Amounts and type of data

This picture illustrates the situation when the product is “finished”.

The product shall be manufactured and some parts will be made in a NC system …

The product will be inspected with a measurement system …

Etc.

The CAD models are the Reference Geometry that is used by many different systems in the downstream process.

Many partners and/or subcontractors often manufacture the product.

It is mainly the geometry and structure of a product that is defined in the CAD systems.

Other data (tolerances, ..) is often manually added in the downstream systems.

The geometry of a product is fully defined as solids. Solids mean big amounts of data.

The product is defined as Parts, Subassemblies, and Assemblies. Downstream systems often get, and sometimes also need subassembly data.

The amount of data is huge. The CAD models are big.

The number of downstream systems is often big.

There is also data going in the other direction, but the amount is normally small.

The Reference Geometry that is exported to the downstream systems must be right otherwise there will be problems and costs.

The Reference Geometry is normally “right” in the CAD system where the product is defined but there are problems to import the data into the downstream systems, and there will be costs because of the import problems. The problem is the conversion of the geometry data to the format of the downstream system. Will be explained later …

For most users the import problem is a nuisance problem, and most users have met this problem. But is it a small or a big problem? What are the costs for these problems?

The answer is that the costs are frightening! Next picture

Optionally also show picture illustrating the CAD data that is exchanged in the development process, i.e. before it is “finished”. Picture more

(These are the notes for the seminar leader)