Design

Visualization Tool Provides CAD/CAE File Interoperability

VCollab offers compact storage of CAD and CAE data in one file.

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Engineers often need to move CAE data among design and manufacturing systems that use different file formats. Translation between file formats may compromise data or alter the models, and the large size of the files can make the transfer slow and inefficient. The recently released VCollab software solves these problems with a common portable data-efficient file format.

Common CAX file compacts other file formats into an interoperable file. (Image courtesy of VCollab.)

Common CAX file compacts other file formats into an interoperable file. (Image courtesy of VCollab.)

The CAX file format is a portable data format for interchanging data between CAE, CAD and CAM systems. VCollab claims that CAX files can be as much as 99 percent smaller than the original CAE file with no loss of data or corruption of the model. The common file format allows interchange among CAE model, drawing, and simulation formats to allow models to be moved among essentially all systems and tools.

Visual Collaboration Technologies recently released the 2016 R1 version of the VCollab Suite. This suite provides tools to translate files to and from the CAX format as well as other tools to visualize and manipulate the data.

(Image courtesy of VCollab.)

(Image courtesy of VCollab.)

Engineers can visualize CAX files as high-resolution 3D images with the VCollab Pro CAX data visualization tool. The visualized model can be annotated, sectioned to display different views, merged and overlaid for comparison studies, filtered for attributes and measured.

Additionally, XY plots can be easily generated and stored with the 3D data. Stereo views can be created and stored, and reports can be generated that include animations and video. Results can also be integrated into common applications such as Microsoft Office, WEB, SharePoint and document management systems.

(Image courtesy of VCollab.)

(Image courtesy of VCollab.)

Results can then be integrated into a range of tools and applications, including product data management, product life management, simulation data management, simulation lifecycle management and multidisciplinary design optimization systems.

Engineers often need to compare revisions of a model or drawing to identify differences between the versions. The VCollab Suite also provides tools to examine the differences between revisions, as well as differences in models between load cases, shape and geometry and meshing. Engineers can use these tools to better understand and communicate design and model information for a single model or among multiple models. Fast data mining and post-processing improves analysis productivity. Models and drawings can be compared across tools—CAD to CAE, CAD to CAM, etc.—and data can be exported in a range of formats, including 3D PDF, JT, STL and VRML.

Visit the Visual Collaboration Technologies website for more information on VCollab Suite.