition while automatically placing the selected fastener into the set of defined locations in the three dimensional product definition, and wherein no hole modeling information is generated for the set of defined points in the three dimensional product definition prior to and during placing automatically the selected fastener into the set of defined locations in the three dimensional product definition.

A data processing system comprising:

• a bus;
• a communications unit connected to the bus;
• a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device includes computer usable program code;
• and
• a processor unit connected to the bus, wherein the processor unit executes the computer usable program code to receive a first user input selecting a fastener to fasten a set of components in a three dimensional product definition to form a selected fastener, wherein the three dimensional product definition uses model-based definition in which parameters describing components are included in the three dimensional product definition;
• receive a second user input defining a point on the set of components in the three dimensional product definition to form a defined point, wherein the defined point is a point at which the fastener is to be positioned;
• determine whether the selected fastener is acceptable for use in fastening the set of components utilizing a policy;
• identify a breakout point on the set of components using the defined point to form a location for the fastener in response to a determination that the selected fastener is acceptable, wherein the breakout point is a particular point along a vector, originating from the defined point, at which the vector exits the set of components;
• and place the selected fastener into the location in the three dimensional product definition without placing a corresponding hole for the selected fastener in the three dimensional product definition while automatically placing the selected fastener into the location in the three dimensional product definition, and wherein no hole modeling information is generated for the defined point in the three dimensional product definition prior to and during placing automatically the selected fastener into the location in the three dimensional product definition.