Feature Based Translation

Feature Based Translation

Manufacturers depend on product knowledge information stored in the CAD model throughout their organization and supply chain. The need to collect, access, share, control, and protect product knowledge is driving the need for more efficient Product Knowledge Integration. With newer CAD systems implementing parametric design, the additional layers of information in the CAD model require more than just a geometry translation to preserve product knowledge.

The Proficiency solution enables the transfer of the complete product knowledge between major CAD systems which includes geometry, features, sketches, manufacturing info, metadata, assembly information and drawings in the conversion process. Simply stated it means that high quality CAD models are transferred without losing their workability or manufacturing data. Moreover, the process does not only preserve the product knowledge, but more importantly adds value by removing old issues embedded in the original model and extracting additional added value from a CAD migration or conversion. This results in fully functional models in the target CAD systems, which retain the original product knowledge while providing a reliable basis for further development.

The Proficiency Collaboration Gateway solution currently supports Feature exchange between Catia V4, I-DEAS, Unigraphics NX, Pro-Engineer, Catia V5 and Inventor.

Product Knowledge Integration - Full Service Solution

Proficiency delivers a combination of methodology and technology to define robust, predictable, repeatable processes, which can suit different business cases from migrations of GigaBytes to TeraBytes, or delivery of critical production data from supplier to OEM or partner to partner.

Feature Based Translation Process

Patented Technology Drives Automation and Interactive Guided Completion Process

The Proficiency solution offers a reliable and accurate exchange between product development teams regardless of the CAD system being used. This is achieved by automating up to 95% of the exchange of the product knowledge in the CAD model through the patented Collaboration Gateway™; and then providing a interactive guided process with the Completion Wizard™ to complete the model.

IP Protection and Control

Proficiency includes programmatic control on what product design data is imported and exported, providing complete intellectual property (IP) protection when sharing or delivering your models. A process template provides multiple levels of control and granularity of design information, such as feature definition and history, to be exchanged. Source data, complete with feature history can be visualized to determine robustness of models to be exchanged without requiring access to the authoring CAD system.

Product Knowledge Exchange with Q/A Validation and Reporting

The process provides fully automated reporting, including Q/A validation and transaction records. When used as part of the design process, this reporting allows design teams to understand issues related to their data capture practice, such as what modeling techniques and features are most or least portable, robust or standard. This results in designs that capture true design intent without peculiarities of one particular system or representation.

Competitive Advantage

Manufacturers who view and address Product Knowledge Integration as a strategic business initiative will find themselves with a significant competitive advantage through lowers costs, faster time-to-market, better quality, efficient use of resources and more time for product innovation.

Proficiency

Proficiency is a feature-based translation solution which enables the transfer of complete design intelligence between major CAD systems, including geometry, features, sketches, manufacturing information, metadata, assembly information and drawings. Accurate and usable models are achieved with up to 95% automation. Proficiency also provides a CAD completion wizard to help users improve the automated results.

Proficiency offers automated reporting, including feature Q/A validation, transaction records, and integration with CADIQ (for source-to-target validation and downstream usability analysis). This reporting allows design teams to understand issues related to their modeling practices such as which techniques and features are most or least portable, robust or standard. With this knowledge, designers can leverage the full power of their CAD tool without generating models limited by the peculiarities of one particular system or representation. The Proficiency solution is packaged as a scalable web-based server and may be integrated as part of a PLM workflow or embedded in an interoperability automation solution (i.e. DEXcenter).

To learn more please visit the Proficiency Product Page.

CADIQ

Independent Validation of Migrated 3D Models

With all 3D model migration approaches, there is a risk of unintentional changes being introduced. This makes a comprehensive validation solution a crucial element in a 3D model migration strategy. No legacy data migration process involving 3D CAD data is complete without applying an automated, independent validation process that can computationally confirm if changes to the product model may have been introduced during the migration process. This validation is especially critical in the case of feature translations and manual remastering, both of which have higher rates of differences being introduced due to the difficult nature of moving feature based models between different CAD systems. ITI is often engaged in Data Migration and other customer interoperability processes as an independent evaluator of the results. Our customers trust that our neutral validation of migrated data is well proven via our Validation Solutions.

To learn more, please visit the CADIQ Product Page.

DEXcenter

Automation of Legacy Data Migration

Getting high quality and consistent legacy data migration results is challenging. There are dozens of variables that affect whether a migrated model is usable or requires additional rework. ITI's DEXcenter Automation Framework incorporates the defined migration methodology in a repeatable way to ensure best practices.

Extensive Processing Support:

DEXcenter migration automation is enabled to support processing of hundreds of assorted CAD related applications including but not limited to:

CAD system standards translators (IGES, STEP, DXF, Parasolid, ACIS
Direct translators from ITI, other vendors, customer specific applications
2D drawing mapping and flavoring for migration via IGESworks
3D Model translation and repair applications such as CADfix
Feature based translation through Proficiency
Validation applications such as CADIQ
Other generalized pre-post migration processing functionality that requires automation
Integration into PLM/PDM systems to better automate migration worksflows

Intelligent, Scalable, Dynamic Migrations:

Legacy data migration automation can be configured to intelligently adapt to different translation conditions which might require using different translators or different translation options. It also supports multiple translation servers and load balancing mechanisms to allow scaling to achieve the desired throughput.

Effective Resource Utilization:

Our approach to legacy data migration automation maximizes the use of expensive software licenses. Rather than have multiple software product licenses on assorted users desktops, consolidating use through the DEXcenter reduces the need for licenses. License checking and load balancing keeps these licenses busy while simultaneously reducing the risk of failures due to unavailable resources.

To learn more, please visit the DEXcenter Product Page.