Gap-Free Model-Based Engineering for Manufacturing and Analysis: Digital Thread without Translation

Modern Model-Based Enterprise / Engineering (MBE) systems rely on freeform surfaces built as complex combinations of geometric primitives to define engineered objects. Unfortunately, the intersection of freeform surfaces in MBE applications results in highly approximated solutions, degrading models that cost billions annually by US industry to fix. Current technology limits the abilities of users in the digital thread who inherit these gap-ridden models: additive manufacturing/3D printing, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), etc. Entire branches of industry have been set up to deal with the expensive problem of repairing, translating, and meshing models. Commonly referred to as “the trim problem”, it is considered to be the core issue hindering MBE progress. The startup nVariate has developed technology that solves this problem, making the MBE model gap-free. The methodology uses a three-stage process to provide a welldefined mathematical mapping between conventional trimmed and gap-free models. The procedure can be integrated into existing MBE frameworks utilizing existing data structures throughout the digital thread. nVariate’s approach solves the problem natively, discretely, and seeks to make it available in native MBE software as a plug-in. SBIR Phase I funding is sought to answer core questions of commercial technology translation.