Title: Data exchange standards for computer-aided engineering and manufacturing

Authors: Aftab A. Mufti, Michael L. Morris, William B. Spencer

Addresses: Nova Scotia CAD/CAM Centre at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ' Whitman Benn & Associates, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ' IMP Group Limited, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the data exchange standards used to transfer between CAD/CAM and finite element systems. The standards currently in most common use are: Initial Graphic Exchange Standard (IGES), and Autodesk Inc.|s DXF format. Two new standards, Product Definition Exchange Standards (PDES) and Standard for Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP) will be available soon. These two standards, which are intended to be functionally identical, will also be discussed. Several examples are given to show the translations from one CAD/CAM system to another. Several pitfalls and difficulties are illustrated in using these standards.

Keywords: CADCAM; computer-aided engineering; CAE; data exchange standards; DXF; finite element method; FEM; IGES; ISO; PDES; STEP; computer-aided manufacturing; CAM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1990.062697

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1990 Vol.3 No.2, pp.70 - 80

Published online: 11 Jun 2014 *

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