AI-Assisted Documentation: An Implosion Animation Method for CAD Designs
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Free/Libre and Open-Source Hardware requires documentation that ensures replicability and accessibility for both experts and non-experts. Existing tools for generating assembly animations are often difficult to use, require specialized knowledge, and are poorly suited for instructional or workshop contexts. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a method for generating implosion-style CAD animations that separates transformation logic from geometry. The method enables fast, low-effort creation of animations through either manual grouping or large language model (LLM) automation. The approach is validated through a web-based implementation that can produce complete animations within minutes using mesh or boundary-representation input. The system supports step-wise playback, interactive part grouping, and export of vector-based views for technical documentation. Evaluation includes nine models ranging from simple parts to assemblies with over 1400 components. The system successfully generated animations for all models, with the LLM-based schema generation achieving high sequence coherence and coverage in most cases. The proposed method enables scalable, reusable, and version-controlled animation workflows that are particularly suited for open-source documentation, manufacturing education, and distributed design environments.
Source: Computers
Author: Jorge Cesar Mariscal-Melgar
Institution: Helmut Schmidt University
Language: English
Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W4416998118