Fujitsu Laboratories Develops Technology for Retrieving 3D CAD Models

By DE Editors

Fujitsu Laboratories Limited and Fujitsu Research and Development Center have developed a technology for retrieving partially similar models from stored 3D CAD models.

By retrieving and reusing models with similar shapes from the existing models which incorporate prior design know-how, companies are able to shorten design time. Fujitsu Laboratories developed a technique that analyzes the elements composing a 3D CAD model, including the positional relationship between different surfaces, and automatically segments the model into distinctive parts that are suitable for later retrieval. The company also developed a technology that automatically extracts shape features, such as concave and convex surfaces, from the segmented parts, and compares them to the shape features of the search key. Even if the orientation, size or position of the segmented parts differ, as long as the shapes are similar, they are determined to be similar, and can therefore be retrieved.

Because the new technology enables retrieved part models to be reused in combination with multiple other parts, design time can be shortened by 90 percent compared to designing from the ground up, according to the company. This, in turn, helps to reduce design costs and enhance a product's competitiveness by quickly bringing it to market.

With the new technology, 10,000 3D CAD models were automatically segmented into approximately 100,000 parts, and the 3D CAD models containing similar shapes to a specified search key could be retrieved in roughly three seconds, making it practical for real-world use.

Fujitsu Limited plans to pursue the commercialization of the new technology, and to incorporate it into Fujitsu's PLEMIA general design information management system before the end of 2012.

For more information, visit Fujitsu Laboratories.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.