Virtual prototyping and manufacturing planning by using tri-dexel models and haptic force feedback

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a new method of using the tri-dexel volumetric models and a haptics force feedback for virtual prototyping and manufacturing planning. In the proposed method, the initial polyhedral surface model is converted to a tri-dexel volumetric model by using a depth-peeling dexelization algorithm. In the virtual prototyping process, the tri-dexel volumetric model is updated by the swept volume of a moving cutter via a haptic force feedback interface device. A collision detection algorithm is proposed for the virtual sculpting and the pencil-cut planning with real-time haptic force feedback to the users. Tool paths are generated for machining the virtual sculpted parts via the simulation and verification on a virtual CNC machine tool before they are actually machined. Computer implementation and practical examples are also presented in this paper. The proposed method enables the haptic-aided virtual prototyping and manufacturing planning of complex surface parts. Keywords: Virtual prototypingHaptics interfaceVirtual sculptingTri-dexel modelingCAD/CAMDepth-peeling dexelizationNC machining This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant (DMI-0300297) and the Army Research Office (Grant #W911NF-04-D-0003) to North Carolina State University. Their support is greatly appreciated.