Abstract: A method of translating a Computer Aided Design CAD model of a product constructed for Computer Aided Engineering CAE analysis into a flexible form, the method comprising: converting the original CAD model into a different format to provide a new-format CAD model; providing visualization data including: an assembly tree extracted from the original CAD model, the assembly tree including each component of the assembly forming the product; and visualization information from the original CAD model for each assembly face in the assembly tree; and providing geometry information including matching information unambiguously identifying each assembly face; wherein the geometry information allows the assembly faces to be matched with the CAD faces in the new-format CAD model.

Abstract: The disclosed method includes: first generating, from data of a plurality of parts that are string-shaped or band-shaped parts formed by end surfaces and side surfaces, first data including control point candidate data for control point candidates within the end surfaces, end surface data defining the end surfaces and path candidate data for path candidates between the control point candidates, for each of the plurality of parts; second generating second data of continuous shape paths representing continuous parts by searching the first data for parts having same control point candidate data and same end surface data; and third generating third data including data of control points determined on end surface portion of the parts and data of paths between the control points for the continuous shape paths and a group of the continuous shape paths from the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A method of translating a Computer Aided Design CAD model of a product constructed for Computer Aided Engineering CAE analysis into a flexible form, the method comprising: converting the original CAD model into a different format to provide a new-format CAD model; providing visualization data including: an assembly tree extracted from the original CAD model, the assembly tree including each component of the assembly forming the product; and visualization information from the original CAD model for each assembly face in the assembly tree; and providing geometry information including matching information unambiguously identifying each assembly face; wherein the geometry information allows the assembly faces to be matched with the CAD faces in the new-format CAD model.

Abstract: A harness verification method includes placing a three-dimensional model in virtual space and displaying a model plane onto which an overhead view of the three-dimensional model is projected, setting reference planes in the virtual space and displaying on the display cross-section projection planes onto which cross sections defined by intersection of the three-dimensional model and the reference planes is projected; obtaining a pointing position operated by a pointing unit in the virtual space, designating the pointing position as an operation position, identifying the operation position as a pass point of a harness, generating curve segments each corresponding to section between two adjacent pass points, and storing in the storage unit definition information that defines a route of the harness on the basis of jointed curve segments; and displaying on the cross-section projection planes the route of the harness generated on the cross section on the basis of the definition information.

Abstract: Control points needed to generate a curve becoming the route of a deformable linear structure from respective pieces of passing point information defined at two passing points are arranged and the initial arrangement of control points needed to generate a curve is determined by performing re-arrangement of the control points, on the basis of a positional relation between the control points thus arranged. The curve between two points is re-generated from the initial arrangement thus determined while modifying the arrangement of one or more control points, the re-generated curves are then evaluated and a curve meeting a predetermined condition is extracted from among the curves.

Abstract: The disclosed method includes: first generating, from data of a plurality of parts that are string-shaped or band-shaped parts formed by end surfaces and side surfaces, first data including control point candidate data for control point candidates within the end surfaces, end surface data defining the end surfaces and path candidate data for path candidates between the control point candidates, for each of the plurality of parts; second generating second data of continuous shape paths representing continuous parts by searching the first data for parts having same control point candidate data and same end surface data; and third generating third data including data of control points determined on end surface portion of the parts and data of paths between the control points for the continuous shape paths and a group of the continuous shape paths from the first data and the second data.

Abstract: In a design support apparatus, a storage unit stores location data of an assembly including a first member long and flexible and a second member connected to the first member and having a larger cross-sectional shape than that of the first member within a product, and respective positions of installed objects. A geometric center calculation unit virtually extends straight lines from a point on a route along which the first member passes, radially in directions normal to a tangential direction of the route, virtually positions points where the straight lines come into contact with the installed objects, and calculates a geometric center from the positioned points. A route change unit changes the route such that the first member passes the calculated geometric center. A verification unit verifies whether or not the assembly interferes with any of the installed objects during passage of the first member along the changed route.

Abstract: A three-dimensional simulation apparatus includes a memory storing shape data on a three-dimensional model of a linear flexible object, and a processor executing specifying data that forms sections of the linear flexible object from the shape data, determining reference positions on the sections, specifying data that forms a side surface that connects together the sections, extracting a curve that passes on the side surface, specifying a distance from an outer edge of the section that the extracted curve passes to the reference position, specifying a normal direction of the side surface at the position, specifying a path that connects together the reference positions by shifting the curve by the amount corresponding to the specified distance in a direction opposite to the specified normal direction of the side surface, and specifying a flexible model of the linear flexible object from the shape of each section, the reference positions and the path.

Abstract: A design support system generates a passing point through which a deformable linear structure in a virtual space according to the instruction of a user via an input device in the edition process and when generating a passing point of type, based on a component such as part or the like in the virtual space by the edition process, automatically generates and manages passing point information including the passing direction of the passing point to be generated, on the basis of the designated component as the reference. A route through which the linear structure should pass is generated using the passing point information of each passing point.

Abstract: A design support device used to design a part in string or belt form, including: a part editing unit configured to edit a part by changing a position of a pass point through which the part passes; and a section comparison unit configured to compare a section having a plurality of consecutive pass points before the edition by the part editing unit with the sections after the edition by the part editing unit, and extracting the section in which relative positions or relative passing directions are different between two pass points in the sections.

Abstract: In a design support apparatus, a storage unit stores location data of an assembly including a first member long and flexible and a second member connected to the first member and having a larger cross-sectional shape than that of the first member within a product, and respective positions of installed objects. A geometric center calculation unit virtually extends straight lines from a point on a route along which the first member passes, radially in directions normal to a tangential direction of the route, virtually positions points where the straight lines come into contact with the installed objects, and calculates a geometric center from the positioned points. A route change unit changes the route such that the first member passes the calculated geometric center. A verification unit verifies whether or not the assembly interferes with any of the installed objects during passage of the first member along the changed route.

Abstract: A dividing unit 12 divides each of a plurality of component parts each represented by a three-dimensional polygon model into surfaces forming a periphery of the component part. A surface information creation unit 13 creates information of a contour of each of the surfaces obtained by the division by the dividing unit 12 as information relating to the surface. A surface interference determination unit 14 determines presence/absence of an interference state by selecting two component parts having possibility of interference and comparing contours of surfaces obtained from the selected component parts. The surface interference determination unit 14 performs the determination by sequentially changing the combination of component parts, thereby enabling the three-dimensional interference determination while suppressing memory consumption.

Abstract: An editing process including generation, modification, and deletion of pass points through which a linear structure such as a wire harness or the like should pass in a virtual space is performed in accordance with an operation of an input device by a user, a position of a pass point generated in the editing process is managed by using a plurality of position references to identify the position, and priority of the plurality of position references for each pass point are managed and a position of a pass point whose position has to be changed by an editing process is managed in accordance with the priority when the editing process is performed in accordance with an operation of the input device by a user.

Abstract: A harness verification method includes placing a three-dimensional model in virtual space and displaying a model plane onto which an overhead view of the three-dimensional model is projected, setting reference planes in the virtual space and displaying on the display cross-section projection planes onto which cross sections defined by intersection of the three-dimensional model and the reference planes is projected; obtaining a pointing position operated by a pointing unit in the virtual space, designating the pointing position as an operation position, identifying the operation position as a pass point of a harness, generating curve segments each corresponding to section between two adjacent pass points, and storing in the storage unit definition information that defines a route of the harness on the basis of jointed curve segments; and displaying on the cross-section projection planes the route of the harness generated on the cross section on the basis of the definition information.

Abstract: A design support device used to design a part in string or belt form, including: a part editing unit configured to edit a part by changing a position of a pass point through which the part passes; and a section comparison unit configured to compare a section having a plurality of consecutive pass points before the edition by the part editing unit with the sections after the edition by the part editing unit, and extracting the section in which relative positions or relative passing directions are different between two pass points in the sections.

Abstract: Control points needed to generate a curve becoming the route of a deformable linear structure from respective pieces of passing point information defined at two passing points are arranged and the initial arrangement of control points needed to generate a curve is determined by performing re-arrangement of the control points, on the basis of a positional relation between the control points thus arranged. The curve between two points is re-generated from the initial arrangement thus determined while modifying the arrangement of one or more control points, the re-generated curves are then evaluated and a curve meeting a predetermined condition is extracted from among the curves.

Abstract: A design support system generates a passing point through which a deformable linear structure in a virtual space according to the instruction of a user via an input device in the edition process and when generating a passing point of type, based on a component such as part or the like in the virtual space by the edition process, automatically generates and manages passing point information including the passing direction of the passing point to be generated, on the basis of the designated component as the reference. A route through which the linear structure should pass is generated using the passing point information of each passing point.

Abstract: An editing process including generation, modification, and deletion of pass points through which a linear structure such as a wire harness or the like should pass in a virtual space is performed in accordance with an operation of an input device by a user, a position of a pass point generated in the editing process is managed by using a plurality of position references to identify the position, and priority of the plurality of position references for each pass point are managed and a position of a pass point whose position has to be changed by an editing process is managed in accordance with the priority when the editing process is performed in accordance with an operation of the input device by a user.

Abstract: The passing point management unit stores the attribute of each passing point of harness and the like in a virtual design space in a passing point table as passing point information and manages it. The binding point management unit stores the attribute of a binding point obtained by binding each passing point of harness as binding point information including relationship information of the binding point of each passing point and independent of each piece of passing point information. The management unit collectively edits/displays bound harness and so on by editing the binding point information of the binding point table and reflecting the edition result in the passing point information related to the binding point information based on the relationship information.

Abstract: A workflow system for managing a workflow comprising a flow and work, comprising a work management unit for managing the work, a route management unit for managing a route representing a part of the workflow and a flow management unit for managing the flow to maintain a route in the lower hierarchy of said route.