In the design and manufacturing process, it often a requirement to compare one version of a model to the next. Designs often go through multiple iterations, and having a complete understanding of what has changed from version to version is critical to produce a quality part with the least amount of rework. Finding these differences, not only from the geometry perspective, but also from the feature, which includes notes, parameters, and annotations perspective, is critical to the overall process, and could potentially save a part from being scrapped or having quality issues.
Transferring heavy CAD models into lightweight visualization models which still contain notes, parameters, and annotations is a trend in the industry. These lightweight models can be consumed in a number of processes, and more easily distributed throughout the enterprise. Viewers interact faster with these models, as they are not burdened with the rich CAD feature history, and are only intended as an accurate visual reference to the data. Many mobile devices are now capable of viewing these formats. Keeping these lightweight models accurate to the original CAD data is also critical to the overall process. The challenge is comparing the lightweight model to the CAD model in an efficient and accurate method.
The following comparisons are currently possible:
V5/V5
With xCompare V5 / V5 users can verify interactively or in batch mode if models – CATParts, CATProducts, CATDrawings and Cgrs – were changed compared to other models. Due to the feature-based comparison, xCompare is not only able to detect geometric differences but also highlights directly the modified CATIA elements. Therefore, modifications that have been made by a supplier, are visible easily for the user. xCompare is fully integrated in CATIA V5 and is available for all V5 platforms.
V5/SMG
xCompare V5 / SMG verifies the conversion process from CATIA V5 in SMG (CATIA Composer / 3DVIA Composer), which is very important for downstream process and the long term data archival. Various criteria of a CATIA V5 model are compared to a SMG model. In order to perform this comparison, xCompare uses directly the models to analyse the features as well as the geometry without converting them first into a internal format. Hence, a ensured and reliable verification is guranteed. xCompare V5 / SMG is fully integrated in CATIA.
V5/JT
In many industries CATIA data are translated into different neutral formats to provide downstream processes with the right data. In particular in the automotive industry, CATIA data are converted into the JT format. For some downstream processes it is important to ensure that there are no changes between both data caused by the translator. Unacceptable differences must be found easily before the model moves into downstream.
xCompare is an application to compare CATIA V5 and JT data. Primarily, it is used for the comparison of geometric data – potential nonconformities will be shown graphically. By using xCompare, comparisons of V5 B-Rep with JT B-Rep (JT or XT B-Rep), V5 B-Rep with individual JT LODs (Level of Detail) and V5 CGR data with JT LODs can be performed. The presentation of results is carried out within V5 and will graphically display the differences in geometry. As a matter of course, the results will be saved in XML reports for further documentation. The xCompare V5 / JT solution natively validates the original data format without any kind of translation – so the data remains pristine.
JT/JT
By using xCompare JT/JT, the user is able to verify differences between JT parts or assemblies (PLMXML) interactively or in batch mode within LiteBox3D. Within the configuration, either defined by the administrator or created by the user himself, the specific comparing criteria are determined. Besides the geometric comparison of B-REP and LOD, the detection of structural changes as well as modifications of meta data is also included.