ShapeGuide: Shape-Based 3D Interaction for Parameter Modification of Native CAD Data

Abstract

While Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are commonly used in industrial companies, loading and modifying CAD parts of commercial CAD systems in virtual environments are still challenging. A few VR applications for Computer Aided Design (CAD) enable users to modify native CAD data in an immersive environment. Even if such VR-CAD applications use 3D interaction space, interaction with parameter values of CAD parts could be enhanced. This paper presents ShapeGuide, a technique allowing users to modify native CAD parts using a shape-based 3D interaction technique. With ShapeGuide, users can achieve modification of parameter values by directly pushing or pulling the surface of a CAD object. In addition, force feedback can be integrated into the technique to enhance the precision of the users' hand motions in the 3D space. In a controlled experiment, we compared ShapeGuide to a standard one-dimensional scroll technique to measure its added value for parametric CAD data modification on a simple industrial product example with an adjusted modification capability. We also evaluated the effect of force feedback assistance on both techniques. Results of this experiment demonstrate that ShapeGuide is significantly faster and more efficient than the scroll technique. Furthermore, they show that the force feedback assistance enhances the precision of both techniques, especially of ShapeGuide.

Interactive Programming for Parametric CAD

“…The importance of parametric CAD, in the context of the modern design and fabrication landscape, has greatly increased. There has been work on systematic exploration of large parametric design spaces [LSL*19, SWG*18, SSM15], using parameters for quality control [WDRAJ16], and interactive modification of designs [OLFB18]. There are extensions to the original idea of modelling by example [FKS*04] to ensure that the resulting design is fabricable [SSL*14], and on generation of fabrication constraints at design time [LVLR19].…”

Investigating Collaborative Exploration of Design Alternatives on a Wall-Sized Display

“…Martin et al [36] presented a data pipeline which allows CAD data modification from a virtual reality platform. Based on this work, Okuya et al [39] proposed a shape-based interaction, which enables non-CAD experts to modify parameter values of CAD models by simply pushing and pulling their 3D shape. Coffey et al [13] proposed to browse pre-computed design of a medical device by dragging its surface on a tablet.…”

“…Previous works explored 3D visualization to reduce time and costs for manufacturing physical mock-ups in product development process [29,49]. While many virtual reality systems can display CAD data [7,42,43,27,46], only a few can modify native data from commercial CAD systems [36,39]. Other works addressed remote collaboration: vehicle design reviews between remote CAVE [30], collaborative material/texture editions [11], or object manipulations [35].…”

“…The first prototype was designed to meet three criteria: i) interaction in a large space, ii) native CAD data modification and iii) multiple-design comparison. Based on previous work on CAD data modification [39,40], we implemented a service which generates multiple alternative shapes by varying parameter values of a native CAD model.…”

“…To load and modify native CAD source files, we implement a CAD Server based on the work of Okuya et al [39]. The CAD Server is a custom C++ application using the CAA API of CATIA V5 4 .…”