Contributo in atti di convegno, 2021, ENG, 10.1016/j.procir.2021.05.105

A heuristic approach to detect CAD assembly clusters

B. Bonino, R. Raffaeli, M. Monti, and F. Giannini

Università degli Studi di Genova - DIME, Via All'Opera Pia 15, Genova 16145, Italy Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio - DISMI, Via Giovanni Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia 42122, Italy Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - IMATI, Via De Marini 6, Genova 16149, Italy

Mechanical assemblies are very complex structures, made of many parts of various shapes and sizes with different usages. Consequently, it ischallenging to manage them during all the manufacturing processes, from the design to the assembly and the recycling. Aiming to simplify theassembly structure and reduce the number of parts to deal with simultaneously, in literature many works exist on subassemblies identificationstarting from the CAD assembly model. However, the methods provided loose sight of many details associated with the parts, as well as the factthat the treated model represents a real mechanical assembly which respects precise engineering rules. At this regard, this work introduces a novelmethodology to detect meaningful clusters in CAD assembly models. The logic applied relies on engineering knowledge, both of mechanicalassemblies' components and of assembling techniques, and on the leveraging of the semantics of components. In particular, referring to generaldesign rules, we have identified some heuristics to exploit to partition the assembly into different types of clusters, such as the symmetry alongan axis and the presence of fasteners or welds. It results that the assembly's parts are meaningfully grouped, considering, at the same time, theirshape, functionality, and type of contact.

31st CIRP Design Conference 2021 (CIRP Design 2021), pp. 463–468, Twente, The Netherlands, 19 - 21 May 2021

Keywords

Assembly cluster; CAD assembly model; Semantic component; Engineering knowledge; Heuristic method

CNR authors

Bonino Brigida, Monti Marina, Giannini Franca

CNR institutes

IMATI – Istituto di matematica applicata e tecnologie informatiche "Enrico Magenes"