Multiple-view feature modelling with model adjustment
PhD student - Alex Noort |
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Multiple-view feature modelling is a recently introduced approach to product development, which combines concurrent engineering and feature modelling. It supports applications from various phases of product development, by providing an own interpretation of, or view on, a product for each of these applications. Each view has its own feature model of the product. The approach can lead to a higher quality of products in less time, which is one of the most important goals of contemporary product development.
Current approaches to multiple-view feature modelling still have at least three major shortcomings. First, they focus on the later product development phases, in which the geometry of the product has to be fully specified. Second, they deal with single parts only, whereas real product rarely consists of a single part. Third, they discard the possibility that a feature model of a product for some view is invalid or that a consistent feature model in another view cannot be created.
A new approach to multiple-view feature modelling has been developed that overcomes these shortcomings. It supports high-level product design and design of products with multiple parts, in particular conceptual and assembly design. Further, it supports automatic adjustment of form feature models that are invalid or for which no consistent form feature model in another view can be created.
The conceptual design view allows the designer to determine the configuration of a product by specifying components, which are to be implemented by one or more parts, and interfaces between them, which are to be implemented by a connection.
The assembly design view focuses on connection design, and allows the designer to specify the type of connection between components and the geometry for the connection on the components.
Consistency maintenance integrates all views with each other, by ensuring that their feature models represent the same product or part of it, i.e. that their feature models are consistent.
Automatic model adjustment is able to automatically adjust the model of a product in case the feature model of one of its views has become invalid, or a consistent feature model in another view cannot be created.