CAx Collaborative Editing via Neutral Server Format
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CAx systems are not well-suited for collaborative design and editing of 2D manufacturing drawings, as they often use incompatible file formats, making it difficult for designers and engineers to coordinate efforts across different tools and formats.
Innovation Solution
A collaborative data store and server system that synchronizes 3D proprietary models across different CAx formats, enabling users to edit and generate 2D manufacturing drawings while propagating changes, and converting models between proprietary and collaborative server formats to facilitate multi-user editing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple CAx tools with different proprietary formats are used for collaborative design, then users can work with their preferred tools and maintain design flexibility, but data compatibility and information consistency deteriorate due to incompatible file formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collaborative data store with a neutral collaborative server format that acts as an intermediary between different proprietary CAx formats. When a user creates or opens a model, the synchronization module converts the proprietary format to the collaborative server format for storage and sharing. This intermediary format enables data exchange between different CAx tools without losing information, while users can still work in their preferred proprietary formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the data format parameter dynamically based on the operation being performed. During collaborative editing and data exchange, the model is stored in the collaborative server format to ensure compatibility. When a user opens or saves a model, the synchronization module converts between the collaborative server format and the user's preferred proprietary format, allowing the system to adapt to different format requirements while maintaining data integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If 2D manufacturing drawings are generated from 3D models in proprietary CAx formats, then detailed manufacturing information can be created, but collaborative editing capability deteriorates due to format incompatibility across different CAx tools
Solution Approach 1:
The collaborative data store serves as an intermediary that stores 2D manufacturing drawings in a neutral collaborative server format. This allows 2D drawings to be generated from 3D models while maintaining collaborative editing capability, as the drawings are stored in a format that can be accessed and edited by multiple users across different CAx tools, unlike proprietary formats that are locked to specific software.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from working exclusively in 3D proprietary models to also utilizing 2D manufacturing drawings stored in the collaborative server format. This dimensional shift allows manufacturing teams to work with 2D drawings for detailed annotation and dimensioning while maintaining the ability to link back to the 3D model, enabling collaborative editing in the 2D domain without sacrificing 3D modeling capabilities.
3Ease of manufacture
If proprietary CAx formats are used to maintain tool-specific functionality, then software capabilities are optimized, but system complexity increases due to multiple format conversion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The collaborative server format acts as a standardized intermediary that simplifies the system architecture. Instead of requiring direct conversion between multiple proprietary formats (which would create exponential complexity), the system uses the collaborative server format as a common denominator. All proprietary formats convert to this intermediate format for storage and collaboration, reducing the number of conversion paths needed and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The collaborative server format is designed to be universal and support multiple CAx tool formats. Rather than creating separate conversion mechanisms for each pair of proprietary formats, the collaborative server format serves as a multi-functional intermediary that can receive and store data from various sources. This universal approach reduces system complexity by providing a single conversion target rather than multiple format-specific conversion paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, executed by at least one processor, may include executing a first CAx application configured to enable a first user to edit a first 3D proprietary model comprising a plurality of features for a part that is to be manufactured, wherein the first 3D proprietary model is encoded in a first CAx format. The method may also include, executing a synchronization plugin module for the first CAx application and detecting, with the synchronization plugin module, a request by the first user to generate a first 2D manufacturing drawing and model corresponding to a selected view of the part that is to be manufactured. The method may also include initiating generation of a 2D collaborative model corresponding to the first 2D manufacturing model and initiating storage of the 2D collaborative model on a collaborative data store. A corresponding system and computer readable medium are also disclosed herein.