Manipulation of CAD surface models with haptics based on shape control functions

With traditional two-dimensional based interfaces, many CAD surface models are difficult to design and edit due to their 3D nature. This paper discusses a technique for the deformation of CAD surface models with haptic interaction based on shape control functions. With the technique, designers can use a haptic interface to directly touch a native B-rep CAD model, and deform it in real-time by pushing, pulling and dragging its surfaces in a natural 3D environment. The deformation is governed by shape control functions. By using the shape functions, designers can specify the area of deformation, and also have greater controls on the shape of deformation. This technique is numerically efficient, and can deform complex surface models involving several thousand control points in real-time. The haptic-based deforming approach gives designers greater flexibility for the manipulation of complex CAD surfaces.