Feature-based 3D non-manifold freeform object construction

This paper presents a novel technique for modeling a 3D non-manifold freeform model around a 3D reference model. To represent both the design abstractions and the incomplete topological information, a new non-manifold data structure is first defined. Our data structure embodies the functional vitalities of both the boundary representation data structure and the complex-based data structure. Along with our data structure, a set of topological operators is defined to manipulate the entities in the data structure. Based on the non-manifold data structure and the topological operators, we develop a technique to construct 3D freeform objects around a reference model. Intuitive 2D sketches are adopted to specify the detailed profile of the object constructed. The construction method is feature-based - every reference model has pre-defined features, and the feature template of the constructed object is related to the features of the reference model by feature node encoding. Therefore, the surfaces derived from one reference model can be regenerated automatically on another reference model with the same features. The geometry coverage of our geometric modeling approach includes both manifold and non-manifold 3D freeform objects.