Every day, multi-CAD enterprises waste precious time waiting for an available expert to convert, repair or simplify their 3D models. Underutilized CADfix licenses, bottlenecks on specialists and the inability to batch-process jobs overnight transform CAD interoperability into a major productivity obstacle. CADfix Server democratizes access to professional CADfix technologies via web browser, enabling the entire enterprise to benefit from 8 specialized services without local installation. Discover how this enterprise platform revolutionizes CAD workflow automation and maximizes 24/7 license utilization.
What is CADfix Server?
CADfix Server is an enterprise web platform that centralizes access to professional CADfix technologies (DX, PPS and VIZ) via a simple web browser. This solution radically transforms the traditional approach by offering 8 specialized services instantly accessible: multi-CAD conversion, geometric repair, plant & process simplification, VR/AR optimization, CAE meshing, STL generation, morphing and 3D comparison.
Developed by the ITI-Wipro CADfix team, CADfix Server addresses the challenges of aerospace, automotive, energy, marine and manufacturing industries by eliminating access barriers to critical CAD expertise. The platform integrates intelligent automatic queue management, comprehensive user and administrator dashboards, and fully customizable workflows to adapt to each organization's specific business processes.
Challenges of accessing CADfix technologies
Engineering teams and technical departments face recurring obstacles that limit their operational efficiency:
- Dependency on a few CADfix experts creating critical bottlenecks
- Chronic underutilization of expensive CADfix licenses (used 30-40% of available time)
- Inability to batch-process jobs automatically during off-hours
- Complex and lengthy training required to master CADfix desktop
- Excessive wait times to access conversion and repair services
- Difficulty integrating CADfix workflows into existing PLM/ERP processes
- Lack of traceability and usage statistics to justify investments
These challenges translate into extended project delays, reduced engineering productivity and difficult-to-demonstrate ROI for CAD interoperability technology investments.
The 8 CADfix Server Services
Exchange: Universal Multi-CAD Conversion
Point-to-point conversion service handling over 30 native and neutral CAD formats without requiring installation of original systems:
- Complete support for major formats: CATIA V4/V5/3DEXPERIENCE, NX, Creo, SolidWorks, Inventor
- Neutral standards support: STEP, IGES, JT, Parasolid, ACIS
- Assembly processing with hierarchy and metadata preservation
- Optional quality checks for conversion integrity validation
- Optimized export to downstream visualization and CAE formats
Backend technology: CADfix DX
Clean-up: Automatic Repair and Healing
Automatic geometric repair and extensive defeaturing service preparing models for target systems:
- Automatic healing of topological and geometric problems
- Intelligent removal of holes, fillets, chamfers for simulation
- Gap closure, missing face reconstruction
- Face joining and shrink-wrap techniques
- Air-volume extraction and interface imprinting
Backend technology: CADfix DX
Simplify: Plant & Process Simplification
Automated simplification service specialized for large MCAD models destined for downstream plant design environments:
- Documented 75-95% file size reduction with critical information preservation
- Configurable CADfix PPS auto-simplification workflows by level
- Specific optimization for process, marine, offshore, energy industries
- DWG/DWF export for AutoCAD Plant 3D, SmartPlant 3D integration
- 80% engineering labor time reduction in manual simplification
Backend technology: CADfix PPS
Visualize: VR/AR/MR Optimization
3D CAD model optimization service for virtual, augmented and mixed reality applications with digital twin support:
- Optimized CAD-to-mesh conversion for immersive applications
- Automatic generation of multiple levels of detail (LOD: coarse, medium, fine)
- Standard VR/AR format export: FBX, glTF, OBJ
- Maximization of 3D engineering asset reuse for visualization
- Significant conversion time savings vs manual preparation
Backend technology: CADfix VIZ
Mesh: High-Quality CAE Meshing
Automatic high-quality finite element mesh generation service for critical CAE analyses:
- Second-order quadratic elements (TE10, TR6) for increased accuracy
- Integrated auto CAD cleanup ensuring minimal failure rate
- Smart mesh sizing driven by geometry and curvatures
- Automation via customizable mesh recipes by analysis type
- Export to major solver formats: ABAQUS, ANSYS, Nastran, LS-DYNA
Backend technology: CADfix DX + meshing license
STL: Robust STL Generation
High-quality STL generation service with auto CAD-cleanup for 3D printing and rapid prototyping:
- Robust STL with automatic watertightness verification
- Adaptive smart facet sizing according to geometric shape
- Precise triangulation density control (minimal size for prototyping)
- Rapid prototyping and downstream CFD simulation support
- Automation via configurable STL mesh recipes
Backend technology: CADfix DX
Morph: CAD Geometric Morphing
High-precision morphing service applying deformations from CAE results, 3D scans or AI optimization to CAD geometry:
- Deformation application from simulations (manufacturing warpage compensation)
- Measured 3D scan integration for as-built model updates
- AI/ML-driven shape optimization support
- Complete morphed CAD model export to native formats (CATIA V5, etc.)
- Multiple design iterations with complete traceability
Backend technology: CADfix DX + morphing license
Diff: Advanced 3D Comparison
High-precision 3D comparison service CAD-to-CAD, Scan-to-CAD and Mesh-to-CAD with significant difference detection:
- CAD-to-CAD two-way merge for design version management
- Scan-to-CAD for manufactured part conformity validation
- Mesh-to-CAD for quality control and reverse engineering
- Color mapping of deviations with measured distance values
- Minor change filtering to reveal critical changes
Backend technology: CADfix DX
CADfix Server Architecture and Operation
Job Initiation Modes
CADfix Server offers two flexible methods for submitting processing jobs:
- Web upload interface: Multiple file selection and upload via browser with intuitive drag-and-drop
- Watched drop-folder: Monitored network folder automatically triggering jobs upon file addition
- Custom workflow selection per service
- Job notes addition for traceability and statistics filtering
- Immediate submission with real-time visibility in dashboard
Intelligent Queue Management
The automatic queue system optimizes available resource and license utilization:
- Automatic detection of available CADfix license count
- Concurrent job launch according to capacity (2 licenses = 2 parallel jobs)
- Automatic retry mechanism with configurable period
- Dynamic administrator prioritization (queue drag-and-drop)
- Queue pause/stop for maintenance or priority adjustments
Comprehensive User Dashboard
Dedicated interface enabling real-time tracking and personal results management:
- Complete list of submitted jobs with statuses: Queued, Running, Completed, Failed
- Visibility of queue position and overall queue size
- Download of completed job results
- 3D preview of results in browser (upcoming WebGL viewer version)
- Admin communication possible for urgent job prioritization
Advanced Administrator Dashboard
Complete platform control with system monitoring and usage statistics:
- Complete queue visibility with detailed statuses of all jobs
- Queue reorganization by drag-and-drop to adjust priorities
- Queue pause/stop and hot configuration modifications
- Detailed usage statistics: server uptime, data processing volume, job counts
- Temporal statistics filtering (last hours, day, week, month) and by job notes
Customizable Workflows and Automation
Workflow Configuration Per Service
CADfix workflows (wizards) are integrated via XML configuration files enabling complete customization:
- Custom workflow definition for each service (Exchange, Clean-up, Simplify, etc.)
- Site administrator control over workflows available to users
- User .CWC file upload option if enabled by admin
- Example: 3 distinct CADfix PPS workflows (light, medium, advanced simplification)
Existing Workflow Integration
CADfix Server integrates transparently into existing PLM/ERP environments:
- Watched folders enabling zero-click integration with existing systems
- Complete batch processing automation night/weekends
- API available for programmatic integration (future roadmap)
- Job notes usable as metadata for automatic filtering and routing
CADfix Server Benefits
Democratization of CADfix Technology Access
Web access radically transforms CAD expertise availability in the enterprise:
- 100% web browser access eliminating local installation barrier
- No in-depth training required vs traditional CADfix desktop
- Documented 80% reduction in user training time
- Instant access to 8 professional services for entire organization
- Elimination of dependency on few CADfix experts creating bottlenecks
License Utilization Maximization
Server architecture drastically optimizes ROI of CADfix license investments:
- 24/7 automated processing maximizing license usage outside business hours
- Intelligent queue enabling concurrent jobs according to available licenses
- Batch processing night/weekends impossible with traditional desktop approaches
- Real-time usage monitoring enabling investment justification
- License utilization typically increasing from 30-40% to 70-85%
Workflow Automation and Productivity Gains
Automation capabilities transform engineering team operational efficiency:
- Zero-click processing via watched folders for PLM/ERP integration
- Recurring workflows fully automatable without intervention
- Batch conversion of 50+ files overnight vs sequential manual processing
- Engineer time freed for higher value-added tasks
- Project delay reduction by eliminating conversion/repair bottlenecks
Enterprise Traceability and Governance
Monitoring and statistics features provide complete usage visibility:
- Complete operation traceability logs for audits and compliance
- Detailed usage statistics by department, project, user
- Temporal and job notes filtering for granular analyses
- ROI justification with concrete metrics: volume processed, time saved
- Workflow optimization opportunity identification via usage pattern analysis
System Deployment and Configuration
Platform Availability
CADfix Server supports standard enterprise environments:
- Windows Server: Windows 10 or later
- Linux Server: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 or later
- Multi-thread architecture for high-performance parallel processing
- 24/7 background service for continuous availability
Network Prerequisites
Simple network configuration for secure deployment:
- Server must see CADfix license server for automatic checkout
- Concurrency management respecting available license limits
- Enterprise local infrastructure deployment (not public cloud)
- No external connection required for data security
Security and Governance
Enterprise architecture ensuring data protection and access control:
- Secure local deployment in enterprise infrastructure
- Configurable user access control
- LDAP/Active Directory integration (roadmap)
- Complete operation traceability logs
License Structure and Backend Technologies
Each CADfix Server service relies on an underlying CADfix technology requiring the appropriate license. Pricing is based on backend CADfix licenses, not on the services themselves.
CADfix DX License
Flagship product supporting 6 out of 8 services:
- Exchange - Multi-CAD A-to-B conversion
- Clean-up - Repair and defeaturing
- Mesh - CAE meshing (+ meshing license)
- STL - Robust STL generation
- Morph - Geometric morphing (+ morph license)
- Diff - Advanced 3D comparison
CADfix PPS License
Specialized solution supporting 1 service:
- Simplify - Automated plant & process simplification
Note: CADfix PPS auto-simplification workflows configurable via XML per-service with customizable levels (light, medium, advanced).
CADfix VIZ License
Specialized solution supporting 1 service:
- Visualize - VR/AR/MR optimization with multi-LOD
Note: Mesh export with multiple levels of detail for digital twin support and immersive applications (FBX, glTF formats).
Specific Additional Licenses
Morph Technology: Requires specific morphing add-on license in addition to base CADfix DX to use Morph service with all capabilities.
Meshing Technology: Requires specific meshing license in addition to base CADfix DX to use Mesh service with second-order quadratic elements.
Typical Enterprise Use Cases
Engineering Departments
Design and analysis teams transform their operational efficiency:
- Automated supplier model conversion from various formats (CATIA, NX, Creo to STEP/IGES)
- Batch geometry repair before CAE simulations eliminating manual iterations
- Overnight high-quality mesh generation for next day FEA analyses
- Iterative design version comparison for engineering change management
- Interns and juniors can now handle conversions without deep expertise
Plant Design Teams
Plant & process teams optimize MCAD equipment integration:
- Automated simplification of complex equipment (pumps, exchangers, compressors)
- 75-95% file size reduction for smooth plant design environment integration
- Optimized DWG export for AutoCAD Plant 3D with critical information preservation
- Large project batch workflows processing hundreds of equipment overnight
- Documented elimination of 80% engineering labor time for manual simplification
Digital Twin / VR Teams
Visualization and digital thread teams accelerate immersive content production:
- Batch CAD-to-mesh conversion for industrial VR/AR/MR applications
- Automatic generation of adaptive multiple levels of detail (LOD)
- Standard VR format export (FBX, glTF) directly usable in Unity/Unreal engines
- Digital thread engineering-to-visualization interoperability support
- Designers can generate optimized VR assets without waiting for CADfix experts
Upcoming Version Enhancements
Integrated 3D WebGL Viewer
The next version will integrate a 3D viewer directly into the dashboard for results preview before download:
- Real-time 3D browser visualization with interactive rotation, zoom, pan
- Job statistics display (before/after file size, simplification rate, etc.)
- Before/after model comparison with overlay for PPS/Simplify services
- Immediate results quality validation without prior download
- Immediate user feedback on processing success
Advanced Enterprise Features
Product roadmap includes major functional extensions for enterprise environments:
- Complete RESTful API for programmatic PLM/ERP/MES integration
- LDAP/Active Directory authentication for enterprise SSO
- Webhooks for event notifications and external workflow triggering
- Advanced analytics dashboard with customizable KPIs by department
- Multi-tenant support for large decentralized enterprise organizations
Summary of CADfix Server Key Benefits
CADfix Server fundamentally transforms access to professional CAD interoperability technologies by:
- Democratizing access to 8 specialized CADfix services via simple web browser for entire enterprise
- Maximizing expensive CADfix license utilization via 24/7 automated processing and intelligent queue
- Eliminating bottlenecks on CADfix experts enabling teams to work autonomously
- Drastically reducing training time (80%) vs complex traditional desktop approach
- Enabling complete automation of recurring workflows with transparent PLM/ERP integration
- Offering complete traceability and detailed usage statistics justifying ROI investments
- Significantly accelerating development cycles by eliminating conversion/repair delays