Custom equations for the unfolding of sheet metal
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to utilize custom equations for the unfolding of sheet metal in a solid modeling application. A drawing model is obtained and defines a sheet metal object in the solid modeling application. User input is accepted that defines a custom equation for a first variable that is directly used to calculate a developed length for a bend in the sheet metal object. The custom equation is converted into a standard equation that produces the developed length and is accepted by a modeling kernel of the solid modeling application. The modeling kernel dynamically displays an unfolded version of the sheet metal object based on the standard equation and the calculated developed length without exposing the standard equation to the user.
1. A computer implemented method for utilizing custom equations for the unfolding of sheet metal in a solid modeling application, comprising:
obtaining a drawing model comprised of a sheet metal object in the solid modeling application;
displaying an equation editor user interface;
accepting, in the equation editor user interface, user input that custom defines a custom equation for a first variable that is directly used to calculate a developed length for a bend in the sheet metal object;
converting the custom equation into a standard equation that produces the developed length and is accepted by a modeling kernel of the solid modeling application;
the modeling kernel dynamically displaying an unfolded version of the sheet metal object based on the standard equation and the calculated developed length, wherein the standard equation is not exposed to the user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the custom equation comprises a non-linear equation.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a bitmap of a bend that indicates a topologically referenced variable of the sheet metal object that is used in the custom equation.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising specifying one or more bounding conditions for the custom equation.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the specifying comprises accepting user input creating a custom bounding condition for a second variable used in the equation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converting comprises dynamically determining a new k-factor to be used in the standard equation that will result in the developed length as determined by the custom equation.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the standard equation and custom equation are actively and dynamically associated with the drawing model.
8. An apparatus for utilizing custom equations for the unfolding of sheet metal in a solid modeling application in a computer system comprising:
(a) a computer having a memory;
(b) a solid modeling application executing on the computer, wherein the solid modeling application is configured to:
(i) obtain a drawing model comprised of a sheet metal object;
(ii) display an equation editor user interface;
(iii) accept, in the equation editor user interface, user input that custom defines a custom equation for a first variable that is directly used to calculate a developed length for a bend in the sheet metal object;
(iv) convert the custom equation into a standard equation that produces the developed length and is accepted by a modeling kernel of the solid modeling application;
(v) use a modeling kernel to dynamically display an unfolded version of the sheet metal object based on the standard equation and the calculated developed length, wherein the standard equation is not exposed to the user.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the custom equation comprises a non-linear equation.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the solid modeling application is further configured to display a bitmap of a bend that indicates a topologically referenced variable of the sheet metal object that is used in the custom equation.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the solid modeling application is further configured to specify one or more bounding conditions for the custom equation.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the solid modeling application is configured to specify by accepting user input creating a custom bounding condition for a second variable used in the equation.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the solid modeling application is configured to convert by dynamically determining a new k-factor to be used in the standard equation that will result in the developed length as determined by the custom equation.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the standard equation and custom equation are actively and dynamically associated with the drawing model.
15. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of utilizing custom equations for the unfolding of sheet metal in a solid modeling application, the method steps comprising the steps of:
obtaining a drawing model comprised of a sheet metal object in the solid modeling application;
displaying an equation editor user interface;
accepting, in the equation editor user interface, user input that custom defines a custom equation for a first variable that is directly used to calculate a developed length for a bend in the sheet metal object;
converting the custom equation into a standard equation that produces the developed length and is accepted by a modeling kernel of the solid modeling application;
the modeling kernel dynamically displaying an unfolded version of the sheet metal object based on the standard equation and the calculated developed length, wherein the standard equation is not exposed to the user.
16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the custom equation comprises a non-linear equation.
17. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , further comprising the step of displaying a bitmap of a bend that indicates a topologically referenced variable of the sheet metal object that is used in the custom equation.
18. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , further comprising the step of specifying one or more bounding conditions for the custom equation.
19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 , wherein the specifying comprises accepting user input creating a custom bounding condition for a second variable used in the equation.
20. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the converting comprises dynamically determining a new k-factor to be used in the standard equation that will result in the developed length as determined by the custom equation.
21. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the standard equation and custom equation are actively and dynamically associated with the drawing model.