STEVEN COBERT

GEODIGM LTD

ICEM SURF Accelerating the A-class

surfacing process
PRODUCTIVITY
ICEM SURF PRODUCTIVITY

• Background
• A-class Surfacing Core Principles
• Methodologies
• Standards
• SURF+

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BACKGROUND
Steve Cobert
• BSc Aeronautical Engineering, Imperial College, London
• BAe Research Department
• Rover Group
• Investigation of ComputerVision’s NURBS
• Developed:
• AUTOSURF – top down approach

• MNEMONICS – scripting language

• Honda resurfacing

• Topologies UK – ICEM Surf Training, pre-sales and customer support

• 1999: Formed Geodigm
• ICEM & Alias Training, Support & Mentoring
• A-class surfacing – Ford GT Exterior
• Concept modelling
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 A-class Surfacing
Fundamentals
CORE PRINCIPLES
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SURFACING CORE PRINCIPLES
PATCH STRUCTURE
• Min. patches
• Min. control pts.
• Tidy control pts.

SIMPLICITY ADVANTAGES
• Quicker to build
• Quicker to modify
• Communicates Intent

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COMMUNICATE INTENT Simple Model:
Order 2 = flat
Order 6 fillet = curvature matched
Offset patches

Complex Model:
Maybe flat?
Curvature or arc?
No idea if offset
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PATCH STRUCTURE
IDEAL PATCHES P. AXES OF CURVATURE
• U & v’s at 90 degrees • Min & max curvature directions
ADVANTAGES • Align patches with P. Axes
• u, v shapes independent
• Easier to match ADVANTAGES
• Better highlights • Minimal patches
• Minimal control pts

COMMENTS
• Essential if tight shape (e.g. fillet)
• Not necessary if very flat

Min.
Min.

Max.
Max.

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CONTROL POINT PATTERN

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CONTROL POINT PATTERN

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CONTROL POINT PATTERN

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CONTROL POINT PATTERN - “Crisp Packet Surfacing”

TRIM

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 Innovative Surfacing
Techniques for

METHODOLOGIES Improved Productivity

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SYMMETRY

Scenario:
Cross-car patch
Perfect flow across Y0

Method:
Unified Modelling

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SYMMETRY

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MUTUAL MATCH Method:

Objective: • Match L into R (usually G1)

• Match R into L (usually G1)
Perfect transition • Repeat until converged

Make common area coincide

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MUTUAL MATCH

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MANUAL BLEND

Objective:
Create G2 blend

Method:

Create-Patch-By Curves

Modify-Patch-Alignment

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MANUAL BLEND

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 MATCH WITH BLEND

Scenario:
New feature line
Original surface

Method:
Modify-Patch-Match
+ Blend + No constraint

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MATCH WITH BLEND

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 MATCH NURBS WITH BLEND

Scenario:
New feature lines
NURBS surface

Method:
Similar to previous
But using NURBS

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MATCH WITH BLEND

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 Improving team
efficiency
STANDARDS
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MODEL STANDARDS
Consistent standards Object Naming:
ensure a frictionless • Lists are temporary
transfer of data within • Object names are permanent
a team • Move objects non-graphically

Standardise Fillets:
• Arc, order 7 for accuracy
• Curvature matched chordal, order 6, FF 1
• Offset curvature matched, order 6, FF 1
Release Construction Planes:
• Tool directions
• Axes of rotation
• Mirror planes
• Trim extents

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 A user-customisable
productivity tool for

SURF+ ICEM Surf

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SURF+
Software
• Runs in parallel with ICEM Surf
• C++ / Qt

Objectives
• Improve work flow efficiency
• Reduce muscle strain (RSI)
• Capture & replay user methods

Benefits
• Potential 10 - 40% productivity benefits

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SURF+ SOFTWARE
User Interface:
• User defined hotkeys
• User defined at-cursor menus
• User defined floating menus

Menu Settings:
• Similar to variants – but for all menus
Methods: Examples:
• Combine multiple operations • Wheel from half-spoke
• Use simple scripting language • Vent aperture from 2D curves

UI Optimisation:
• Analysis of user inputs to inform UI

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SURF+ CURRENT STATUS
KEY
User Interface:
• User defined hotkeys Implemented
• User defined “mouse menus” Prototyped
• User defined floating menus
Under development
Menu Settings:
• Similar to variants - for all menus
Methods definition:
• Combine multiple operations
• Simple scripting language

UI Optimisation:
• Analysis of user inputs to inform UI

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SURF+ HOTKEYS
Key Types

• Alphanumerics
• Spacebar
• Alt / Ctrl / Shift
• Function keys
• Special functions

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SURF+ HOTKEYS
Aims

• Key combinations accessed by left hand only

• Easy to memorise

Examples

• Surface functions: single key

• Curve functions: Alt + a key
• Move functions: Shift + a key

• Display variants: 1,2,3,4,5

• Select: x
• OK: spacebar (in future)

• Special function: “Close ICEM menus” on Alt + x

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SURF+ COMPARISON
Productivity benefit example

Scenario:
Create surface
from 2 curves

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SURF+ COMPARISON
Productivity benefit example

ICEM Surf With SURF+ Hotkeys

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SURF+ COMPARISON
Productivity benefit example

ICEM Surf With SURF+ Hotkeys

~30% time saving

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THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

Steve Cobert

scobert@geodigm.co.uk

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