unified design using multicad data

8/12/2019 UNIFIED DESIGN USING MULTICAD DATA

1/5

When you move a 3Dmodel from one CAD

application to another,you can lose hours andeven days trying to getclean geometry and tomake even the simplest

of modifications.

!"#$%

&'())

($(+

",%-%.) )./%0,

1"2#%/3.) 245
http://www.lifecycleinsights.com/


2/5

!"#$%&'())($(+",%-%.) )./%0,

6

1(0.

!"#$%&' )%*+ ,-.*%/012 34*4 %5 4&

6&'%&66#%&' #64.%*7 *"3478

Disparate data sources are simply an ugly but

unavoidable truth. Collaboration with customers,suppliers, partners and even other internalorganizations is a key aspect of design. Thestandardized and unambiguous mechanical definitionof the product is the 3D model. Those two factsnecessitate collaboration on the 3D model as a result.

While the ideal is that all of these teams would workwith the same tool, different organizations often usedifferent CAD applications. This lack of CAD harmonycan mean a real CAD headache; when you move a 3D

model from one CAD application to another, you canlose hours and even days trying to get clean geometryand to make even the simplest of modifications. That,in turn, causes all sorts of havoc in the design process.Unfortunately, the productivity loss because of CADinteroperability has gone on for so long that mostengineers and designers are resigned to their fate.

Despite the gloomy past, there are some good reasonsto not give up hope. Over the last few years, there havebeen dramatic shifts in the technology used in CAD

applications - many of which apply directly to CADinteroperability.This eTopic explores the topic ofworking with multi-CAD data in the design process.Specifically, it digs deeper into the challenges oftraditional CAD in this regard as well as how the latestCAD advancements offer capabilities to addressinteroperability needs.
http://bit.ly/1gG2vSXhttp://on.fb.me/1gG2zlEhttp://linkd.in/18cJOfphttp://www.lifecycleinsights.com/


3/5

!"#$%&'())($(+",%-%.) )./%0,

7

1(0.

!+4* 94-565 ,-.*%/012 34*4 %55-65:

The root of one problem sits in how CAD applicationscalculate geometry. No one approach is wrong per se. Buteach CAD application does it differently. When a 3D

model is imported, the geometry is calculated differently.As a result, lots of time is invested in cleaning up theimported 3D model.

Another problem crops up because CAD applicationsdefine their features differently. Because there is notranslation of feature definitions, 3D models are oftenexported from CAD applications into formats withoutfeatures. With no features, there is no design intent. As aresult, designers and engineers must find a way tocontrol the geometry. Sometimes, that means you have

to recreate the features from scratch.

Last but not least, there is the issue of propagatingdesign changes. Once imported, a 3D model might bechanged in its original CAD application. As a result, theimported 3D model is out of date and must be updatedmanually.

The implications of these multi-CAD data issues forusers and organizations are serious. For individuals,hours and days can be spent trying to clean up, modifyor propagate change across 3D models. For theorganization, these activities add little value to thedevelopment cycle. If anything, it can cause significantdelays in the project schedule. For both, unfortunately,its merely a wasteful cost of doing business.

Figure 1: Challenges in Making Design Changes

Source: 2011 PTC Survey on CAD Complexity

!"#

%"#

&"#

'# ('# %'# )'# *'#

+,-./,01213 345-/607

8.34974,: 8.316; -2112;? 1@1, 49 /;4,: 0>1

A02/::613 0. 48B.20 8.316;92.8 .0>12 CDE


4/5

!"#$%&'())($(+",%-%.) )./%0,

8

1(0.

;") 3" #696&* 012 %&&"


5/5

!"#$%&'())($(+",%-%.) )./%0,

9

1(0.

>-,,4#7 4&3 0"&9.-5%"&

With this eTopic, weve covered many of the issuesorganizations face when working with multi-CAD dataas well as how modern CAD technology is addressingmany longstanding issues. Heres the recap.

Working with other organizations designmodels is a reality of todays business.The 3Dmodel is the standardized and unambiguousdefinition of the product. As such, it is the pivotpoint for collaboration with other organizations.

Organizations use a wide variety of CADapplications, each of which define geometry andfeatures in unique ways. The underlying technical

issues here are threefold: geometry is rarelyimported cleanly, a lack of feature translationleaves no mechanism to drive change and changesmust be propagated manually across CADapplications.

A number of new CAD technologies have beendeveloped in recent years to directly address theseissues. Here are the three that are most critical toaddressing multi-CAD problems.

The integration of visualization import

capabilities into CAD applications enable farcleaner import of 3D models.

The development of CAD technologies thatrecognize the inherent intelligence that exists ingeometry allows users to change importedgeometry even without features.

New CAD capabilities now automatically recognizewhen an imported CAD model is changed byanother CAD application and associatively makesthe updates.

The implication of these new capabilities is not trivial.Today, working with multi-CAD data is time consumingwhile adding little value to the design of the product.Many organizations see the extra effort as the cost ofdoing business in a supply chain.

For individuals, it means spending far less time on non-value add and frustrating activities. For the organization,there is a higher probability that development projectsstay on schedule. Best of all, adopting these technologiestranslates into very little process change. Simply manypainful activities disappear.

For more information on working with multi-CAD data,please visit http://www.ptc.com/go/multicad.Underwritten in part by PTC, all concepts and ideasdeveloped independently, 2012-2014 LC-Insights LLC.

C>

unified design using multicad data

Documents