Abstract: Techniques and systems for computer aided design of physical structures using an object splitting design process that optimize manufacturing efficiency are described. A described technique includes splitting, by a computer program, a three dimensional model of an initial object into an up skin region and a down skin region based on an analysis of draft angles along at least one surface of the three dimensional model of the initial object. The technique further includes producing, by the computer program, first and second three dimensional models of respective first and second objects in accordance with the up skin region and the down skin region to create separate first and second physical structures using one or more computer-controlled manufacturing systems such that the first and second physical structures are combinable to form a combined physical structure.

Abstract: A generative design system includes a solver and a modeling tool comprising a visual programming interface and a design workflow script. The visual programming interface enables the user to specify a design problem including design constraints comprising parameters associated with standard building components, such as beams and joints. After the design problem is specified by the user, the modeling tool executes the design workflow script to automatically perform a design workflow that generates a design solution for the design problem. The design workflow script controls the operations of the modeling tool and the solver to interact in a collaborative manner to execute the design workflow comprising an ordered sequence of operations. The design solution comprises a 3D model of a modular beam structure that can be easily fabricated using standard building components, such as standardized beams and joints.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using generative design processes. A method includes obtaining one or more load cases and one or more design criteria for a modeled object; iteratively modifying a three dimensional shape of the modeled object in accordance with the one or more design criteria and the one or more load cases, the iteratively modifying comprising regulating shape change velocities for an implicit surface representation of the three dimensional shape that exceed a reference velocity, where the reference velocity is set based on a mean and a standard deviation of a shape derivative on the implicit surface; and providing the three dimensional shape of the modeled object for use in manufacturing a physical structure corresponding to the modeled object using one or more computer-controlled manufacturing systems.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using generative design processes. A method includes obtaining a design space for a modeled object, one or more design criteria for the modeled object, and one or more in-use load cases; iteratively modifying a generatively designed three dimensional shape of the modeled object in the design space in accordance with the one or more design criteria and the one or more in-use load cases for the physical structure, comprising: performing numerical simulation of the modeled object in accordance the one or more in-use load cases, computing shape change velocities for an implicit surface in a level-set representation of the three dimensional shape, changing the shape change velocities in accordance with a polynomial function, and updating the level-set representation using the shape change velocities to produce an updated version of the three dimensional shape.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design with feature thickness control, include: a three-dimensional modeling program configured to provide voxelized thinning based distance to medial surface processing that measures thicknesses in a three-dimensional model, and/or ramped scaling based thickness constraint application during shape and/or topology generation. The three-dimensional modeling program can be an architecture, engineering and/or construction program (e.g., building information management program), a product design and/or manufacturing program (e.g., a CAM program), and/or a media and/or entertainment production program (e.g., an animation production program).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using techniques that facilitate manufacturing, include: modifying a three dimensional shape, for which a corresponding physical structure is to be created using a manufacturing process, to produce a modified three dimensional shape; and providing the modified shape of the modeled object for use in manufacturing the physical structure using one or more computer-controlled manufacturing systems that employ the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using data format conversion (e.g., of output(s) from generative design processes) and user interface techniques that facilitate the production of 3D models of physical structures that are readily usable with 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing, include: modifying smooth curves, which have been fit to contours representing discrete height layers of an object, to facilitate the 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing; preparing an editable model of the object using a parametric feature history, which includes a sketch feature, to combine extruded versions of the smooth curves to form a 3D model of the object in a boundary representation format; reshaping a subset of the smooth curves responsive to user input with respect to the sketch feature; and replaying the parametric feature history to reconstruct the 3D model of the object, as changed by the user input.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a training application trains machine learning models to perform tasks associated with 3D CAD objects that are represented using B-reps. In operation, the training application computes a preliminary result via a machine learning model based on a representation of a 3D CAD object that includes a graph and multiple 2D UV-grids. Based on the preliminary result, the training application performs one or more operations to determine that the machine learning model has not been trained to perform a first task. The training application updates at least one parameter of a graph neural network included in the machine learning model based on the preliminary result to generate a modified machine learning model. The training application performs one or more operations to determine that the modified machine learning model has been trained to perform the first task.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an inference application performs tasks associated with 3D CAD objects that are represented using B-reps. A UV-net representation of a 3D CAD object that is represented using a B-rep includes a set of 2D UV-grids and a graph. In operation, the inference application maps the set of 2D UV-grids to a set of node feature vectors via a trained neural network. Based on the node feature vectors and the graph, the inference application computes a final result via a trained graph neural network. Advantageously, the UV-net representation of the 3D CAD object enabled the trained neural network and the trained graph neural network to efficiently process the 3D CAD object.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a parameter domain graph application generates UV-net representations of 3D CAD objects for machine learning models. In operation, the parameter domain graph application generates a graph based on a B-rep of a 3D CAD object. The parameter domain graph application discretizes a parameter domain of a parametric surface associated with the B-rep into a 2D grid. The parameter domain graph application computes at least one feature at a grid point included in the 2D grid based on the parametric surface to generate a 2D UV-grid. Based on the graph and the 2D UV-grid, the parameter domain graph application generates a UV-net representation of the 3D CAD object. Advantageously, generating UV-net representations of 3D CAD objects that are represented using B-reps enables the 3D CAD objects to be processed efficiently using neural networks.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using data format conversion (e.g., of output(s) from generative design processes) and user interface techniques that facilitate the production of 3D models of physical structures that are readily usable with 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing, include: modifying smooth curves, which have been fit to contours representing discrete height layers of an object, to facilitate the 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing; preparing an editable model of the object using a parametric feature history, which includes a sketch feature, to combine extruded versions of the smooth curves to form a 3D model of the object in a boundary representation format; reshaping a subset of the smooth curves responsive to user input with respect to the sketch feature; and replaying the parametric feature history to reconstruct the 3D model of the object, as changed by the user input.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for computer aided design of physical structures using an object splitting design process that optimize manufacturing efficiency are described. A described techniques includes obtaining an input model of an initial object to be manufactured, the input model providing a 3D topology and shape for the object; determining, based on the 3D topology and shape, a 3D parting surface to split the initial object into separate objects, the parting surface intersects an inflection zone that is situated between up and down skin regions of the 3D topology and shape; and providing first and second 3D models of the separate objects in accordance with the 3D topology and shape and the parting surface, for use in manufacturing separate physical structures corresponding to the separate objects using one or more computer-controlled manufacturing systems, where after respective manufacturing, the physical structures are configured to be assembled to form a combined structure.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for computer aided design of physical structures using an object splitting design process that optimize manufacturing efficiency are described. A described techniques includes obtaining an input model of an initial object to be manufactured, the input model providing a 3D topology and shape for the object; determining, based on the 3D topology and shape, a 3D parting surface to split the initial object into separate objects, the parting surface intersects an inflection zone that is situated between up and down skin regions of the 3D topology and shape; and providing first and second 3D models of the separate objects in accordance with the 3D topology and shape and the parting surface, for use in manufacturing separate physical structures corresponding to the separate objects using one or more computer-controlled manufacturing systems, where after respective manufacturing, the physical structures are configured to be assembled to form a combined structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using generative design processes. A method includes obtaining a design space for a modeled object, one or more design criteria for the modeled object, and one or more in-use load cases; iteratively modifying a generatively designed three dimensional shape of the modeled object in the design space in accordance with the one or more design criteria and the one or more in-use load cases for the physical structure, comprising: performing numerical simulation of the modeled object in accordance the one or more in-use load cases, computing shape change velocities for an implicit surface in a level-set representation of the three dimensional shape, changing the shape change velocities in accordance with a polynomial function, and updating the level-set representation using the shape change velocities to produce an updated version of the three dimensional shape.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for computer aided design of physical structures using an object splitting design process that optimize manufacturing efficiency are described. A described techniques includes obtaining an input model of an initial object to be manufactured, the input model providing a 3D topology and shape for the object; determining, based on the 3D topology and shape, a 3D parting surface to split the initial object into separate objects, the parting surface intersects an inflection zone that is situated between up and down skin regions of the 3D topology and shape; and providing first and second 3D models of the separate objects in accordance with the 3D topology and shape and the parting surface, for use in manufacturing separate physical structures corresponding to the separate objects using one or more computer-controlled manufacturing systems, where after respective manufacturing, the physical structures are configured to be assembled to form a combined structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, facilitate creation and use of 3D models of objects with different material properties. In one aspect, a method includes specifying a continuous data format representation for a first property of an object and a discretized data format representation for a second property of the object, wherein the first property and the second property are different from each other; producing a 3D model of the object within a 3D space using the continuous and discretized data format representations, which overlap with each other in all three dimensions in at least a portion of the 3D space; and using at least one common access method into the 3D model of the object to obtain data from both the continuous and discretized data format representations, within the portion of the 3D space, to manufacture the object using one or more manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using data format conversion (e.g., of output(s) from generative design processes) and user interface techniques that facilitate the production of 3D models of physical structures that are readily usable with 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing, include: modifying smooth curves, which have been fit to contours representing discrete height layers of an object, to facilitate the 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing; preparing an editable model of the object using a parametric feature history, which includes a sketch feature, to combine extruded versions of the smooth curves to form a 3D model of the object in a boundary representation format; reshaping a subset of the smooth curves responsive to user input with respect to the sketch feature; and replaying the parametric feature history to reconstruct the 3D model of the object, as changed by the user input.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, facilitate creation and use of 3D models of objects with different material properties. In one aspect, a method includes specifying a continuous data format representation for a first property of an object and a discretized data format representation for a second property of the object, wherein the first property and the second property are different from each other; producing a 3D model of the object within a 3D space using the continuous and discretized data format representations, which overlap with each other in all three dimensions in at least a portion of the 3D space; and using at least one common access method into the 3D model of the object to obtain data from both the continuous and discretized data format representations, within the portion of the 3D space, to manufacture the object using one or more manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, facilitate creation and use of multi-material three dimensional models. In one aspect, a system includes one or more computer storage media having instructions stored thereon; and one or more data processing apparatus configured to execute the instructions to perform operations including (i) receiving input specifying different material properties of an object to be manufactured, (ii) generating from the input a three dimensional (3D) model of the object using overlapping volume representations of the different material properties of the object, wherein the overlapping volume representations employ different data formats and different resolutions, and (iii) storing the 3D model of the object for use in manufacturing the object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, facilitate creation and use of multi-material three dimensional models. In one aspect, a system includes one or more computer storage media having instructions stored thereon; and one or more data processing apparatus configured to execute the instructions to perform operations including (i) receiving input specifying different material properties of an object to be manufactured, (ii) generating from the input a three dimensional (3D) model of the object using overlapping volume representations of the different material properties of the object, wherein the overlapping volume representations employ different data formats and different resolutions, and (iii) storing the 3D model of the object for use in manufacturing the object.