Are you confused about how and where to start the CAD tool change from? Don't worry anymore!! you are at the right place. CAD tool change needs exceptional analysis and planning to make it successful. In this context, we talk about various options, approaches, and strategies for CAD software changes.

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CAD Tool Change Essentials & it’s
Approaches

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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. CAD Analysis
– Source CAD Study
– Trigger Points
3. CAD Selection
– Feature Mapping
– Limitations
– Additional Capabilities
4. CAD Conversion
– Neutral File Exchange
– Feature Based Translator
– Remastering
5. Summary
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At times, when organization expands
or acquires or globalizes, it makes
it evident to change their CAD
toolsets to sustain and grow
the business. However, switching
CAD software is a big task.
Organizations need to be aware of
the risks and difficulties involved in
doing so, as some of the design
history and feature based translator
details are lost in translation unless
otherwise the approach chosen is
remastering.
CAD tool change consists three
major factors-
• Source CAD Analysis
• Target CAD tool selection
• CAD conversion approach
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary
Introduction

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CAD
Application
Modelling
Features
PLM/PDM
Integration
Data Export
Customization
Standard
Part Libraries
CAD analysis contain the following
points:-
• Source CAD study
• Trigger points
Purpose of this analysis:-
• Understanding use cases of
current software
• Learn existing configuration
• Understand special need of
designer
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary
CAD Analysis

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CAD Analysis
Source CAD study
This study can be categorized into 3
parts:-
1. Features used:- Team
understands all command or
features used in organization
across all domains.
2. Configuration:- Organization
specific CAD configurations are
analyzed in detail and recorded.
Configurations such as Drawing
templates, Material libraries,
standard part libraries come
under this category
3. Customization:- Team should
also be aware of custom
scripts/programs/commands
deployed on source CAD system
that are to be migrated too.
No Change
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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 Site Consolidation
 Mergers and Acquisition
 Performance of application
 Excessive time required to work
on Large Assemblies
 Saving the data back into PLM is
a tedious task
 Version control issues
 Resolution issues
 Upgrade Issues
 Customization issues
 Non availability of advance
features and so on
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
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Transcript - changed
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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CAD Selection
CAD Selection generally involves:-
• Comparison of source and Potential CAD
systems
• Contribution from all the business areas
• Source CAD system analysis is taken as
baseline
• Feature mapping
• Limitations
• Additional capabilities of target CAD system.
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Transcript - changed
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary
NX
CREO
CATIA
SOLIDWORKS
INVENTOR
SOLIDEDGE

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CAD Selection
Mapping CAD features to new CAD software
Map all features and
functionalities of source and
target CAD systems.
This will help implementation
team to:-
• Identify Gaps and similarity
between Source CAD and
Target CAD application.
• Create documentation for
Target CAD Application,
This should include features for :-
• Part level
• Assembly level
• Drawing level
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Mapping features
to consider
Drawing level
Assembly level
Part level Part details
Modeling
features
PMI
Dimensioning
system
Assembly
structure
Assembly
Features
BOM attributes
Templates
Drawing
Features
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

9. Public Data
• Every software has some or the
other limitations. It is essential to
understand limitations of potential
new software and their impact on
broader scale.
• Different CAD software are
suitable for different engineering
domain, as each one of them offer
domain specific advantages over
other.
CAD Selection
Limitations of new CAD System
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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CAD software should additionally fulfill
below :-
• Easy integration and exchange with,
1. ECAD
2. CAM
3. Digital Manufacturing
4. Quality Software
5. CAE tools
• Customization.
• Cloud services and so on.
CAD Selection
Additional Capabilities
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Transcript - changed
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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• CAD Conversion is the process of translating source CAD data into target format.
• There are several tools available in the market for CAD conversion ranging from
the ones developed by CAD application providers themselves to the ones that are
developed by other vendors to fit the custom requirements.
• Selection of approach completely depends on organizations needs such
as, Budget, time,Target CAD software, complexity of data, etc.
• Methods for CAD Conversion are as follows:-
1. Neutral File Exchange
2. Feature Based Translator
3. Remastering or CAD Factory
CAD Conversion 1/2
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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CAD Conversion 2/2
Basic
Features
gets
converted
All features
are created
as per
design
Only Dump
solid is
available
Source CAD Software
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature based
translator
Remastering
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary
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Transcript - ch

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• Source CAD data is exported to staging location in Neutral file format which then is
used to load in target CAD software.
• Neutral file formats such as JT, STEP, CGR & IGES are used.
• Converting source CAD to STEP is one of the approaches as it is an enriched format
that supports NURBS modeling but misses out on the polygon modeling.
• Converting source CAD data into JT is another approach as it support polygon and
NURBS modeling and contain PMI information. It doesn't contain material and texture
information unlike the other Neutral file formats.
CAD Conversion
Neutral File Exchange Method 1/3
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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CAD Conversion
Neutral File Exchange Method 2/3
Pros and cons of using Neutral file exchange approach over other approaches are:
Pros:-
• Less implementation time
• Cost effective
• Faster migration process
Cons:-
• Migrated data will not be feature based
• Designers will have a limited information
• Drawing files lose associativity
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Transcript - changed
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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c
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CAD
SYSTEM A
CAD
SYSTEM B
STEP
IGES
CGR
JT
DXF
Import of
files to
new CAD
system
Translation
Translation
Output
2D
3D
CAD Conversion
Neutral File Exchange Method 3/3
Slide – unchanged
Transcript - changed
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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CAD Conversion
Feature Based Translator 1/3
This approach is achieved through translators developed by various companies.
These translators create feature based model inside target CAD software by taking
reference of model available inside the source CAD system.
This approach is recommended if the source data is of good quality.
There are many translator tools available in the market, some of them are:
1. CMM
2. Theorem solution
3. Transmagic
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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Pros:-
• Basic feature based model will be available in target CAD software
• Drawing associativity will be maintained
• Feature tree will be available
• Attributes are also transferred
• Migration time will be lesser in comparison to remastering
• Assembly constraints are also transferred
Cons:-
• Higher cost involved usually in comparison to Neutral file exchange.
• Complicated CAD may fail and will still need remastering in target system
• Approach becomes cumbersome for substandard source data quality
No change
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary
CAD Conversion
Feature Based Translator 2/3

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• It is a feature based tool developed by Siemens. This Tool is used to translate
various non NX CAD data into NX data.
• CMM also contains extensive reporting, validation, and options for configuring
the results
• CMM supports the migration of part features or part boundary representations
(B-Reps), assembly structure/constraints, and associative drawings.
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary
CAD Conversion
Feature Based Translator 3/3
E.g. CMM (Content Migration Manager):

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• Remastering is a technique to create proper
feature based model in different CAD software.
• In remastering a separate team is hired to
convert existing CAD model into target CAD
software formats.
• Remastering is a process to create models in
target system from existing models and
drawings.
• Remastering is basically one of the formats of
reverse engineering.
• It is a time-consuming process, so it is
outsourced in most of the cases.
• Remastering is the best approach for erroneous
source CAD data. Say overlapping surfaces in
CAD
CAD Conversion
Remastering 1/3
Modified –
recreate video
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CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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Pros:-
• Feature based model in target CAD software
• Drawing associativity will be maintained
• Better integration with downstream applications
• Existing design data can be reused
• Quick design turnaround
• Design team can immediately start development
Cons:-
• Higher cost involved
• Migration timeline will be longer
CAD Conversion
Remastering 2/3 Final
No Change
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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CAD Conversion
Remastering 3/3
PLM
/PDM
SYSTEM
Opening required
CAD files in
Source CAD
software
Saving CAD files
PLM
/PDM
SYSTEM
Geometry Materials
& Layers
Product
Structure
PMI
BOM
Attributes
Visually check and remaster features
and geometry of source CAD data to
target CAD software
Features
Final
No change
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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In summary, there are various options, approaches, tools and strategies available for
CAD conversion.
The most appropriate approach is the combination of some or all the three
approaches. Say for example, legacy data that is required only for reference purpose
can be migrated using Neutral file exchange approach. Simple data that is required
with all the parameters can be migrated using feature-based translator approach.
And lastly the complicated data that is required with parameters can be remastered
in target system. Such combination of approaches based on the business
requirements provide best possible result.
Thus, investing sufficient time in analyzing the data and requirement is must to
conclude on the viable and suitable approach. Involvement of experts during initial
screening is critical to lay a strong foundation for successful migration.
Summary
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Transcript - Changed
CAD Tool Change
Approach
CAD Selection
Source CAD
Study
Feature Mapping
Limitations
Additional
Capabilities
CAD conversion
Neutral File
Exchange
Feature Based
Translator
Remastering
CAD Analysis
Trigger Points
Summary

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