System and method for morphing a CAD design element
A system and method for morphing a design element which precisely and efficiently morphs a design element within a data file to new target parameters by changing its general proportions, dimensions or shape. The present invention is generally a computer software program which loads an existing data file which includes one or more design elements, such as parts or an assembly of parts, and then automatically morphs the design element's dimensions, proportions and/or shapes to meet target parameters input by a user. The present invention will create several groups of points corresponding to each surface and associated bounding curves of the existing design. It will then morph each group into a new shape as per the input requirements by the user, fit the morphed group into an infinite surface, create boundary curves for each morphed group and then trim the infinite surface to create the new, morphed design element.
1. A method of morphing a design element by a computer system, comprising the steps of:
receiving the design element;
receiving an identification of a selected design element to be morphed into a morphed design element;
receiving an identification of a plurality of points within the selected design element;
grouping the plurality of points into a plurality of groups of points;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as control groups of points, wherein the control groups of points are not morphed;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as deformable groups of points, wherein the deformable groups of points are morphed;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as fixed groups of points, wherein the fixed groups of points are used to establish morphing equations;
defining boundary curves using the groups of points along a boundary of the design element;
creating an infinite surface with the boundary curves for each of the groups of points having more than four sides;
trimming the infinite surface along the boundary curves to create a plurality of morphed surfaces; and
regenerating and combining each of the morphed surfaces to create a morphed design element.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a morphing type, the morphing type defining the type of morphing to be applied to the selected design element.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the morphing type is selected from a group consisting of rotation, translation, offset, projection, re-scaling, propagating, partitioning, re-defining intersections, stitching, reflecting, and detaching.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of receiving target parameters defining morphed parameters of the morphing type.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the target parameters are selected from a group consisting of proportions, dimensions, and shapes.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of creating a Coons patch with the boundary curves for each of the groups of points having between three and four sides.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the groups of points includes three or more sides.
8. A method of morphing a design element by a computer system, comprising the steps of:
receiving the design element;
receiving an identification of a selected design element to be morphed into a morphed CAD design element;
receiving an identification of a plurality of points within the selected design element;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as control groups of points, wherein the control groups of points are not morphed;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as deformable groups of points, wherein the deformable groups of points are morphed;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as fixed groups of points, wherein the fixed groups of points are used to establish morphing equations;
defining a fixed zone encapsulating the fixed groups of points;
receiving a morphing type, the morphing type defining the type of morphing to be applied to the selected design element;
wherein the morphing type is selected from a group consisting of rotation, translation, offset, projection, re-scaling, propagating, partitioning, re-defining intersections, stitching, reflecting, and detaching;
receiving target parameters defining morphed parameters of the morphing type;
target parameters are selected from a group consisting of proportions, dimensions, and shapes;
grouping the plurality of points into a plurality of groups of points;
defining boundary curves using the groups of points along a boundary of the design element;
creating an infinite surface with the boundary curves for each of the groups of points having more than four sides;
trimming the infinite surface along the boundary curves to create a plurality of morphed surfaces; and
regenerating and combining each of the morphed surfaces to create a morphed design element.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as control groups of points, wherein the control groups of points are not morphed.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of defining a control zone encapsulating the control groups of points.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as deformable groups of points, wherein the deformable groups of points are morphed.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of defining a deformable zone encapsulating the deformable groups of points.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of creating a Coons patch with the boundary curves for each of the groups of points having between three and four sides.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the groups of points includes three or more sides.
15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving a morphing type, the morphing type defining the type of morphing to be applied to the selected design element.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the morphing type is selected from a group consisting of rotation, translation, offset, projection, re-scaling, propagating, partitioning, re-defining intersections, stitching, reflecting, and detaching.
17. A method of morphing a design element by a computer system, comprising the steps of:
receiving the design element;
receiving an identification of a selected design element to be morphed into a morphed CAD design element;
receiving an identification of a plurality of points within the selected design element;
grouping the plurality of points into a plurality of groups of points;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as control groups of points, wherein the control groups of points are not morphed;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as deformable groups of points, wherein the deformable groups of points are morphed;
receiving an identification of one or more of the groups of points as fixed groups of points, wherein the fixed groups of points are used to establish morphing equations;
defining boundary curves using the groups of points along a boundary of the design element;
creating an infinite surface with the boundary curves for each of the groups of points having more than four sides;
creating a Coons patch with the boundary curves for each of the groups of points having between three and four sides;
trimming the infinite surface along the boundary curves to create a plurality of morphed surfaces; and
regenerating and combining each of the morphed surfaces to create a morphed design element.