Computer-Aided Design

Dr .Ibrahim Al-Adwan
Implementation of a typical CAD process on a CAD/CAM syst

Definition of geometric model

Definition translation

Design
Geometric modeling
changes

Interface algorithm

Design and analysis algorithm

Drafting and detailing

Documentation

To CAM process
Benefits of Implementing CAD Systems

 Improved engineering productivity

 Shorter lead times

 Reduced engineering personal requirements

 Customer modifications are easier to make

 Faster response to requests

 Improved accuracy of design

 Assistance in preparation of documentations

 Better design provided

 Better knowledge of costs provided

 Geometric Modeling
The basic geometric modeling approaches available to
designers on CAD systems are:

 Wireframe modeling.
 Surface modeling.
 Solid modeling.

1- Wireframe modeling entities

• Analytic curves (lines, circles, ellipses, …….)
• Synthesis curves (parametric cubic curves, Bezier
curves, B-spline curves, …….)
Geometric Modeling
Geometric Modeling
2- Surface modeling entities
• Analytic surfaces (plane surfaces, ruled surfaces,
surface of revolution, tabulated surfaces)
• Synthesis surfaces (parametric cubic surfaces, Bezier
surfaces, B-spline surfaces, ….)

Solid modeling entities -3

• Construction Solid Geometry (CSG)
 Solid primitives (cubes, spheres, cylinders, ………)
 Boolean operations (Union, Subtraction, intersection)
• Boundary Representation (B-Rep)
 Geometric entities (points, lines, surfaces, …….)
 Topological entities (vertices, edges, faces, ……..)
• Sweep Representation
 Transitional sweep (Extrusion)
 Rotational sweep (Revolution)
Wireframe Modeling

A wireframe representation is a 3-D line drawing of an object showing

the edges without any side surface in between.

The image of the object, as the name applies has the appearance of
a frame
constructed from thin wires representing the edges and projected
lines and curves.
Wireframe Modeling
A computer representation of a wire-frame structure
consists essentially of two types of information:

• The first is termed metric or geometric data which

relate to the 3D coordinate positions of the wire-
frame node’ points in space.
• The second is concerned with the connectivity or
topological data, which relate pairs of points together
as edges.
 Basic wire-frame entities can be divided into analytic and
synthetic entities.

Analytic entities :
Points Lines Arc Circles

Synthetic entities:
Cubic curves Bezier curves B-spline curves
Wireframe Modeling
Limitation
s
• From the point of view of engineering Applications, it
is not possible to calculate volume and mass
properties of a design
• In the wireframe representation, the virtual edges
(profile) are not usually provided.
 (for example, a cylinder is represented by three edges,
that is, two circles and one straight line)

• The creation of wireframe models usually involves

more user effort to input necessary information than
that of solid models, especially for large and complex
parts.
Surface Modeling

• Surface modeling is a widely used modeling technique in

which objects are defined by their bounding faces.
• Surface modeling systems contain definitions of
surfaces, edges, and vertices

• Complex objects such as car or airplane body can not

be achieved utilizing wireframe modeling.

• Surface modeling are used in

 calculating mass properties
 checking for interference
 between mating parts
 generating cross-section views
 generating finite elements meshes
 generating NC tool paths for
 continuous path machining
Surface Modeling
Surfaces Entities

1- Analytical surface entities

Plane surface

Ruled (lofted) surface

Tabulated cylinder

Surface of revolution
2- Synthesis surface entities
- Bezier surface - B-spline
surface
Solid Modeling
Solid modeling techniques provide the user
with the means to create, store, and
manipulate complete representations of solid
objects with the potential for integration and
improved automation.

Solid
Representation
Several representation schemes are available for
the creation of solid models. Some of the most
popular are given:

• Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG).

• Boundary Representation (B-Rep).
• Sweeping.
1- Constructive Solid Geometry

A CSG model is based on the topological notation that

a physical object can be divided into a set of primitives
(basic elements or shapes) that can be combined in a
certain order following a set of rules (Boolean
operations) to form the object.
1- Constructive Solid Geometry
1.1 CSG Primitives
Primitives are usually translated and/or rotated to position and
orient them properly applying Boolean operations.
Following are the most commonly used primitives:
1- Constructive Solid Geometry
1.2 Boolean Operations
Boolean operations are used to combine solid
primitives to form the desired solid. The available
operators are Union ( U or +), intersection (∏ or I) and
difference ( - ).

• The Union operator (U or +): is used to

combine or add together two objects or
primitives
• The Intersection operator (∏ or I):
intersecting two primitives gives a shape
equal to their common volume.
• The Difference operator (-): is used to
subtract one object from the other and
results in a shape equal to the difference in
their volumes.
1- Constructive Solid Geometry
1.2 Boolean Operations
Figure below shows Boolean operations of a clock A
and Cylinder B
1- Constructive Solid Geometry
1.2 Boolean Operations
Figure below shows Boolean operations of a clock P and
Solid Q
1- Constructive Solid Geometry
1.3 CSG Data Structure
Data structures for the CSG representation are based on
the binary tree structure. The CSG tree is a binary tree
with leaf nodes as primitives and interior nodes as
Boolean operations
1- Constructive Solid Geometry
1.4 CSG Creation Process
The creation of a model in CSG can be simplified by
the use of a table summarizing the operations to be
performed. The following example illustrates the
process of model creation used in the CSG
representation.
1- Constructive Solid Geometry
Limitation
s
• Inconvenient for the designer to determine
simultaneously a sequence of feature creation for all
design iterations

• The use of machining volume may be too restrictive

• Problem of non-unique trees. A feature can be

constructed in multiple ways

• Tree complexity

• Surface finish and tolerance may be a problem

2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)
• A B-Rep model or boundary model is based on the
topological notation that a physical object is
bounded by a set of Faces.
• These faces are regions or subsets of closed and
orientable surfaces.
 A closed surface is one that is continuous without
breaks.
 An orientable surface is one in which is possible to
distinguish two sides by using the direction of the
• surface
Each normal
face is to a point
bounded insideand
by edges or outside of the
each edge is
solid model.
bounded by vertices.
2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)
2.1 B-Rep Data Structure
A general data structure Topology Geometry
for a boundary model
should have both
Object
topological and
geometrical information Body
• Geometry relates to the
information containing
Genus
shape defining
parameters, such as the
coordinates of the Face Surface
vertices
• Topology describes the Loop
connectivity among the
various geometric
components, that is, the Edge Curve
relational information
between the different Vertex Point
parts of an object
2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)
Same geometry but different
topology

Same topology but different

geometry
2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)

Two important questions in B-Rep

1.What is a face, edge or a vertex?

2.How can we know that when we combine

these entities we would create valid
objects?
2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)
B-Rep Entities Definition
• Vertex is a unique point in space

• An Edge is a finite, non-self-intersecting, directed

space curve bounded by two vertices

• A Face is defined as a finite connected, non-self-

intersecting, region of a closed oriented surface
bounded by one or more loops
 B-Rep Entities Definition
2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)

• A Loop is an ordered alternating sequence of vertices and

edges. A loop defines a non-self-intersecting, piecewise,
closed space curve which, in turn, may be a boundary of a
face.

• A Handle (Genus or Through hole) is

defined as a passageway that passes
through the object completely.
• A Body (Shell) is a set of
faces that bound a single
connected closed volume.
Thus a body is an entity
that has faces, edges, and
2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)
Validity of B-Rep

• To ensure topological validation of the boundary

model, special operators are used to create and
manipulate the topological entities. These are
called Euler Operators
• The Euler’s Law gives a quantitative relationship
among faces, edges, vertices, loops, bodies or
genus in solids

Euler Law F  E  V  L 2( B  G )

Where F = number of faces

E = number of edges
V = number of vertices
L = Faces inner loops
B = number of bodies
G = number of genus (handles)
2- Boundary Representation (B-Rep)
3- Sweep Representation
Solids that have a uniform thickness in a particular
direction and axisymmetric solids can be created
by what is called Transitional (Extrusion) and
Rotational (Revolution) Sweeping
• Sweeping requires two elements – a surface to be
moved and a trajectory, analytically defined, along
which the movement should occur.

Extrusion Revolutio
n
3- Sweep Representation
Extrusion (Transitional Sweeping)

Revolution (Rotational Sweeping)