Abstract: A computer-based feature suppression method is used in removing a blend chain formed by a set of blend faces, and creating a new model without the blend faces. Blend recognition is used to determine the support faces, spring edges and cross edges for each blend face of the blend chain. The method further includes classifying the edges of the blend faces into spring edges, cross edges, and other edges, determining the other blend chains which interact with the blend chain of interest, separating the interacting blend chains from the blend chain, and deleting the blend face of the blend chain after separating thereof from the interacting blend chains. The cross edges of the blend faces in the blend chain are used to find the blend for which a face is missing between the blend face and the support face. In one implementation the identified blend chains are deleted by extension or contraction of neighboring blend faces so as to patch-up deleted regions.

Abstract: A computer-based feature recognition method is used to recognize features in a part of which are of a similar shape. A predetermined set of attributes are generated to represent a user-defined feature. This set is then used to produce an attributed graph which captures the feature shape. The graph is used in recognizing features of a shape similar to the feature shape in a solid model. To recognize a family of a shape feature with a variable number of faces, the shape feature is represented using a grammar employing symbols, rules and a terminating condition. Each symbol denotes an attributed face-adjacency graph and the rules denote permissible topological variations.

Abstract: A computer-based feature suppression method is used in removing a blend chain formed by a set of blend faces, and creating a new model without the blend faces. Blend recognition is used to determine the support faces, spring edges and cross edges for each blend face of the blend chain. The method further includes classifying the edges of the blend faces into spring edges, cross edges, and other edges, determining the other blend chains which interact with the blend chain of interest, separating the interacting blend chains from the blend chain, and deleting the blend face of the blend chain after separating thereof from the interacting blend chains. The cross edges of the blend faces in the blend chain are used to find the blend for which a face is missing between the blend face and the support face. In one implementation the identified blend chains are deleted by extension or contraction of neighboring blend faces so as to patch-up deleted regions.

Abstract: A method for building a database of at least one blend face in a solid model of a part comprising: generating a list of faces and edges comprising the solid model, analyzing at least one of the edges to determine that it is a smooth edge, analyzing the determined smooth edge to determine that it is a spring edge, analyzing the determined spring edge to identify a blend face that is adjacent to the spring edge. The method further includes identifying all blend faces on the part, forming chains of these blend faces and providing a listing of the chains in the order in which they were formed on the part.

Abstract: A computer-based feature recognition method is used to recognize features in a part of which are of a similar shape. A predetermined set of attributes are generated to represent a user-defined feature. This set is then used to produce an attributed graph which captures the feature shape. The graph is used in recognizing features of a shape similar to the feature shape in a solid model. To recognize a family of a shape feature with a variable number of faces, the shape feature is represented using a grammar employing symbols, rules and a terminating condition. Each symbol denotes an attributed face-adjacency graph and the rules denote permissible topological variations.

Abstract: A method for building a database of at least one blend face in a solid model of a part comprising: generating a list of faces and edges comprising the solid model, analyzing at least one of the edges to determine that it is a smooth edge, analyzing the determined smooth edge to determine that it is a spring edge, analyzing the determined spring edge to identify a blend face that is adjacent to the spring edge. The method further includes identifying all blend faces on the part, forming chains of these blend faces and providing a listing of the chains in the order in which they were formed on the part.