Improving visibility in CAD data exchange

Citation

(1999), "Improving visibility in CAD data exchange", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 71 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1999.12771dab.016

Improving visibility in CAD data exchange

Improving visibility in CAD data exchange

Keywords: Theorem Solutions, CADCAM, Software

Continuing the development of its range of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) data exchange tools, Theorem Solutions Limited of Lichfield has introduced CADviewer - a generic view and mark up software tool that allows users to check the validity of CAD data before and after the conversion process.

The move towards concurrent engineering has resulted in a significant increase in CAD data exchange transactions within the supplier chain. Whilst efficient converter solutions are available, the success of the exchange process relies on the initial preparation and quality of the CAD files.

Jim Smith, business development manager said:

Up to now users at the sub-contract and tooling supplier level have had to accept that CAD data being provided by their customer had been packaged in a suitable format for their requirements. With no way of examining the input data, any errors or omissions go into the conversion process unchecked. These deficiencies will cause it to fail, creating frustration for the user and delay for the process. In the same way, if suppliers re-convert their data into their customer's CAD system format and have no means of checking it, they may unwittingly send back data that is wrong or unusable.

Designed for use on standard PCs running either Windows NT or UNIX workstations, CADviewer solutions are available for use with a range of proprietary CAD systems and STEP-based formats. CADviewer accesses the native CAD data, not a translated form as used in tools designed purely to create 3D images for inspection and general visualisation applications. This means that users cannot only see what they have been supplied, but also interrogate the CAD database to check underlying geometry.

Effectively this allows a customer or a supplier to interpret CAD data from a collaborator without needing to invest in a licence of his CAD systems. The CADviewer can retrieve the internal reference for each entity within the model in the authoring CAD system. This makes it possible, for instance, for the two collaborators to view the same data at the same time, one on the authoring CAD system and the other, inexpensively, on the CADviewer. In this way problems and queries can be resolved quickly by telephone.

Details from Theorem Solutions Limited. Tel: +44 (0)1543 444455; Fax: +44 (0)1543 444454.