Concurrent Multi-User CAx Workflow System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current engineering software is single-user and requires sequential design, analysis, and manufacturing planning, leading to time-consuming file translations and data loss due to tolerance mismatches and object definition inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
A collaborative server manages a single, feature-based geometry model for engineering objects, allowing multiple users to concurrently edit design and analysis data, eliminating the need for manual translation and integrating CAx disciplines like CAD, analysis, and manufacturing planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If single-user software is used for design and analysis, then data consistency is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to sequential workflows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges design and analysis workflows into a single integrated system where multiple users can simultaneously access and work on the same model. The common data model allows design features, analysis features, and manufacturing features to coexist in one database, eliminating the need for separate file translations and enabling concurrent multi-user collaboration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal data model that serves multiple disciplines (design, analysis, manufacturing) simultaneously. This common model structure can be accessed and modified by different user types without requiring format conversions, making the system multi-functional while maintaining data consistency across all workflows.
2Adaptability or versatility
If file translation between CAx tools is performed, then compatibility is achieved, but data loss occurs due to tolerance mismatch and object definition inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discipline-specific data structures into a single unified model that preserves all original design intent information. By storing design features, analysis features, and manufacturing features in one common database with consistent object definitions, the system eliminates data loss that occurs during traditional file translations between different CAx tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The common data model acts as an intermediary structure that enables seamless data exchange between different disciplines without requiring traditional file translations. This mediator layer maintains precise object definitions and tolerance information while allowing access from design, analysis, and manufacturing workflows simultaneously.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate models are created for design and analysis, then specialized analysis is enabled, but workflow complexity increases due to manual translation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges design modeling and analysis modeling into a single integrated workflow. Users can access design features directly from the common model and create analysis features that reference the same underlying geometry, eliminating the need to create separate models and manually translate data between them while maintaining analysis accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data preparation automatically by maintaining a common model that is ready for both design and analysis operations. The model structure is pre-configured to support multiple disciplines, so no manual translation or data preparation steps are needed before analysis, reducing workflow complexity while preserving analysis precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for concurrent CAx workflow includes a collaborative server that manages a model of an engineering object, the model comprising at least design data and analysis data corresponding to the design data, a design client for editing of the design data by a design user, an analysis client for editing of the analysis data by an analysis user concurrent with editing of the design data by the design user; and wherein the collaborative server and the analysis client are collectively configured (i.e., one or both are configured) to enable the analysis user to edit the analysis data, view a plurality of geometric elements within the design data, and create a reference within the analysis data to a selected geometric element of the plurality of geometric elements within the design data. A corresponding apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium are also disclosed herein.