Title: Integration of history-based parametric translators using the automation APIs

Authors: Byungchul Kim, Soonhung Han

Addresses: iCAD Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, ME 3080, 373-1, Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea. ' iCAD Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, ME 3080, 373-1, Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea

Abstract: In this paper, a history-based parametric method was proposed and implemented. However, the size of each translator that exchanges the feature and parametric information tends to be large, due to the implementation of duplicated functions. Furthermore, because a history-based parametric translator uses a procedural model as a neutral format, it requires a geometric modelling kernel to generate an internal explicit geometric model. To solve this problem, we implemented a shared integration platform, TransCAD system, which separates translators from a neutral file. The translators for commercial CAD systems can communicate with only TransCAD. To support communication with TransCAD, we exposed the functions of TransCAD by using Automation APIs developed by Microsoft. Each translator uses Automation APIs of TransCAD either to translate a parametric CAD model from the sending CAD system into XML format or to translate from the XML format into the model of the receiving CAD system. This paper introduces the TransCAD system and its function for the exchange of feature and parametric models.

Keywords: Automation API; CAD model exchange; macro-parametric; translator integration; parametric translators; geometric modelling; feature-based modelling; data exchange; product lifecycle management; PLM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2007.012872

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2007 Vol.2 No.1, pp.18 - 29

Published online: 20 Mar 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article