Patent ID: 7472044
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for converting a vertically structured CAD/CAM model to a horizontally structured CAD/CAM model, comprising: identifying a base modeling element of the vertically structured CAD/CAM model and establishing it as a base feature of the vertically structured CAD/CAM model; establishing a parent coordinate system for the horizontally structured CAD/CAM model; identifying a parent modeling element of the vertically structured CAD/CAM model, the parent modeling element including a plurality of modeling features dependent thereof; identifying each dependency for each of a plurality of modeling features from said parent modeling element; and converting an existing vertically structured CAD/CAM model to a horizontally structured CAD/CAM model by: restructuring each dependency for each said modeling feature for placement with respect to the horizontally structured CAD/CAM model, such that each said modeling feature exhibits a direct associative relationship with a reference feature, said restructuring including; determining if said modeling feature is dependent on an existing datum plane for placement; for modeling features determined to be dependent on an existing datum plane for placement, performing at least one of: configuring a new reference feature for placement of said modeling feature wherein said new reference feature is dependent on said parent coordinate system and establishing an associative relationship between said modeling feature and said new reference feature, then deleting the dependency between the modeling feature and the existing datum plane, reconfiguring said existing datum plane as a descendant of said parent coordinate system, and establishing an associative relationship with at least one of said parent coordinate system and a reference feature dependent therefrom and deleting the dependency between the modeling feature and the existing datum plane.