Evolution of Computer Graphics For Engineering Design - Aircraft NMG Numerical Master Geometry
Evolution of Computer Graphics For Engineering Design - Aircraft NMG Numerical Master Geometry
Evolution of Computer Graphics For Engineering Design - Aircraft NMG Numerical Master Geometry
R=19760009735 2019-08-17T19:00:04+00:00Z
SUMMARY
This paper describes the CAD/CAM system which has been developed
by the Military Aircraft Division of the British Aircraft Corporation,
shows the uses to which it has been put, and outlines current develop-
ment of the system. The system supports batch, time sharing, and
fully interactive graphic processing. Engineers using the system may
switch between these methods of data processing and problem solving
to make the best use of the available resources. It is concluded that
the introduction of on-line computing in the form of teletypes, storage
tubes, and fully interactive graphics has resulted in large increases
in productivity and reduced timescales in the geometric computing,
numerical lofting and part programming areas, together with a greater
utilisation of the system in the technical departments.
2. A.P.T.
203
3. NC Graphics
The starting point for the development of the system was, therefore,
two complementary programs, (APT and NMG) which have some overlapping
and some incompatible features, but whose only interface was the manual
transcription of data, e.g.,
Overlapping in that:-
1) Data derived from the NMG system could not be used in APT
and vice-versa, e.g.,
Curves used on APT are similar but not identical to NMG spline
curves.
2) Capability to READ and WRITE NMG Files (Access and write, curves,
surfaces, and reference systems.)
204
The modified APT program which also included extensive modification
to improve efficiency was named APT 140 and released in 1971. As
expected the combined APT/NMG system provided a powerful geometric com-
puting lofting and N/C machining facility, limited only by the
restrictions of batch processing.
The interface with the N/C graphics program is via a file which
contains component descriptions in the form of bounded geometry and text.
7) Preparation of plots
205
The method chosen will depend not only on the most 'economical'
method of producing the desired result, but on the priority of the job,
the departmental loading, computer resources available etc. This
flexibility of operation has been found to be of fundamental importance
not only because particular resources may be withdrawn due to breakdowns,
but because relative priorities change with time, and jobs started in
batch may be completed interactively and vice versa.
Surfaces on the master tape are now available for general use.
Typical uses for the surfaces are:-
3) Obscuration plots
206
Here we see a linesman typing a request for a new section to
be generated and plotted. The teletype will only return a listing
but a graphic display (Fig. 13) will return a picture which can be
checked for errors prior to plotting on the Gerber Draughting machine.
Input to the Gerber Draughting Machine is generated by typing the
instruction "PLOT GERBER SCALE n" which produces a Gerber input
tape of the picture displayed on the screen.
207
2) Aerodynamic and structural grids are usually formed on
a group of surfaces some of which may overlap (Fig. 21
shows a simple case). A cut through such a group of
surfaces results in a set of curves which may easily be
drawn, but which are not suitably ordered for subsequent
processing to form a grid.
CONCLUSIONS
208
Manual Transcription of data
are avoided.
209
USERS DATA PROCESSING
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IBM 2250
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DATA FOR
NUMERICAL MASTER
GEOMETRY PROGRAM
COMPUTER
MAGNETIC TAPE OF
NUMERICAL SURFACE DEFINITIONS AUTOMATIC DRAUGHTING FACILITY
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