Abstract
We developed a technique that retrieves partial shapes from CAD data to improve the operating efficiency of CAE and CAM. The technique is similar to feature shape retrieval, which involves using holes and ditches that the user specifies from CAD data. The technique can divide a three-dimensional CAD model into a partial shape and can retrieve a partial shape group that is equal to the structure of the feature shape that the user specifies. The effectiveness of the development technique was demonstrated by applying it to retrieve the similar-feature shapes of holes, which contain spot-faced holes of a machine parts model.
