ABSTRACT
The use of features is a prominent trend in research in the application of CAD/ CAM systems in recent years. Feature technology is viewed as a key technology for the next generation of computer-aided design and manufacturing systems. Research in this area is aimed at determining alternative component representations which form a suitable basis for a wide ranging set of activities throughout a product’s life cycle. Feature technology offers several advantages such as providing a more intuitive way of building up models and capturing
more of the designer’s intent in the product representation. Comprehensive reviews on feature-based design can be found in Salomons et. al. (1993) and Case and Gao (1993).
