CompareVidia helps customers to identify and manage problems related with CAD model shape changes introduced by the use of different CAD/CAM/CAE systems. Starting from the 3D CAD model creation, through manufacturing to long term 3D CAD data archiving CompareVidia will trace and validate the original CAD model integrity. If combined with QualityVidia design for CAD model quality assessment, it will verify the 3D model quality against standards (VDA, SASIG, JAMA, ISO-EN 9300) or user defined quality criteria.

Increase of CAD data re-use requires well defined and efficient CAD validation procedures at different stages of the product life cycle. Capvidia has been developing engineering software solutions for over 10 years based on market and customer requirements. CompareVidia is best positioned to deliver solution to customers looking for efficient way to automatically detect shape differences between CAD models.

The CAD model validation is intended to validate 3D model integrity through processes involving CAD data migration.

Typical application areas include:

• Detection of changes introduced during translation, migration, archiving or manual re-mastering
• Tracking undocumented changes between design revisions
• Detection of unanticipated (invisible) parametric model changes caused by migration to other CAD environment
• Detection of changes in CAD assembly structure /li>

CompareVidia detects problems, often not possible for human to detect, fully automatically. CAD data shape alterations resulting from translation, conversion, repair & healing, re-mastering, or unintentional change are potential risk to the CAD data integrity. If extended to processes relying on accurate model representation (e.g. manufacturing and data exchange with suppliers) can create unmanageable risks, potential liabilities and significant financial loses.

CompareVidia brings prediction into processes relaying on reuse of CAD data. Implementing validation procedures at different stages of the product life cycle management results in traceable procedures (as IS0 9001/2 standards) and increases the global product quality.

CAD Validation Scenarios

Supplier Data Validation

CompareVidia can be used to validate supplier data (using different CAD systems) against the original design. Shape and model quality differences are detected automatically at the user set tolerance. Not documented design changes and model changes resulting from using different CAD environments or CAD data format will be automatically detected. The validation procedures are simple to implement at different stages of an engineering process both on the manufacturer and the supplier side. All processes become transparent and traceable.

Manufacturing Validation

CompareVidia validates automatically that model prepared for the manufacturing complies with the original CAD model before the manufacturing process is started. The smallest deviations are detected to prevent possible manufacturing faults and inconsistencies. Only validated CAD models are passed for the manufacturing.

The manufactured detail is usually submitted for inspection. The collected on physical model inspection points can be compared with the original CAD model to validate the final quality of the manufactured detail.

CAD Lagacy Migration

Translating CAD data from a legacy system into your current CAD design system can introduce shape and quality changes. Independent from the used methodology (BREP, feature-based or manual re-mastering) and used data formats (native, neutral) CompareVidia will validate the results and help you to define the optimal migration strategy.

Long Term Archiving

Before submitting 3D data for long term archiving original models are converted into STEP format. The resulting STEP models are easily validated using CompareVidia for compliance with the original design (CAD native data). In addition the STEP data can be verified against standard requirements for long term data storage (CAD model quality compliance with ISO EN 9300) using QualityVidia.

CompareVidia - How it works?

CompareVidia allows you to compare two CAD models with each other. You define the Source Model (reference model) and the Check Model (model to validate). The validation process is controlled with user defined (Compare Settings) parameters. You can define Global Check to verify (Volume, Area, and Centre of Mass) and Local Check to verify the model shape. Parameters as Volume and Area are defined as maximum acceptable deviation in [%], Centre of Mass and Tolerance are defined in length units like [mm, inches, etc.]. The units used in the validation process are automatically driven by the units of the Source Model. In case Source Model is defined in (mm) the validation will be done in (mm), in case other units were used e.g. (inch) the validation will use always the Source Model units.

The validation results are presented in the Compare Tree. You get a global indication Passed/Failed (green/red) icon further detailed by the information classified into folders of the project tree. In the Global Check folder you will find the information about Volume, Area and Centre of Mass. In the Local Check folder you will have three sub-folders: Matched Entities, Deviated Entities, and Different Entities. In case a CAD model is not passing you will see a warning icon attached to all entities not compiling with set validation criteria. You can select each problematic entity in the project tree and further analyse it in the graphical window. Two synchronised graphical windows simplify the investigation of all identified differences. More detailed information including entity count is also available as XML Report (Show Report).

CompareVidia’s Features

• Compares total volume, area, moments of inertia and centre of mass
• Detects geometrical and topological differences
• Checks entitie's attributes Structurizes comparison results in groups of the comparison tree (matched entities, deviated entities, different entities)
• Clearly visualies differences on the 3D models with gradient fill
• Measures deviation between corresponding entities automatically (visualizing linear of angular dimension)
• Creates correspondence map for object ID’s (in the report and the comparison tree)
• Supports verification of parts and assemblies in different CAD formats (CATIA V4, CATIA V5, Pro/E, UGS, SolidWorks, Parasolid, ACIS, VDA-FS, STEP and IGES)
• Operates in batch mode and allows to compare two or more sets of models Implemented for both Windows 32 and 64-bit platforms.

Comparison of CAD Models