A Case Study on CAD/CAM data transfer in CIM Environment

This case study enumerates the steps involved in testing the data exchange among dissimilar CAD systems using a standard exchange mechanism and discusses the level of inter-operability that can be achieved to facilitate successful transfer of CAD data among three CAD software’s namely Pro/E version 17, I-DEAS Master series version 3.1 and AutoCAD release 13 in a CIM environment. First the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) is used as the data exchange mechanism to test these software’s using a standard test procedure. The same test procedure is then used to find out the effectiveness of the data exchange between Pro/E and IDEAS using a different exchange standard called the Standard For Exchange Of Product Model Data (STEP). AutoCAD does not support STEP. Experimental results show that Pro/E and I-DEAS have the capability to share complete CAD information but AutoCAD has some limitations in transferring information on surfaces and solids using ICES. By using the STEP translator, we are able to translate CAD data efficiently one way from Pro/E to I-DEAS and vice versa but have some difficulty carrying out back and forth data transfer between them.