3-D Modeling

Geometric Modeling
 Objectives

 Understand terminology used in 3D modeling.

 Define three types of 3D modeling systems.
 Explain the difference between CSG, B-rep,
and hybrid geometry.
 Demonstrate 3D construction techniques -
primitives vs. features.
 Discuss the significance of constraint-based
modeling.
 Modeling Systems

• Wireframe
• Surface
• Solid
 Wireframe Modelling Systems

· In a wireframe model, an object is defined by its bounding

lines and end-points.
· The systems use these lines and points to display two- and
three dimensional shapes and allow manipulation of the shapes
by modifying the lines and points.

· The wireframe model is simply defined by equations

representing the boundary
elements (lines, arcs, etc), the coordinates of points, and
connectivity information for the shapes’ curves and points.
· Connectivity information identifies which points are the end
points of which curves
and which curves are adjacent to each other and at which
points.
Wireframe Modeling
Wireframe modeling
suffers from uniqueness
and ambiguity issues

Wireframe Model
 Surface Modeling
 The development of aircraft, ships, and complex
consumer products led to 3D surface modeling
Surface Modelling Systems

· There are two types of dimensional surfaces:

i. Analytical Surfaces - defined in x, y, z by a single equation,

eg quadratic surfaces - cylinders, spheres, cones, paraboloids,
etc.

ii. Sculptured Surfaces - also known as free-form or non-analytical

surfaces.Unlike analytical surfaces, sculptured surfaces cannot
be described by a single mathematical relationship.

· Sculptured surfaces are used in the design of ship’s hull, aircraft,

car bodies, turbine blades, telephone hand sets, etc.
A classification of various types of surfaces is shown in figure
Planar Surface
A planar surface is a flat 2D surface.

Curved Surface
i. Single curved surface - It is a simple curved surface which
can be generated by a straight line revolved around an axis
such as cylindrical surface, conical surface, etc..
ii. Double curved surface- It is a complex surface generated
by a curved surface. Some example surfaces are spherical,
torus, ellipsoid and hyperboloid.

Ruled Surface
Ruled surface is a surface constructed by transitioning between
two or more curves by using linear blending between each
section of the surface.
 Figure 5 Construction of a Coons surface by blending four boundaries
Coons Surface
A Coons surface or patch is obtained by blending four
boundary curves. The single patch can be extended in both
directions by adding further patches.
Bezier Curves & Surface
Bezier curve uses the vertices as control points for
approximating the generated curve.

The curve will pass through the first and last point will all other
points acting as control points.

An example is shown in Figure 6(a). The shape of the curve

will depend upon the nature of the control polygon vertices. By
altering the control points, the curve shape changed (see Figure
6(b)).

The flexibility of the curve increases with more control points.

The curve can be extended to form Bezier surface, where a
rectangular array of control points defines the vertices of the
characteristic polyhedron of Bezier patch, as shown in
Figure 7.
Figure 7 A Bezier surface patches
B-Splines
Unlike Bezier curve in which the order of polynomial representing the curve
increases with the number of control points, B-spline generates a single
piecewise parametric polynomial curve through any number of control points,
i.e. the curve is broken down into more segments with better control exercised
with individual segments, while maintaining a simple continuity between the
segments. See Figure 8(a). B-Spline exhibits a local control. Whenever a
single vertex is moved, only those vertices around that will be affected while
the rest remains the same, as shown in Figure 8(b).

Figure 8(a) The B-Spline curve and local control in B-Spline surface
NURBS

Uniform cubic B-Splines are the curves with the parametric

intervals defined at equal lengths. The most common scheme used
in all CAD systems is the non-uniform rational B-Spline (known
as NURB), which includes both the Bezier and B-Spline curves. It
also has the capability to represent a wide range of shapes
including conics.
 Solid modelling
Solid modelling systems are used to model an object having a closed volume,
called solid.
In addition to the information provided in surface modelling system, the
mathematical description of a shape created by a solid modelling system contains
information that determines whether any location is inside, outside, or on the
closed volume.
Therefore, any information related to the volume of the solid can be derived,
and thus application programs can be written to do operations at the level of
volume instead of at the level of surface.
Most CAD/CAM systems provide the following modelling functions to create a
solid model of an object.
i. Primitive creation
ii. Boolean operations
iii. Sweeping
iv. Skinning
v. Blending
vi. Shelling
vii. Local operations
viii. Feature-based modelling
ix. Parametric modelling
 Solid Modeling

CSG B-rep

Hybrid

Primitive Feature-Based

Boolean Constraint-based
(relational, variational)
 Solid Modeling
 Common geometric primitives
A camera described with geometric primitives

Wireframe Model
The three Boolean operations: union, difference, and intersection
A camera described using CSG modeling
Exact versus faceted surfaces
A part defined by features
Types of Extrusion operations
Examples of revolved operations (Shaft)
Creating a solid model using revolving and Boolean operations
Determining the removal side of an extrusion (Pocket)
Traditional and constraint-based part definition
The effect of design intent on model changes
Defining sweep distance
Open loops can define either solid or thin features
Feature interdependencies
Feature ordering affects final geometry
Linear and radial arrays (Patterns)
 Constraint-based Modeling
 Allows designers to capture intended geometric
relationships between elements of the model

What are the intended

relationships in this
model?
 Feature-based Modeling
 Solid geometry is created in a way that uses similar
parameters to manufacturing
 Wireframe Modeling
 Wireframe modeling is the
simplest of all modeling
techniques
 Based on edges, vertices,
and faces