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Session 2263

Development Of A Feature Based Rapid Design Environment

Utpal Roy, Daniel Panayil Syracuse University

Abstract Computer based realistic projects are required in all of our undergraduate design related courses. Students are encouraged to design their individual projects (related to some real-life design and manufacturing problems) using state-of-the-art computer-tided design (CAD) tools. However, due to some inherent inflexibilities of current CAD tools, students cannot use them efficiently. It is now recognized that feature- based modeling holds the promise of developing requisite design tools for rapid and efficient design systems. This paper discusses the feasibility of using a design-by-feature approach in the students’ design projects. It reports the development of a library of macro, micro, and functional features for establishing a prototype, rapid design environment in SDRC’S I-DEAS solid model based design environment (using I-DEAS’s programmability).

1.0 Introduction Designing an object using a currently available CAD tool is a very tedious task for a designer. Making the component of his/her design from the primitives, extruded or revolved profdes takes up more time than he/she spends on designing that object. The designer also faces the problem of redesigning most of the time due to cost, manufacturing and assembly reasons. The current design systems do not provide any user- -friendly design environment where the designer can modify his/her design easily according to the desired design constraints. We have had such experiences in one of our undergraduate design classes, where a group of five (5) students was assigned to design a fire truck. The group had to design several major and minor parts. Each part is again made of several small, intricate design components. For example, the door-knob on the door has many components inside it like springs, lever, screws and pins. The screws that were used for the hinges and the door-knob handle were the same except that they were of different sizes. So the students had to make the same screws of different dimensions several times. It took them more than a week to figure out how to make these parts using the basic primitives and geometry. As the dimensions of the chair and the door depended on the width and length of the truck which was designed by the other members of the group, they had to modify the design several time as others made changes in their design. The same problems arise in other design projects as well. These are the reasons what motivated us to make a feature based design library so that other students wouldn’t have to spend so much time in making similar parts. The objective of the feature based design system is to accelerate the design process and to express the student’s (user’s) intention in design and manufacturing right on the feature itself. This feature based design not only makes it easier for the user to make his/her design but also provides a better representation of the design both for the designer and the manufacturer. This paper discusses how to create and use the features using the Feature Definition Task in I-DEAS solid modeler in order to develop a feature based rapid design environment. It reports the development of a library of macro, micro and functional features, and demonstrates the creation of several complex part using the design-by-feature approach. 2.0 Development of the System: Feature-Based Geometry Construction In order to develop the feature-based rapid design system, we develop a library of three (3) kinds (i.e., Macro-, Micro- and Functional) of generic features, instead of providing a feature set which is only useful to a particular application domain. These generic features are callable at any phase of the design and are instantiable to produce any application-dependent features as required. Our set of macro features includes regular bolt, stud bolt, spring, shaft, spur gear, bevel gear, helical gear, roller bearings with option of cylinder or ball rollers and pulley with arms or web option. The micro features include counterbore, countersink, elbow, bend plate, wedge, seam, wireedge, round-end slot, cap, flange, rib, offset plate and

?$iii’ ) 1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings ‘.

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Roy, U., & Panayil, D. (1996, June), Development Of A Feature Based Rapid Design Environment Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--5982