Abstract: A three dimensional geometric modeling system featuring an executable program (400) allows a user to select and then drag and drop sheet metal solid shapes into a scene or assembly depicted on a display screen. The user selects the sheet metal solid shapes from a sheet metal catalog (300), thereby creating an instance of a program object for the selected solid shape. A program object (1302) for a sheet metal solid shape carries an application-specific or customized procedure (1000) which governs the drag and drop behavior of the sheet metal solid shape. Implementation of the application-specific or customized drag and drop procedure occurs upon detection of a special interface through which the program object for the sheet metal solid shape acquires environmental information.

Abstract: A computer program product (400) and system executing/implementing the same provides a visual depiction of a part or assembly or scene (200) upon a display device. Upon execution, the program establishes for the system (1) a design flow system (404) comprising an object for each of one or more shapes, and (2) a modeling kernel (410). The modeling kernel comprises multiple concurrently available geometric engine types (432). The program enables performance of operations upon differing shapes in a same assembly, the differing shapes being generated by differing geometric engine types and the operations upon the assembly being performed by invoking the concurrently available geometric engine types in the modeling kernel. The the design flow system of the program also facilitates section of which of the multiple geometric engine types should attempt to perform an operation with respect to the one or more shapes.

Abstract: A computer program product and system executing/implementing the same provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object upon a display device. The program converts feature-based data structure of a designated solid shape to a direct face data structure of the designated solid shape in a manner to keep a history of the three dimensional object consistent with a resulting boundary representation component of the three dimensional object.

Abstract: A object movement tool (100) creates an object movement reference frame (26) which has three frame orientation knob handles lying along mutually orthogonal frame handle axes. Provision of the three frame orientation knob handles facilitates use of object movement tool with its object movement reference frame for (1) the positioning, on the screen, a first displayed object (P) relative to selected features (surfaces, edges, or points) on a second displayed object (B), and (2) positioning, on the screen, of a frame center knob handle (220) of the first displayed object (P) with a feature of a second displayed object (B). Another further use of object movement tool is the repositioning of the object movement reference frame itself relative to its associated displayed object.

Abstract: A movement reference frame is provided on the display device relative to a displayed object. The movement reference frame has at least one object handle set visually provided on the display device. An image of the object is displaced from an original location along a displacement direction to a displaced location by dragging a handle of the object handle set in accordance with actuation of a user input device. The user input device can be utilized to obtain both (1) a number of copies of the displaced object which are to be generated, and (2) one of a distance and angle by which the number of copies of the displaced object are to be separated along the direction of displacement. In addition, the activation of the user input device can link the copy of the displaced object to the displayed object at the original location so that whatever action is taken with respect to either the copy or the original is also taken with respect to the other.