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Concurrent Engineering Blog

How to Cope with Multiple CAD Systems

Posted by Emma Rudeck on 11-Mar-2014 16:18:00

multiple CAD systemsIt’s not unusual for manufacturers to have to work with multiple CAD systems. This could be because suppliers, subcontractors, customers, or even a different department are using a different CAD package. Due to the proliferation of 3D CAD systems and the range of different packages, this can create enormous difficulties for manufacturers when they try to use these models with their own CAD software.

How Many Companies Try to Cope with Multiple CAD Systems

Initially, many companies will try to import 3D models from the other CAD packages into their own 3D formats. This usually entailed importing the basic model and editing the data to replicate the data set that existed in the original model. Although 3D models can often be converted and imported into other systems, there are often conversion and compatibility issues. Additionally, if there is an attempt to modify these 3D models and re-export them, there were further compatibility issues and errors.

This approach of importing and correcting 3D models from one CAD package to another is laborious and time consuming; it often represented a significant percentage of the time spent preparing the original model.

A well-known example of this was the difficulties Airbus experienced in the development of the A380 double-decker aircraft, which was delayed for several years because of data incompatibility problems between their different national operations using different versions of software.

But, it’s not just about being able to import files. One of the most common obstacles for engineers to overcome is maintaining the intelligence of the model after it has been imported. Without this information, making changes to imported models becomes difficult, as your CAD software cannot recognise the design intent of the model.

Why Companies Shouldn’t Have to Cope

Gradually companies have realised and accepted that fighting against a complicated import and correcting process is not the solution.

To counter this, companies are now looking for practical multi-CAD solutions. This would mean the common pitfalls are no long a challenge that needs to be overcome.  This includes the development of CAD software that recognises the design intent and intelligence of imported models, which means that designers and engineers no longer have to spend precious time recreating models.

The advantage of solving this problem is significant. Having a CAD system that makes working with multi-CAD data less time-consuming and less expensive. In addition, it doesn’t usually involve any further processes being introduced. It is simply a way for organisations to make a painful problem disappear.

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