GMSOLID—A System for Interactive Design and Analysis of Solids

Computer graphic systems currently in production are effective for designing curves and surfaces. These systems, however, are not suitable for designing solids and cannot support many important analysis functions such as checking for interference among solid objects. GMSOLID is a solid modeling system with an interface to CADANCE, GM's graphic system. With GMSOLID, users can design complex solids by combining other simpler solids with set operations. The simplest solids (primitives), such as blocks or cones, are created directly. Because the computer has a true solid representation, the graphics system can display these solids in multiple views with hidden edges removed or dashed. Sections can be cut and cross-hatched automatically, and properties of the solid such as area and mass can be computed.