Interoperability between a Cooperative Design Modeler and a CAD System: Software Integration versus Data Exchange

Abstract

Data exchange between Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems is a crucial issue in concurrent engineering and collaborative design. The paper presents research works and techniques dealing with the interoperability of a Cooperative Design Modeler (CoDeMo), aiming at the integration of product lifecycle knowledge, and a commercial CAD system (CATIA V5). Two kinds of approaches are implemented in the considered case of CAD interoperability for exchanging geometric data, respectively: one is based on a traditional static interface, in which STEP AP203 standard is used; the other is based on a dynamic interface, in which Application Programming Interfaces (API) of the targeted CAD system is adopted. Both approaches should enhance the communication, exchange and sharing of product data between CAD systems for improving concurrent engineering. A comparison between these two approaches is made to show their particular advantages and disadvantages. The development of a translator between both CAD systems based on each approach has been carried out and evaluated on an assembly case.

Sharing Knowledge When it Cannot be Made Explicit

“…PLM models focus on sharing information related to a product throughout its lifecycle. To do so, interoperability and standardization are aimed by PLM models such as STEP or CPM for example (Song et al, 2006 ;Assouroko et al, 2010 ;Etienne et al, 2011 ;Barbau et al, 2012).…”

Interoperability Framework for Supporting Information-Based Assistance in the Factory

“…The last category uses dynamic interfaces, based on API Standards (Application Programming Interface) and web services technologies, to guarantee the communication between software [13]. In this kind of interoperability mechanism, software integration is fulfilled through the web services to support the distribution of heterogeneous information between members of a project team.…”

Specifications and development of interoperability solution dedicated to multiple expertise collaboration in a design framework

“…Generally, this mapping is statically contained into a converter device (an example this kind of converter is detailed in [30]) which is coded by a computer science expert who usually does not master the knowledge he converts. Since this project aims to be used by people which are not expert in data conversion, this constraint implies to develop a method and a tool which ease this mapping, and thus, the expert tool connection to the PPO mediation.…”