Data Exchange between

CAD/CAM/CAE Systems
A good CAD system
Easy to learn
Easy to work with
Has macro commands
Has its own embedded programming language
Has an open database
Is compatible with other CAD/CAM and analysis
program
Product Data

Objective: translate data from one Computer-aided

design system to another CAD file format.

Vector Data: Geometric and Topological information

Annotation Data: Notes, Dimensions, tolerances,
etc.

CAD Systems:
Solid models representation with associated
annotations data.
Driving force for Graphics Data Exchange

Fundamental incompatibilities among entity

representations
Complexity of CAD/CAM systems
The varying requirements of users
Restrictions on access to proprietary database
information
Rapid pace of technological change
Requirements for the Exchange

Shape data: both geometric and topological information, part or

form features. Fonts, color, annotation are part of the geometric
information.
Non-shape data: graphics data such as shaded images, and
model global data as measuring units of the database and the
resolution of storing the database numerical values.
Design data: information that designers generate from
geometric models for analysis purposes. Mass property and
finite element mesh data belong to this type of data.
Manufacturing data: information as tooling, NC tool paths,
tolerancing, process planning, tool design, and bill of materials
(BOM).
Methods

1. Direct CAD system export/import

2. Direct translation software
3. Neutral data exchange formats
Method 1: Direct CAD system export/import

One - to – One relationship

Some CAD systems can directly read and/or write
other CAD formats, simply by using file open and
file save as options.
Problems of “many” file formats to be supported.
As most CAD file formats are not open, this
option is limited to two CAD systems offered by
the same software developer.
Method 1: Direct CAD system export/import

System 1

System 2 System 3

System 4 System 5
Method 2: Direct Translation Software

CATIA

IDEAS Pro/ E

Translator
Software
UGS Inventor

Solid
Works
Method 2: Direct Translation Software
Companies that specialize in CAD data
translation software, provide software that can
read one system and write the information in
another CAD system format.
They have their own proprietary intermediate
format.
Some of these translators work stand-alone while
others require one or both of the CAD software
installed.
Method 3: Neutral Data Exchange Formats
System 1

Neutral
System 2 System 3
File

System 4 System 5
Method 3: Neutral Data Exchange Formats

Native Native
Database Database
Source Target

Neutral
Pre-Processor Post-Processor
File
Neutral File Formats
DXF: Drawing Exchange Format
IGES: Initial Graphics Exchange Specifications
STEP: Standard for the Transfer and Exchange of
Product Model Data
PDES: Product Data Exchange Standard
IGES

First developed by National Institute of Standards

and Technology (NIST) in 1980.
Adopted by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) in the same year.
Exchanges primarily shape (both geometric and
topological) and non-shape data, which is referred
as CAD-to-CAD exchange
IGES

 An IGES file consists of SIX sections.

 Each record is a line comprising 80 characters
Sections
1. Flag
2. Start
3. Global
4. Directory Entry
5. Parameter Data
6. Terminate
DXF

Developed by Autodesk
Drawing file is converted into an ASCII file format
Objective was to make drawing files readable and
editable
Because of popularity of AutoCAD, it was de-facto
standard for data exchange between CAD/CAM
systems.
Limitations of IGES and DXF

Both file systems were developed to exchange

product definition data instead of product data.
The product data encompasses entire life cycle of
a product (e.g. design, manufacturing, quality
assurance, testing and support
Although specifications of both IGES and DXF
has been updated to include some product data,
the data carried by those files are inherently
insufficient.
PDES: Product Data Exchange Standard

PDES is a much more comprehensive and

complex standard than IGES or any other
predecessors
to include all data which is relevant to the entire
life-cycle of a product: design, analysis,
manufacturing, quality assurance, testing,
support, etc.
STEP
ISO standard for the exchange of product data.
Goal is to enable the exchange of a computerized
product model with all its supporting types of
data in a neutral format (all four types of data).
PDES and STEP are identical – In 1985, the
acronym PDES had been changed to STEP
Hence, PDES is “Product Data Exchange using
STEP”
Data Loss
Like any language translation, there is always
information loss during the product data
information translation
Examples
A design tolerance is captured as a text string
placed on a drawing; its meaning as well as its
numerical value, are lost.
Circular cylinders (a hole) is represented by
NURBS
Offset surfaces: the offset information is lost.
Graphics Standards
Heart of any CAD model is its database
Database includes the graphics entities.
This geometric data is used in all other
downstream applications such as FEA, process
planning, CNC part programming, robot
programming, programming of MRP system,
estimation, simulation, etc.
This needs high level of integration between CAD
and other application programs
Hence, the CAD database must contain:
Shapes of the components (3D model)
Bill of Materials of the assembly that uses these
components
Material of the components
The manufacturing, test and assembly procedures
The data must be neutral
The data must be portable
Graphics Standards

Device independence: Input/Output devices need

not have particular features
Text/Annotations: All text and annotations in a
natural language like English
Display management: Graphics viewing,
manipulation, cursor control, etc.
Graphics functions: Graphics functions in 2D and
3D
 Application Data
Structure/Model

Application Program

Graphics System
Kernel (Core) Device
System Handler/Driver

Input/Output
Device
With Graphics Standards
Graphics Standards
GKS: Graphics Kernel System
PHIGS: Programmer’s Hierarchical Interactive
Graphics System
OpenGL: Introduced by Silicon Graphics for
development of both 2D and 3D graphics
applications.
Parasolid: A portable “graphics kernel” for high
end CAD/CAM systems. Used by Unigraphics,
Parametric Technology Corp., ANSYS, McNeal-
Schwendler, Bentley systems, etc.
ACIS: B-rep modeler, used by Autodesk
Database Management
Database

Collection of data at a single location to be used

by different people for a variety of applications.
A collection of logically related data stored
together in a set of files intended to serve one or
more applications in an optimal manner.
Database is independent of application.
Database must have a pre-decided structure
suitable for access, manipulation and
interpretation
Objectives of Database
Reduce or eliminate redundant data
Integrate existing data
Provide security
Share data among users
Incorporate changes quickly and effectively
Exercise effective control over data
Simplify the method of using data
Reduce the cost of storage and retrieval of data
Improve accuracy and integrity of data
Data structures for CAD

 Based on Edges
 Based on Vertices
Vertex Based Models
Simplest representation of a solid surface; vertex-
based polygonal model consists of lists of vertices and
polygonal faces
Stores an unordered list of vertices and an unordered
list of faces, and each face is represented as an
ordered list of boundary vertices
Important: Boundary vertices are ordered
consistently, that is, either counterclockwise or
clockwise, so that an intersection detection algorithm
can tell which side of a face is outside.
Edge Based Models
 A vertex-based polygonal model does not have
edge entities explicitly in its data structure. This is
because we assume that all the edges are straight
lines and that all the faces are planar faces.
 An edge-based boundary model consists of:
1. an unordered list of vertices,
2. An unordered list of edges, each of which has an
ordered pair of two end vertices, and
3. An unordered list of faces, each of which has an
ordered list of edges.