A FEATURE-BASED DESIGN SYSTEM AND ITS POTENTIAL TO UNIFY CAD AND CAM

This paper presents a Feature-Based Design System developed using an open-architecture solid modeller. The main characteristics of the system are its object-oriented approach, feature definition via a set of parameters and a set of procedures, a hybrid CSG/B-rep data structure to accommodate features and a mechanism allowing specification of inter-feature relationships. Feature template definition and feature interaction problems are outlined in some detail. The major benefits of the approach are demonstrated with an example. The system facilitates conceptual design, supports detailed design efficiently through parametric modelling and can make post-design knowledge available at the design stage. It is argued that this last point, enhanced by algorithms mapping between dissimilar application feature sets, could achieve company-wide unified product modelling, that is increasingly sought after.