THE SHAPES OF THINGS TO COME - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CAPABILITIES OF THE BRITISH AEROSPACE NUMERICAL MASTER GEOMETRY SYSTEM

The paper gives a brief introduction to the scope, flexibility, and power of the British Aerospace Numerical Master Geometry (NMG) System, a computer aid for the design and manufacture of complicated three-dimensional curved surfaces. NMG is currently used at all ex-BAC sites within the Aircraft Group of British Aerospace for the purpose of generating and storing master computer models of the external shapes of aircraft or components. These master models may then be interrogated using a simple command language to derive information about the external shape for such diverse uses as aerodynamic analysis, detail structural design, numerically controlled machining, and inspection. The use of such models means that everyone has access to the same basic information, and consistency is assured. The requirement for such a system dates back to when improved techniques of design and manufacture needed more consistent, accurate, and robust methods of surface-information handling than the traditional full-scale lofting procedures could provide. The advent of the high-speed digital computer made it possible to construct an unambiguous mathematical model of a complex curved surface and to extract information on profiles from that model using general computer algorithms.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00019240
• Corporate Authors:

  Royal Aeronautical Society

  4 Hamilton Place
  London S1V 0BQ,   England 
• Authors:
  • Mason, H G
• Publication Date: 1979-12

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 483
• Serial:
  • Aeronautical Journal
  • Volume: 83
  • Publisher: Royal Aeronautical Society
  • ISSN: 0001-9240

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer aided design; Computer graphics; Mathematical models; Numerical control; Structural design
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00314976
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Ship Research Association
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 1980 12:00AM