Content-based CAD assembly model retrieval: Survey and future challenges

Abstract

Currently, the content-based retrieval is a problem of major interest in several different fields and, focusing on mechanical engineering, many approaches exist to compare and retrieve single CAD parts, to evaluate shape similarity, to extract features and to segment models. However, most of the proposed approaches do not take into account all the key characteristics of an assembly model, such as the relationships between its components, and the different levels according to which two assembly models can be considered similar, i.e. either globally, partially, or locally. For these reasons, the retrieval of CAD assembly models still faces challenges to fully satisfy designers' expectations. The aim of this paper is to review the state-of-the-art of works addressing the CAD assembly model retrieval and to identify future challenges and possible research directions. Firstly, the paper highlights the user requirements for CAD assembly model retrieval and proposes a set of criteria for analyzing the available methods grouped into the following macro-categories: objective, assembly characterization, assembly descriptor, query specification and type of similarity. Secondly, it describes and characterizes the available methods by organizing them according to the adopted criteria. Finally, it discusses the open issues and future challenges.

Design, process and commercial benefits gained from AMT

“…These results imply that systems, such as flexible manufacturing, CIM, JIT, MRP and MRP II ensure design benefits if they are properly implemented as well as integrated with stand-alone systems, such as CAD, CAPP and CNC machines. In fact, findings are consistent with those proposed by Adeyeri et al (2019) and Baena et al (2017), who claim that integrated systems are the best choice for moving toward both e-manufacturing and Industry 4.0, while Lupinetti et al (2019) declare that new products are always requiring new designs that CAD helps to solve.…”

Using a Smart Recognition Framework for the Automated Transfer of Structural Whole Engine Models

“…Lupinetti et al further investigates in [17] the creation and use of this enriched assembly model. A survey and future challenges of this approach are given in [18]. The method described by Hasan et al in [19] works with the SolidWorks API to access geometric information to gather assembly relation information.…”

A Web-Based Solution Supporting CAD Assembly Model Exploration and Analysis

“…2 Possible interfaces between parts of an assembly model Fig. 3 Lower kinematic pairs [28] enrich model information depending on the adopted CAD system producing files whose content can have slight differences even if they represent the same model. On the other hand, neutral file formats allow sharing standard information with no content customization.…”

“…To provide a part classification that eases the assembly inspection, this service aims to automatically identify the functionalities of the parts by considering different shape characteristics. Anyhow, the part shapes are sometimes oversimplified making parts with different functions very similar in their shape [28]. These situations frequently occur when standardized components are acquired from suppliers making arduous an automatic recognition of component types.…”