Interface enables sharing between different CAD programmes

10th June 2015

Barney Scott

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When developing large, complex products such as cars or aeroplanes, designers may need to use numerous CAD systems in-house, on a single task. Whilst this design process may be an efficient way to manufacture these types of products, it can cause problems when the CAD data needs to be exchanged by those involved in the design process who may not be using the same CAD software.

CAD to CAD and CAD to Visualisation translators are available, but what if the OEM uses CATIA but needs to also access CAD data from NX, CREO or JT systems directly from within their CATIA design environment without the need for external translation tools?

Theorem’s Multi-CAD solution allows designers and engineers to do just that. Based upon the Dassault Systemes XCAD infrastructure, it allows CATIA V5 users to incorporate parts and assemblies from the other CAD systems, such as NX and Creo, within the CATIA environment without having to use external translators. It does so by pulling the files directly into CATIA and using the existing V5 commands of “Insert existing component”, “file open” and “file save as”. The application checks geometry for errors and validates the integrity of the data as it comes into CATIA. The beauty of the solution is the interlinking of the CATIA and foreign CAD data.

CAD files are completely associative which empowers CATIA users to automatically update their CATIA design with changes authored in the foreign CAD system. Multi-CAD then tracks changes and updates the master model as each sub-assembly is developed .

The system architecture of Multi-CAD maintains a link between the CATIA V5 data and the other design system data, so that the design and assembly changes can be tracked and any updates made will be automatically made on the original mode.

Using Multi-CAD offers a greater level of security and protection as the link to the source data is a direct link without the need to leave the application or use 3rd party external applications. This also removes any errors that can occur from potentially working with old, out of date data.

Theorem’s Multi-CAD application system is a low cost and efficient solution to the problems that can be encountered when different CAD systems collaborate on projects and ensures the integrity of the CAD data whilst allowing the seamless transference of files between users.