Parametric Model for Kitchen Product Based on Cubic T-Bézier Curves with Symmetry

• Main Authors: Xin Sun, Xiaomin Ji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
• Series: Symmetry
• Subjects: parametric design; cubic T-Bézier model; shape parameter; kitchen product; geometric continuity conditions; curvature variation energy
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/12/4/505

The parametric method of product design is a pivotal and practical technique in computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and used in many manufacturing sectors. In this paper, we presented a novel parametric method to design a kitchen product in the residential environment, a kitchen cabinet, by using cubic T-Bézier curves with constraints of geometric continuities. First, we introduced a class of cubic T-Bézier curves with two shape parameters and derived the <i>G</i>¹ and <i>G</i>² continuity conditions of the cubic T-Bézier curves. Then, we constructed shape-controlled complex contour curves of the kitchen cabinet by using closed composite cubic T-Bézier curves. The shapes of the contour curves can be adjusted intuitively and predictably by altering the values of the shape parameters. Finally, we studied shape optimization and representation of ellipses for the contour curves of the kitchen cabinet by finding optimal shape parameters and applicable control points respectively. The provided modeling examples showed that our method in this paper can improve the design and scheme adjustment effectively in the conceptual design stage of kitchen products.