Abstract surface modeling for concurrent form finding and class a surfacing in computer-aided design

Abstract

As the missing link between designers and engineers, we introduce a new abstract modeling approach for computer-aided design systems. In contrast to existing solutions, our strategy is less geometry driven and less based on low-level aspects like control points or mesh elements. Instead we operate on the idea of a hierarchical modular concept with abstract components like categories, parts and the features relations. The whole surface structure of the model is composed of abstract areas represented by meshes. This allows designers without engineering background to concentrate intuitively on the form finding process as they easily model abstract components and automatically generate high quality CAD-freeform equivalents suitable for computer-aided manufacturing. During the phase of construction, we focus on the designers intent and guide him through this process to enrich the model with semantic information. The goal is to describe the models structure, such that the automatically generated freeform surfaces not only meet correct geometry but also mirror the internal configuration of the model. Compared to common practice where design changes and updates lead to the reconstruction of the whole model, our system accomplishes these kinds of alterations automatically, based on the hierarchical model configuration, derived from the designers intent. So our approach of an abstract modeler is much faster, closes the gap between creative design changes and technical model construction and captures this in one contemporary system and workflow.