Design Change Propagation in Assembly Joint Graph

Knock-on effects in design changes can lead to unexpected results. To acquire the propagation of changes among parts, a design change resolution method based on assembly joint graph (AJG) is proposed. AJG involves all geometry features associated with assembly features. Connections between parts are expressed as assembly joints, and the spatial relations among geometry features in the same part as transformation matrix. Changes on geometry features are denoted as transformation matrix in the geometry feature coordinate system, and propagation of the changes in AJG is solved as the forward kinematics in robotics, and is dissolved in the assembly joint according to DOF of the joint. The layer-by-layer recursively solving of change propagation in AJG and the implementation of change solution identified by manual intervention are performed by turns. The efficiency of this method is evaluated with the application developed based on Pro E platform.