CAD data exchange: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:53, 20 January 2022

Revision as of 18:16, 5 February 2022

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'''CAD data exchange''' is aan modalitymethod of [[Engineering drawing|drawing]] [[data exchange]] used to translate data between different [[Computer-aided design]] ([[Computer-aided design|CAD]]) authoring systems or between CAD and other downstream [[CAx]] systems.<ref name="Schoonmaker2003">{{Cite book|last=Schoonmaker|first=Stephen J.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50868192|title=The CAD guidebook : a basic manual for understanding and improving computer-aided design|date=2003|publisher=Marcel Dekker|isbn=0-8247-0871-7|___location=New York|oclc=50868192}}</ref>{{Rp|page=157}}

Many companies use different CAD systems internally and exchange CAD data file format with suppliers, customers, and subcontractors.<ref name=":2" /> Such formats are often proprietary.{{r|Schoonmaker2003|p=157}} Transfer of data is necessary so that, for example, one organization can be developing a CAD model, while another performs analysis work on the same model; at the same time a third organization is responsible for manufacturing the product.<ref name=":05">Xu, X. (2009).&nbsp;''Integrating advanced computer-aided design, manufacturing, and numerical control: Principles and implementations''. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.</ref> The [[Comparison of computer-aided design editors|CAD systems currently available in the market]] differ not only in their application aims, user interfaces and performance levels, but also in data structures and data formats<ref>{{Cite book|title=Product Data Interfaces in CAD/CAM Applications|last=Schuster|first=R.|date=1986-01-01|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg|isbn=978-3-642-82428-9|editor-last=Encarnação|editor-first=Prof Dr-Ing José|series=Symbolic Computation|pages=238–251|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-82426-5_21|editor-last2=Schuster|editor-first2=Dr-Ing Richard|editor-last3=Vöge|editor-first3=Dr-Ing Ernst|chapter = Progress in the Development of CAD/CAM Interfaces for Transfer of Product Definition Data}}</ref> therefore accuracy in the data exchange process is of paramount importance and robust exchange mechanisms are needed.<ref name=":05" />

Since 80s a [[Computer-aided technologies|range of different CAD technologies]] have emerged. They differ in their application aims, user interfaces, performance levels, and in data structures and data file formats.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Product Data Interfaces in CAD/CAM Applications|last=Schuster|first=R.|date=1986-01-01|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg|isbn=978-3-642-82428-9|editor-last=Encarnação|editor-first=Prof Dr-Ing José|series=Symbolic Computation|pages=238–251|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-82426-5_21|editor-last2=Schuster|editor-first2=Dr-Ing Richard|editor-last3=Vöge|editor-first3=Dr-Ing Ernst|chapter = Progress in the Development of CAD/CAM Interfaces for Transfer of Product Definition Data}}</ref> For interoperability purposes a requirement of accuracy in the data exchange process is of paramount importance and robust exchange mechanisms are needed.<ref name=":05" />

The exchange process targets primarily the geometric information of the CAD data but it can also target other aspects such as [[metadata]], knowledge, manufacturing information, tolerances and assembly structure.

The exchange process targets primarily the geometric information of the CAD data but it can also target other aspects such as [[metadata]],{{r|Schoonmaker2003|p=153}} knowledge, manufacturing information, tolerances and assembly structure.

There are three options available for CAD data exchange: direct model translation, neutral file exchange and third-party translators.<ref name=":15">Chang, K.-H. (2014).&nbsp;''Product design modeling using CAD/CAE''. Kidlington, Oxford, UK: Academic Press.</ref>

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== CAD data content ==

Although initially targeted for the geometric information ([[Wire frame model|wire frame]], [[Freeform surface modelling|surfaces]], [[Solid modeling|solids]] and [[drawings]]) of a product, nowadays there are other pieces of information that can be retrieved from a CAD file:<ref name=":05" />

* [[Metadata]] – non-graphical attributes, e.g.:{{r|Schoonmaker2003|p=164}}

** part or detail numbers

** author of the drawing

** revision level, file path on the computer or network storage

** system, the release information, etc.

* Design intent data – e.g. history trees, formulas, rules, guidelines

* Application data – e.g. [[Numerical control|Numerical Control]] tool paths, [[Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing]] ([[GD&T]]), [[process planning]] and [[Bill of materials|assembly structure]]

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== Data exchange options ==

There are at least three ways to exchange data between different CAD system: hardcopy (e.g. [[TIFF]], [[GIF]], [[JPEG]], [[BMP file format|BMP]] or [[PCX]], by image tracing or via ECR), via CAD-neutral formats, or third-party CAD file converter.

=== Direct model translation ===