Representation of geometric features, tolerances, and attributes in solid modelers based on constructive geometry

Tolerancing and surface finish data are essential for automatically planning the manufacture, inspection, and robotic assembly of mechanical components. A scheme for representing surface features in a solid modeler based on constructive solid geometry (CSG) and for associating tolerances and other attributes with such features. It shows conclusively that commonly-held beliefs on CSG's inability to deal with surface features and tolerances are unfounded. The scheme has been implemented in the PADL-2 modeling system and is being used to support research on high-level languages for programming numerically controlled (NC) machine tools.