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Material Classification

Overview

Every technical drawing requires a material definition. However, material descriptions on Drawings vary greatly:

  • Some use standardized material codes like EN 10027-2.
  • Others reference outdated national standards.
  • Some only provide descriptive names, such as "brass, yellow, soft".

To ensure consistency and reliability, Werk24 applies a structured material taxonomy, heavily inspired by Ashby’s famous categorization system. The extracted material data is mapped into a three-layer hierarchy, represented as:

  1. MaterialCategory1 → Broad material category (e.g., FerrousAlloy, NonferrousAlloy, Polymer, Ceramic, Composite, Organic)
  2. MaterialCategory2 → Subcategory (e.g., Steels, Copper, Thermoplastics)
  3. MaterialCategory3 → Specific classification (e.g., Tool Steel, PA12)

Key Benefits of Werk24’s Material Extraction:

  • Automatically extracts material data from technical drawings.
  • Standardizes material definitions into an EN 10027-equivalent format.
  • Maps descriptive materials into structured categories for better processing.
  • Supports a three-layer material taxonomy for clear categorization.

Material Categorization

Werk24’s material classification ensures materials are structured and searchable. The diagram below illustrates how different materials are categorized: 

stateDiagram-v2
    direction LR

    # Category1
    [*] --> FERROUS_ALLOY
    [*] --> NONFERROUS_ALLOY
    [*] --> POLYMER
    [*] --> CERAMIC
    [*] --> COMPOSITE
    [*] --> ORGANIC

    # Category2: FERROUS_ALLOY
    FERROUS_ALLOY --> STEEL
    FERROUS_ALLOY --> IRON
    FERROUS_ALLOY --> MAGNETIC_OR_ELECTRICAL_MATERIAL
    FERROUS_ALLOY --> SINTERED_POWDERED_METAL
    FERROUS_ALLOY --> WELDING_FILLER_MATERIAL


    # Category2: NONFERROUS_ALLOY
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> ALUMINUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> ANTIMONY
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> BERYLLIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> BISMUTH
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> CADMIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> CHROMIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> COBALT
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> COPPER
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> GALLIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> LEAD
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> MAGNESIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> MANGANESE
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> MERCURY
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> MOLYBDENUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> NICKEL
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> NIOBIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> PLATINUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> REAR_EARTHS
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> SELENIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> SILICON
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> THALLIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> TIN
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> TITANIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> TUNGSTEN
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> VANADIUM
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> ZINC
    NONFERROUS_ALLOY --> ZIRCONIUM


    # Category2: POLYMER
    POLYMER --> THERMOPLAST
    POLYMER --> THERMOSET
    POLYMER --> THERMOPLASTIC_ELASTOMER
    POLYMER --> THERMOSET_ELASTOMER
    POLYMER --> POLYMER_FOAM


    # Category2: COMPOSITE
    COMPOSITE --> MATRIX
    COMPOSITE --> REINFORCEMENT


    # Category2: CERAMIC
    CERAMIC --> REFRACTORY
    CERAMIC --> TECHNICAL_CERAMIC
    CERAMIC --> CERAMIC_FOAM

    # Category2: ORGANIC
    ORGANIC --> WOOD

    #Category3: STEEL
    STEEL --> STRUCTURAL_OR_CONSTRUCTIONAL_STEEL
    STEEL --> STAINLESS_STEEL
    STEEL --> TOOL_STEEL
    STEEL --> CAST_STEEL


    #Category3: IRON
    IRON --> CAST_IRON
    IRON --> FERROALLOY