3D CAD Model Retrieval Algorithm Based on accessibility cone distributions

To reuse 3D CAD models more efficiently, a new 3D CAD model retrieval algorithm based on accessibility cone distributions is proposed. Firstly, a sufficiently large number of random sample points on surface of 3D CAD model are taken and the normal direction of each sample point is recorded. Then, the accessibility cone of the given sampled point is computed. Secondly, a planar grid is constructed to express the accessibility cone distribution by obtaining a statistic data of the sampled points. Lastly, the L-1 distance metric method is taken to compute the similarity between the two accessibility cone matrices, which can give the similarity coefficient for two compared 3D CAD models. Experiments results show that the algorithm can effectively support 3D CAD model retrieval, and the efficiency meets the requirement of engineering application.