A CAD-integrated prototype for disassembly constraint modelling

In order to analyze disassembly related properties at design stages, CAD implementations require disassembly constraint modelling (DCM) functionalities to be integrated with CAD design processes. This paper presents a prototype of object-oriented CAD integration for DCM. Based on previous works, an object-oriented approach is proposed to define software modules and objects for disassembly constraint generation and representation. The prototype is implemented as an embedded application on the API platform of commercial CAD software. Hence it provides a tight and seamless integration, which can not only utilize the CAD model information directly, but also aid an on-going design process. This integration makes it possible for designers to optimize their design work for disassembly properties, such as ease of disassembly, at design stages. The case study on a widely used shaft assembly has demonstrated the simplism and effectiveness of the prototype for DCM functionalities.