The Geometric Modeling and Interrogation System Praxiteles

Abstract

After establishment of design requirements and creation of an initial shape, the design process of free form shapes should include interrogation and fairing until a desired shape, with appropriate geometric and performance characteristics, is achieved. Afterwards, the quality of the manufactured product can be determined by comparing measured data with the design model. To permit automated design and manufacturing, mathematical methods and algorithms for the creation, interrogation, fairing, and inspection of curves and surfaces have been developed and integrated into a computer system called Praxiteles. The general layout of Praxiteles, along with a description of design capabilities, is presented. This description covers the areas of input, output, approximation and conversion for data exchange, a summary of some shape creation methods, and a description of some advanced interactive interrogation, fairing, and inspection methods for NURBS curves and surfaces. Examples illustrate some of the features of the system, as applied in the design and inspection of marine propellers. Recommendations for future development of the system are also presented.