Free-form CAD model retrieval approach for engineering reuse based on local feature segmentation

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For engineering applications, an innovative design can be developed by reusing and modifying existing models with similar features and manufacturing properties, and accurately searching CAD models has become a valuable knowledge acquisition technique in product design. Although there are many retrieval technologies, most methods focus on the global shape of models. In this paper, a CAD model retrieval framework based on local feature segmentation is proposed, offering users a free-form way to choose any subpart as a query from a given model. First, a novel model segmentation method based on the vertex-neighbor extension is proposed to divide a target CAD model into overlapping local features. The chosen subpart with arbitrary boundaries is also successfully described for retrieval by combining local features. Then, a composite descriptor considering both shapes and attribute characteristics is established, which is proved effective for distinguishing local features. Finally, the problem of matching free-form queries to CAD models in the dataset is transformed into descriptor set measurement and is implemented using the bag-of-word algorithm. The proposed model retrieval approach outperforms many existing approaches in matching performance and provides a user-friendly query mode.