Correlation and Reconciliation of Engineering Data: Knowledge-Based Creation of 3D CAD Designs

This proposal outlines a solution for the knowledge-based creation of 3D solid model CAD designs. The foundation work for this solution, which was done during Phase I of this SBIR, demonstrated that the part design process can be significantly streamlined by automatically generating 3D CAD models from rules written by designers and engineers with little or no CAD or software programming experience. The proposed solution uses a knowledge-based tool to capture and organize rules and data about parts into XML knowledge bases. The solution makes extensive use of STEP application protocols to translate parametric data from an XML design file into the appropriate STEP AP format, which automatically generates 3D CAD neutral output. The output can then be imported into a target CAD system. The solution will also support semi-automatically generating knowledge bases from existing 3D CAD models.