3D Modeling Methods

1. Why 3D Modeling?
The aim of the design process is to completely specify the information necessary
for a component to be Manufactured that "I fulfil the requirements of a design
specification. Clearly the most important part of this task is the definition of the
component geometry although other information such as material type and
surfaced finish will also be required. In the past the designer has attempt to
define complex three dimensional components on a two dimensional drawing
shit. In order to do this at all requires a set of rules which regulate the way
orthogonal views of the component are to be so out on the drawing sheet and
interpreted by the end user. One set of rules is BS308 but most companies
have drawing standards of their own, usually based on BS308 or its equivalent.
Whilst the paper drawing has served industry well in the past, it can now be seen
to suffer from two major weaknesses.

Firstly? it is almost impossible to define completely the geometry of a complex

component. Notes such as blend to suit give ample evidences of this.

Secondly, two dimensional drawings even if created on a computer system are

generally impossible for a computer 'o interpret for downstream activities of
computer aided deso analysis and manufacture: This leads to the concept of
Geometric Modelling where a model may be defined as any set of geometric
computer data which can be used directly by the computer for downstream
activities. In this context two dimensional data wilt be adequate for turned
components and flat components but unsatisfactory for more complex geometries.
.

Thus the major aims of using a three dimensional moftling system must be to
define the component geoMetry in an unambiguous way and in a manner
capable of being used by computers for downstream activities.

2. Which 3D Modeling System?

There are three fundamentally different categories of three dimensional
modeling system. The three systems are: -

3D Wireframe

Surface Modeling

Solid Modeling

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 2.1 3D Wireframe Systems
Fundamentality a 30 wireframe modeling system differs from a computer based
20 draughting systems only in that locations in space are defined by X, Y and Z
coordinates. The system uses the same geometric entities i.e. lines, circles, arcs
and curves as does a 2D system. In others words a wireframe model can only
define the edges of a component. The computer has no knowledge of the
surface shape between the edges or of what is solid and what is not.

This leads to some weaknesses of a 30 wireframe system. Firstly it is always

visually ambiguous. A 3D wireframe picture can be interpreted in two ways
depending upon which Corner the viewer chooses to imagine is at the front of
thhe object. The computer has in sufficient information. to automatically remove
the hidden lines and hence make it visually unambiguous. Secondly, and more
seriously, the same wireframe model in some instances may represent more
than one solid. Thus a wireframe model may represent a number of solid
objects, the difference between them being where the viewer chooses to
imagine the bounding surfaces. In terms of defining the shape of complex
sculptured surfaces the 30 wireframe system is no better than a 2D system.

2.2 Surface Modeling Systems

The aim width a surface modeling system is to completely define the surface
form of an object in such a way that the computer can calculate accurately the
XYZ co-ordinates of any point on the surface

Broadly speaking there are two approaches to creating such a computer model.
One method is to start with a 3D wireframe modal and then add the definition of
the surfaces between the edges of the model. The other is to take me awed
coordinate information from a physical model and then try to define surface that
W the data points.

Whilst some systems will attempt to create a single surface which define the
whole model. The majority work on a 'patching' system of four-sided surfaces
positioned edge to edge. The most general type of surface patch is the
doubly-curved or sculptured surface. Other types of patch would be the
tabulated cylinder surface where a curve is swept in a linear direction, the
surface of revolution where a curve is swept in a rotational sense and the ruled
surface where two different curves are interpolated by straight line rulings. Once

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 the basic model is complete adjacent surface patches may be blended to
remove sharp edges, filleted with circular or elliptical fillets or offset to define ft-
through thickness form of a component

2.3 Solid Modeling System

Like a surface modeling system, a solid modeler defines the edges and the
surface foray the component The difference is that a solid modeler also knows
where there is solid material. This a surface modeler can determine whether not
a point those co-ordinates are known lies on the component's surface. A solid
modeler can determine whether a given point is in space, on the surface of the
component or in solid material.

A solid model is created by assembling either system defined (w user defined

volume primitives. Typical system defined primitives would include the box,
cone, wedge, torus and sphere. User-defined primitives may be created by
sweeping a 20 cross section either linearly or rotationally. The user then informs
the compute( of the relationship between the primitives by specifying which of
the three available Boolean operations is to be performed. The options are a
union operation which add together two primitives to create a single solid, a
difference operation which subtracts the common volume of two primitives from
the primitive which is specified first and an intersection operation which
calculates the common volume of two primitives. One of the benefits of a solid
modeling system is that it will perform checks during the model creation to
ensure at all stages that the model is valid. That is that it could physically exist,
that two are no gaps between lines and so on.

Once the solid modal is complete benefits are potentially very significant. The
system can calculate the maw properties of the component accurately and
automatically. An important benefit is the formal detection of collisions. If
components are assembled together in their correct spacial relationships, an
intersection operation can be performed and if the common volume is anything
other than zero an interference condition exists. The location and severity of the
problem is easily highlighted and corrective action can be taken.

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