Translation software keeps models intact

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 5, 2002

CADfix 5.1 is the latest version of the industry-leading CAD data interoperability tool.

CADfix 5.1 is the latest version of the industry-leading CAD data interoperability tool.

Version 5.1 delivers improvements across many aspects of the product, including import/export enhancements and repair and healing developments.

Moving product data from one CAD/CAM/CAE system to another, without losing data, and allowing users to access or exchange product data from any system, poses serious problems for design and manufacturing industries.

These difficulties can produce time-to-market delays, bottlenecks, errors, lost data, quality problems and intensive rework.

Says Andy Chinn, Applications Manager at ITI TranscenData: "CADfix has always aimed to tackle the fundamental inconsistencies and inaccuracies which prevent the efficient transfer of solid modelling geometry between different CAD systems and downstream applications such as finite element analysis.

With this latest version of CADfix we have aimed to incorporate users' feedback in order to best respond to their needs".

Strong and effective links between the different CAD, analysis and CAM systems and applications is vital for the CADfix interoperability software and as with all previous releases of the product, ITI TranscenData continues to expand the CADfix import and export capabilities and release new interfaces.

CADfix 5.1 heralds the release of a new DXF/DWG import interface with support for 2D and 3D files, opening the doors for more effective links with systems such as AutoDesk Inventor and AutoCAD.

Several improvements to IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) file transfer are incorporated, including greater support and capabilities for IGES assemblies, colours, layers and labelling.

There is a new option to control the import of blanked faces in an IGES file, and a new export option allows the user to set a default colour to over ride any currently assigned colours in the model.

These are all aimed at improving the import/export facility.

The CADfix 5.1 import and export interfaces to ACIS and Parasolid are also updated with links to the ACIS 7 and Parasolid 13 modelling kernels.

The automatic model-processing wizard is the focus of all CADfix translation operations.

In this version the wizard target system menu has been reworked with support for more systems and the prepare options have been updated to work with the latest CAD system releases, allowing users to keep one step ahead of the game with leading software.

One of the many strengths of CADfix is its understanding of the geometry requirements of the downstream or receiving system and its ability, via a flavouring process, to address issues that could give rise to downstream failures.

At CADfix 5.1 this flavouring process has been updated for all exports, especially those for the latest versions of Pro/Engineer and I-DEAS.

The process is further strengthened by the incorporation of new advanced surface replacement functions to automatically deal with badly deformed or ill-defined geometry.

General improvements in version 5.1 include Linux platform support and improved assembly support with faster opening of large assembly models, and more capabilities made available for assembly processing.

John Meaney, Director of Sales and Marketing at ITI TranscenData in Europe comments: "Continued feedback from users and user groups allows us to address directly the needs of our users.

With the release of CADfix 5.1 we believe that we have responded to those needs and that we continue to offer an unparalleled level of interoperability support for today's users".