© ITEDO Software 2001 From 3D CAD to Web catalogs Dieter Weidenbrück

© ITEDO Software 2001 Content Generating illustrations from 3D CAD Creation of callouts Parts lists Processing the data Viewing environment

© ITEDO Software 2001 Generating illustrations from 3D CAD

© ITEDO Software 2001 Requirements for illustrations Graphic quality Structural quality File sizes

© ITEDO Software 2001 Conversion to 2D Using the 2D output of CAD systems Requires additional work on the CAD side Requires work in an illustration package after conversion Sample 1: Low quality, IGES not better than HPGL Sample 2: IGES with HLR, still substantial work requiredSample 2: IGES with HLR, still substantial work required Using the 3D output of CAD systems Less work on the engineering side Requires illustration package that can manage the conversion Sample: 3D IGES Surface model

© ITEDO Software 2001 Generating illustrations from 3D CAD Combination of 3D CAD system and 2D illustration package Using 2D output of CAD: Additional workload on engineers "Explode" functionality may be used Leads to 2D file that needs to be improved and finalized Finishing and hotspotting in 2D illustration system Limited quality

© ITEDO Software 2001 Generating illustrations from 3D CAD Using 3D output of CAD: Publishing department is more independent from engineering Additional views can be generated as required Higher graphical and structural quality Smaller file sizes

© ITEDO Software 2001 Creation of Callouts Will be added in the illustration package Hotspots are created on callouts or the object geometry Sample: Hotspot variations

© ITEDO Software 2001 Parts Lists Extracted from databases XML Arm Assembly, cpl arm 1

© ITEDO Software 2001 Parts Lists XSLT used to create parts list table WebCGM links are created during transformation

© ITEDO Software 2001 Processing the data Automated process reads the data and prepares the catalog Read parts lists Examine illustrations Find matching pairs of callout numbers Create graphic objects on illustration ID set by illustration system Callout number becomes the "name" attribute linkURI is built automatically from filename and object name Hotspot region is created Consistency checks Write XML and CGM files

© ITEDO Software 2001 Viewing environment Frame set Lower frame loads XML page containing first parts list Parts list loads CGM file into viewer frame No scripting except for initial loading of CGM XML is transformed into HTML using an XSLT

© ITEDO Software 2001 Demo Data Conversion 3D to 2D Callout handling Files of catalog Functionality

© ITEDO Software 2001 Conclusion Today's standards allow for usage of 3D CAD data in electronic parts catalogs COTS tools are available to handle most of the process Some glue is needed to automate the process WebCGM offers functionality for a simple web- based catalog Additional functionality requires scripting – and more work