Applications of feature recognition in the product life-cycle

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Abstract
The concept of form features originated in the process planning of machined parts. However, it is now perceived to have applications in many other phases of the engineering process, from initial design through to inspection and assembly, and, as in process planning, the use of form features appears to be crucial in the automation of these activities. From the viewpoints of the different processes occurring in the product life-cycle a given product has different characterizations in terms of form features. This paper explores some of the implications of the resulting requirement for multiple feature models. A designer will most naturally wish to generate a CAD model in terms of functional features, and the system should then be capable of transmuting the designer's feature model into the appropriate feature model for any desired downstream application. This appears to be a simpler process than that of automatic feature recognition from a pure geometric model, a currently popular but difficult research topic. It is also pointed out that designing in terms of features brings with it the need for continual automatic feature validation during the design process. The paper concludes by suggesting a means of progress towards suitably flexible feature representations for a general-purpose system of the future.

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