CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
15 February 2010
Product News
Generate Spare Parts Catalogues Directly from SolidWorks and CATIA
Docware GmbH has integrated the 3DVIA Player of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. with PARTS-PUBLISHER. By embedding the viewer the 3DVIA format can be directly taken over into the catalogue software, displayed and interactively employed in the parts catalogue. 3D CAD data that conventionally needed to be transferred labour-intensively into perspective illustrations can now be automatically imported into the Workbench of the catalogue software and be employed for the display and interactive use in the catalogue within only a few minutes. With an appropriate data quality it is furthermore possible to generate spare parts catalogues for print, CD and Internet directly from SolidWorks and CATIA by the push of a button. Thereby the 3D models are highly compressed and saved from misusage.
The PARTS-PUBLISHER 3D catalogues run on any PC or notebook with a Windows operating system. 3D models and parts list data are linked in the parts catalogue. When selecting a part from the parts list it is automatically highlighted in the 3D model and vice versa. With this feature matching information is displayed by one mouse click.
The extensive display functions of the 3DVIA Player admit for a number of interactions. 3D models and their components can be pivoted, rotated and viewed from different perspectives. The zoom function allows for infinitely zooming in and out on models or assemblies. For a better view on components the parts may be faded in and masked out. The transparent mode also serves to unveil hidden parts. Selected parts can be displayed in an additional detail window. Even here the view on the selected part can be changed interactively. Furthermore the 3DVIA Player supports animations to view for example construction or repair operations.
3DVIA data deriving from the CAD systems SolidWorks, CATIA and Pro-E may be directly integrated into the catalogue production with PARTS-PUBLISHER – manually or via interface. 3D data of other CAD systems have to be converted via interchange formats such as Parasolid, IGES or STEP into the 3DVIA format, before they are provided in PARTS-PUBLISHER catalogues via 3DVIA technology. The 3DVIA Composer serves as conversion tool. It may be embedded into the release process of the CAD model. 3DVIA Composer, a CAD-independent authoring tool, does also come into operation if 3DVIA data is to be edited before import into the catalogue database. With 3DVIA Composer vector graphics and halftone images, exploded views with parts list icons and many other 2D drawings can be effectively generated. User also may create interactive 3D animations. In case of design changes during the documentation process - that means adjustments in the 3D models - the 3DVIA Composer transfers them directly into the documentation. This synchronisation of the documentation saves money and improves its quality and consistency.
The 3DVIA Player follows the XVL Player of Lattice Technology, the JT Viewer of Siemens PLM and Arbortext IsoView of PTC and is consequently the fourth 3D-Viewer supported by the spare parts catalogue software PARTS-PUBLISHER. This is how Docware offers even more flexibility to its customers when it comes to selecting the most effective 3D technology for a needs-based catalogue production in consideration of the employed CAD system.
Established in 1987 Docware provides software for the information management in the after sales service and the spare parts business.
Docware solutions range from electronic spare parts catalogues and service information systems, spare parts shops, integrated e-commerce and e-service solutions to complex service portals.
Docware´s interbranche solutions are implemented by producers, dealers and service partners of the technical manufacturing industry. The spectra of customers comprises medium-sized companies and corporate groups, dealer and customer service organisations.Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.
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