Improving the Interoperability of CAD Data

Abstract

CAD, CAPP, CAM and CNC solutions or systems these days are not connected in a seamless way, i.e. they are not integrated. The term “islands of automation” has been used to describe these disconnected groups of systems with no obvious integration points other than the end user. As the engineering businesses are increasingly being run in a more globalised fashion, these islands of automation need to be connected to better suit and serve the collaborative and distributed environment. Data exchange between two CAD systems and data transferring from a CAD System to CAPP have been partially achieved through neutral files such as STandard for Exchange of Product model data (STEP) or Initial Graphics Exchange Standard (IGES). However, we are losing some important information which is required for other purposes. The aim of this project is to investigate a proper solution to exchange design data with minimum data loss. STEP file is one of the best file formats among all other file formats for data exchange. So in this project we are using a STEP file to exchange design data. STEP AP242 is the latest AP which has not yet been released (as of date 09-05-2014) but libraries are available for educational use. We are considering AP242 libraries for data exchange in this project. We are developing auxiliary applications with the help of PTC Creo APIs called CAD EXCHANGR.CAD EXCHANGR is developed in Visual studio 2010.NET Platform and coded in C++. CADEXCHANGR consists of two processors, Creo processor and STEP processor. Each of these processors have different functions. Creo processor is developed with the help of Pro/TOOLKIT in Creo. Creo processor has two functions. One is to extract features from the 3D model and the other is to construct the features with the help of a P21 file. STEP processor is developed in Creo, with the help of Rose programming (ST-Developer). The role in this process is to translate the extracted data from Creo into AP242 data structure and generate a P21 file, collect data from a P21 file and collect data from a P21 file for 3D model generation in Creo. STEP AP242 is developed to improve the construction history. Therefore, CAD EXCHANGR has the best opportunity to utilise this capability. Once the information is extracted from the P21 file, Creo generates the CAD model automatically with its original features. Keywords: Data exchange; CAD system; STEP; PTC Creo Parametric