Researching On Virtual Design System Of The EPC Production Line Based On OpenGL

Aiming at the limitations of the traditional design method of the industrial production line, this research has applied the computer simulation technology and virtual design technology into the design of the Expendable Pattern Casting (EPC) production line. By applying OpenGL as the graphic interface and taking STL file as the format of the three-dimensional model, a virtual design prototype tool has been developed. Using the prototype tool the virtual equipments in the virtual environment can be manipulated and laid interactively, it can be also realized that the goal of the three dimensional layout and the real-time walk-through in the virtual production line. The main works are summarized as follows:Firstly, a frame of the virtual design software was presented after analyzing the disadvantages of the traditional design method of the EPC production line.Secondly, after the researching thoroughly on the running mechanism of OpenGL,it was built that an application framework by using MFC and OpenGL, which offered a"step-by step"design guide for the designer of the EPC production line.Thirdly, based on investigating the essentials of the computer graphics, the designers could actualize interactive manipulations to three dimensional equipment models in the virtual environment by using the two dimensional input-output devices, these manipulations include translation, rotation, zoom, measuring distance, and so on. Fourthly, the prototype tool generated the realistic images by adopting the texture mapping. It also realized the real-time walk-through in the virtual environment and the dynamic simulation by using the key-frame animation technology.Finally, this paper accomplished the design of an EPC production line which could produce 5000t castings per-year, this also shown that the prototype tool is effective.