Abstract: This paper presents a typical face-based retrieval method to search mechanical parts with similar local features.The method takes the IGES standard representation as input.In the training phase,all the faces in the database are tested and assigned with a value indicating their distinction.Trivial faces and atypical ones with small areas are removed in this phase to improve online retrieval efficiency.In the query phase,we evaluate the distinction of the input faces by aligning them with faces in the database.The similarity between input faces and those in the database is achieved by applying a greedy algorithm.Our method avoids the information lost caused by mesh discretization and introduces the training phase for local features.Experimental results from the prototype system show that the method can provide a favorable performance when applied to retrieve models with common local features or similar functionalities,and hence can support design reuse better than some other mesh-based methods.