This report describes Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model-viewing technologies 1 used to support CAD-model review and analysis. CAD model viewers are tools that allow engineers and other users to view CAD models from distributed locations, often using lightweight viewing applications, often supporting multiple CAD formats. These tools are typically less expensive, faster, and simpler to use than native CAD systems for model review. These features are especially important for small and medium-sized enterprises that can not typically support multiple native CAD systems. Additionally, considerations when choosing a viewing technology are described, as well as, popular CAD-model file formats that viewing technologies can import.
IntroductionVisualization solutions offer the possibility of expanding engineering data review and collaboration to the extended enterprise. These tools allow engineers and others involved in product development and review to view 3-dimensional (3D) models from distributed locations, often using lightweight viewing applications or a standard Web browser. Visualization solutions are also useful when multiple CAD systems are used throughout an organization, because many viewers support multiple CAD formats. Viewers allow every authorized member in the organization to deal with heterogeneity and visualizing designs from a variety of formats without running full-function CAD systems. Some viewers can enable design review meetings over the Internet by allowing project members to view and analyze a model concurrently while shifting control between members. Common functionality other than visualization over the network includes: markup, geometric measurement, extraction of inertial properties, and generation of cut views.Visualization solutions are distinct from manipulation solutions in that manipulation solutions are typically native CAD systems that support changing the CAD model, as opposed to reviewing a model or a representation of the model. Visualization solutions are typically much less costly, faster, and simpler to use than native CAD systems, and are used to support model review and analysis.
Acknowledgement and purpose of this reportThis report was funded by Pennsylvania's Technology Insertion Demonstration and Evaluation (TIDE) program. The TIDE program was established to accelerate the diffusion and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies to help US manufacturers. The mission of the program is to identify barriers to adoption of technology within the community of smaller defense manufacturers and help that community overcome those barriers. One such barrier to adoption of tools supporting distributed, CAD-model review is an understanding of the characteristics of these tools, what formats they support, and other important considerations for a requirements review and product evaluation. CAD-model review tools are attractive because they offer the possibility of expanding engineering data review and collaboration to the extended enterprise. However, there is a broad range of CAD-m...