Implicit Surface Boolean Operations Based Cut-and-Paste Algorithm for Mesh Models

Abstract

Cut-and-paste operation for 3D models is a new geometry modelling method by examples. The method constructs a new model from two or more existed models by cutting some useful parts from source models and pasting to target model. A novel cut-and-paste algorithm for mesh models based on implicit surface Boolean operations is proposed. The algorithm composes of following steps: Firstly, cut part of mesh from source model and align it with the target model. Secondly, convert the two mesh models into point models and convert the point models into implicit surfaces with RBF interpolation. Thirdly, merge the two implicit surfaces by union operation. And finally, polygonize the implicit surface. Then the final new mesh model is obtained. Because the two elements of Boolean operation are not mesh models, it can avoid complex and time consume intersection calculations of facets and edges. The experiments show that good results can be obtained with the algorithm. The approach can be used to create special and exaggerated models for computer animation.