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Technorati Tags: CATIA V5, Multi-CAD, NX, design in context, CAD CAM, Theorem Solutions, PLM MarketPlace, Dassault Systemes, interactive design solutions

BAE SYSTEMS USES THEOREM SOLUTIONS FOR CAD DATA MIGRATION

Nimrod MRA4 data migration brings significant benefits

BAE Systems, one of the world’s leading high technology and manufacturing companies has utilised a combination of Theorem Solutions TPM data exchange automation and translation products to migrate Nimrod MRA4 data from CADDS into CATIA. The project migrates tens ofthousands of CADDS 5 models and drawings into CATIA bringing significant benefits to BAE through the reduction of ongoing costs of running multiple CAD systems. The successful migration process also ensures the retention of valuable intellectual property created over many years.

In the past Nimrod was designed in two CAD systems, the wings were designed in CADDS and the rest of the airframe in CATIA. Over time Nimrod has evolved into one of the most advanced and versatile airborne systems ever made. A BAE systems project team at Warton in Lancashire England became aware that unification of the design data onto a single CAD system would bring significant benefits both financially and operationally and in 2006 began to investigate the feasibility of migrating the Nimrod CADDS data into CATIA.

BAE systems were already very experienced in the day to day translation of specific CAD parts from CADDS into CATIA for their own use and for use within their supply chain and their methods included standard based translators such as STEP and IGES and the use of Theorem’s CADverter for 3D model translation. However their experience showed them that translation carried out in low volume and in an interactive manner would not be suitable for the migration of over a hundred thousand models and drawings. The demands on time and manpower alone would make this completely impractical.

In seeking a solution to the limitations of the current process BAE Systems evaluated the batch capabilities of applications at their disposal and reached the conclusion that none of the options provided a complete solution. Their next action was to contact Theorem and open a series of discussions aimed at addressing their problems.

CAD data translation specialists Theorem are not only developers and suppliers of CAD translation products but also provide solutions for a large scale migration projects. Because of this Theorem already has some generic applications that help companies wishing to migrate large volumes of CAD data in the most effective manner. As the parties worked together a solution to BAE’s problems began to emerge.

The initial challenge was to demonstrate that the Theorem CADDS to CATIA translator would prove suitable for the translation of the 3D data and since BAE were already a user of this Theorem product it did not take long to confirm. Secondly came the requirement to translate 2D drawings from CADDS to CATIA either associated with 3D models or as standalone 2D drawings. This was a significant challenge but Theorem developed specific application software to solve it and the project reached a stage where the CAD translation problems were considered resolved to BAE’s complete satisfaction.

However it had always been known that simply providing batch translation capabilities was not going to meet BAE’s full project requirements. The nature of the project meant that the batch processes would need to monitored and that comprehensive audit trails would be required enabling the cross checking of any translated data back to its original source and showing everything that had happened to it during the migration process. With over 100,000 CADDS files requiring translation into CATIA, if this monitoring and audit trail creation were to be carried out manually, manpower costs alone would have made the whole project unfeasible.

Theorem proposed that BAE consider Theorem Process Manager (TPM), an application specifically designed for the control and management of computer processes and an agreement was made to move forward to a ‘Proof of Concept’ phase which would entail the automatic combination of the translation processes with automated monitoring and audit trail creation under the overall control of TPM.

Even before this phase could begin it became clear that another significant requirement would need to be included within the TPM automated process. All translations in the Nimrod project are subject to a checking process. This was planned to be a manual activity undertaken by experienced checkers and it had originally been designed to confirm the validity of relatively small numbers of translations. The migration process would create a high volume of translated data very quickly and the risk was that it would either swamp the existing checkers or require the temporary employment of a great many more checkers. Without automation, data checking would be a significant time bottleneck and add substantial cost to the project.

To solve this problem the decision was taken to utlise checking software and procedures that could be incorporated and automated in the TPM process. A set of appropriate CADDS files
was identified and nominated for use as the test data set for the Proof of Concept phase. This enabled a three month pilot to demonstrate that Nimrod 2D and 3D data could be quickly and accurately translated into CATIA, that the translations met the required quality standards, that checking could be automated, that the results could be easily audited and that the whole migration project could be run under TPM with the minimum of operator intervention.

During the course of the Proof of Concept a number of refinements were made to various aspects of the overall solution the most significant of which was to incorporate a series of automatic exception reports to indicate to checkers where there might be issues in a particular model or drawing. This meant that instead of a final manual checking process that examined a small number of translations at random, the checkers would be directed towards the files that exhibited problems and this resulted in even greater efficiency in the overall project.

The Proof of Concept phase was fully successful and BAE Systems at Warton has since implemented an on-site production system and is now reaping the benefits. The migration process is under the full control of TPM and only requires the selection of input data and a ‘drag and drop’ action to initiate a set of translations and all the other activities that are necessary in this demanding project. Comprehensive validation and checking takes place without operator intervention and exception reports provide a small team of checkers withclear indication of which files should be manually examined.

Often in projects of this nature it is difficult to identify tangible benefits but they were very clear in this CADDS to CATIA migration. Effective migration has saved significant futureexpenditure that would have arisen from operating both CADDS and CATIA. Automatic comparison and validation between CADDS source and post translated CATIA has saved a significant cost through the avoidance of additional manpower and the automatic creation of audit trails saved further manpower whilst providing comprehensive audit reports.

The outcome is a highly successful solution to a complex CADDS to CATIA migration project that demanded not only meeting the technical objectives but also providing very significant savings in time and cost.

Technorati Tags: Theorem Process Manager (TPM), CAD data translation, TPM, Legacy Data Migration, CAD data migration, CADDS to CATIA, automated cad translation

Theorem Solutions opens the way for the CATIA and 3DXML communities to work with JT data.

Use of Dassault Systemes strategic XCAD and Siemens JT Open technology ensures full compatibility and delivers high quality data and business benefits with a new JT to 3DXML translator. 

The CATIA community working in a collaborative manner where JT is the data exchange format, or those where JT is used within their own company now have easy and comprehensive access to the data previously locked away in JT files. Now, the ability to work with 3DXML data (that once was JT data) whilst continuing to work in their familiar Dassault Systemes application environment will bring not just operational benefits but business benefits too. Ease of use, time saved through not having to re-work data and reduction of costs by reducing the occurance of errors are all direct benefits from using Theorem's new JT to 3DXML translator.

Theorem's new JT to 3DXML translator makes accurate JT data available to users of CATIA V5, 3DLive and 3DVIA Composer. The 3DXML data is a full and complete translation of the JT file, including Brep solids and surfaces, tessellated data, PMI (product manufacturing information), structure and color. It provides users with new methods and extends the use of design data within a business enterprise and across supply chains.

Theorem customers will be immediately familiar with the interactive user interface for the translation of small numbers of files but it is likely that many organisations will gain significant benefit by running Theorem's JT to 3DXML translator via the command line interface integrated in to their PLM environments.

Theorem's JT to 3DXML is available immediately. For further information and to enquire about how to order please go to www.theoremsolutions.com/products/Intermediate/jt_3dxml.htm

Technorati Tags: JT to 3DXML, CAD/CAM, product data exchange, CATIA V5, 3DLive, 3DVia Composer, Theorem Solutions, PLM MarketPlace

Theorem Solutions announces comprehensive support for CATIA V5 R19

PLM interoperability specialist Theorem Solutions continues to offer the most uptodate support for CATIA users with the announcement of immediate availablity of support for CATIVA V5 R19.

The new versions of Theorem's CADverter offer fast and accurate translation of CAD data between CATIA V5 R19 and NX, I-DEAS; CADDS5 and ICEMsurf and for ProductView and the JT visualisation formats as well as the recently introduced Theorem 3DXML capability.

Theorem's commitment to keep pace with the latest releases of CATIA V5 is based on its use of application development utilities provided and supported by the Dassault Systemes themselves. This not only ensures parallel development of new CADverter products, but also complete compatibility with fast-evolving and increasingly capable product development systems found in CATIA V5.

These latest CATIA V5 R19 CADverter products include the full range of Theorem CATIA products including the latest Theorem Multi-CAD products that operate from within CATIA V5. They will be available to existing Theorem users with a current maintenance agreement, as well as to all new customers.

Announcing the new series of CADverters for CATIA V5 R19, Theorem's General Manager, Keith Jeacock said: "Many of our CATIA customers employ CADverters on 'mission critical' projects. Their ability to do so is sometimes dependent on the timely availability of robust interoperability products that match the rate at which they themsleves update their CATIA systems. Our extensive pre-release testing confirms that CATIA V5 users will be able to implement to the latest Theorem CATIA V5 R19 CADverters with complete confidence and without interruption to existing interactive or batch interoperability processes."

To view Theorem's range of products for CATIA V5 please click here:  http://www.theorem.co.uk/products/catiav5.htm

Technorati Tags: CAD data translation, CATIA V5 R19, CATIA V5 Multi-CAD, 3DXML

Theorem's new CATIA V5 Multi-CAD module removes three major interoperability hurdles

• External translations no longer required
• High quality data assured
• Latest version of the imported file always used.

CATIA V5 users working with Theorem's new Multi-CAD module can forget about translating non-CATIA parts that might be needed for their work. Simply using the CATIA command "insert existing component" the CATIA V5 user can now select and insert non-CATIA geometry including NX, Pro/E and I-DEAS. There is no longer the need to carry out an external translation.

Using Multi-CAD the new streamlined workflow gives the operator a much easier working environment and the use of Dassault Systemes development tools in the creation of this exciting interoperability development ensures that the data imported is of the highest quality. 

The level of interoperability is such that Multi-CAD monitors parts or assemblies inserted in this way and if they change the user is alerted and an automatic update takes place in CATIA V5.

Multi-CAD for CATIA V5 provides the user with the highest possible levels of interoperability with NX, Pro/E and I-DEAS files and assemblies.

For further information Theorem's CATIA V5 Multi-CAD solutions please follow this link: http://www.theorem.co.uk/products/multicad.htm

Or watch the product AVI here.....

CATIA V5 Multi-CAD NX SolutionsTechnorati Tags: CATIA V5, Multi-CAD, CAD/CAM/CAE, interactive design solutions, work with native CAD data, PLM MarketPlace, Theorem Solutions, Interoperability, design in context