There has been a battle in engineering between 2D and 3D since CAD started. The problem is that we have a misnomer.

The only thing that was visually 3D was an illustration done by “Illustrators”. Boeing and most large companies had graphic arts departments that produce illustrations. All types of manuals were created things that take us one button used to take hours and hours to produce. You could say Davinci was one of the first illustrators. Say good bye to the terms 2D and 3D.

Enter Autocad – 2D is a Drawing

So Autocad wasn’t really a 2D program it was a Computer Aided Drawing Program. So there really isn’t any 2D design it is basically a package that creates drawings that are again graphic representations of real life or 3D parts. So we use the word 2D to describe creating parts by views that describe the actual part. So when you are designing by drawing views you are designing in 3D.

Enter Solid Modeling – 3D is a Solid.

By the late 1990’s solid modeling was in place. We know all the products. We still created drawings, notice I didn’t say 2D drawings because that would have been redundant. But instead of drawing the views we would create instances of the part in different orientations in a separate part of the program or an external module that was specifically design to create drawings or other documentation.

Do we really need drawings? Only for Inspection.

That obvious question is now being answered no. Yes but we still need to have tolerancing for the parts. We still need part manufacturing information, such as material, finish and other requirements. The solution was annotation in 3D space. As you can see below this is all the standard drawing information in the parts 3D space. The problem is that this data is not a standard. It is sent out as a native part format and you have to have a program that will read it. But look at this below. It is confusing on a simple part. Just imagine on a very complex part. Not just the confusion in reading it but imagine the poor engineer (now that engineers are now glorified drafters) or drafter that has to do it. It really must be a horror show.

Here are couple of zoomed views.

So why not just create the drawing???

The problem is that you have separate bits of data that needs to be available within the part file. Of course PMI 3D this is not a standard format. Like I said above you need special software to read this.

Compatibility

With the introduction of direct editing as a optional CAD procedure most CAD systems can now read other CAD programs solid models and work with them as if they were created natively. The problem is that the drawings are not transferable from CAD system to CAD system. There are only two programs that have integrated drawing capabilities and the drawing and part are in the same file. This is where the concept of the PMI data came. But as I said above you still have to have compatible software that can read the native file of the originating CAD program. This concept is only in a few of the high end CAD package nowhere close to any form of a standard.

We need a standard.

We have made a mess of PDM (Part Data Management) and PLM (Part Lifetime Management).

So how do we do this without specialty software.

A simpler Solution - The Ultimate Part Mark!

Most CAD package can create solid text and emboss or imprint the part name, number, revision, website and phone or contact information in a part. This virtually solves the problem. This really relates to large companies that have heavy use of outside suppliers, but could easily be a standard for all parts.

This would only source for the part or assembly.

Would we include a drawing? Of course, now that we have the web page the only authority. We can easily have a pdf available for download for inspection purposes. Probably only defining the mating features.

Who would use this web page.

• Purchasing

• Manufacturing

• Planning

• Marketing

• Graphic Arts

• Pub Docs

• Anyone that would require access to engineering data.

This is just too simple.

The Ultimate Part Mark Defined!

Take a look at this concept. INOVATE is the tool I am using here but I am sure all of the major programs can do this. The part is then be put up on the internet. I comes with enough pertinent information for anyone to make sure they have the latest version. Of course this is mostly for those companies that have many outside suppliers. The data could include the following and embossed or engraved in the part.

Part Name:
Part Number:
Revision:
Website:
Phone:

Since I started my engineering career at Boeing in 1965. I know a bit about how the drawings were done and distributed. In the beginning we worked with blue prints. Yes actually they were white on blue. We had blue print counters throughout the plant. Then I left the industry and came back in 1977, now there were microfiche, we could now get all of our drawings on a card and print the parts lists. I could take hours and hours to research to fine the correct configuration.

Website: I am sure now there is a webpage for each part and assembly. Where you can see the latest revisions and status of the part. You can download the part or assembly if you have permission. Outside suppliers can log-on to get the necessary data and be on a special list to be notified in case the part changes. Now again this is for large companies that use outside suppliers.

Here are a few examples of having a part mark on the part itself. You would put in on a easily modified surface. INOVATE makes this easy. You just drag the base text from the catalog, edit it, size it with handles and subtract or add. You can how the text can be sized below.

Most CAD systems can modify the part to eliminate the part mark to have a clean machineable part. This is where a history based system has an edge on direct editing. You can just suppress the covering extrusion. With direct editing only products you have to have two parts. Luckily INOVATE has both History/Feature based and direct editing functionality integrated in the program.

For assemblies you can have large separate part with the same information.

The CAD product I use is IRONCAD/INOVATE. Most of the above graphics are generated from IRONCAD. Are you tired of the sketch, sketch, constrain, constrain, painful way of CAD design? Take a look at the most sophisticated CAD solution available. The basis of engineering is creating parts and IRONCAD/INOVATE can just do it easier and faster. CAD does not have to be complicated. Give IRONCAD/INOVATE a try go to this link to download a 30 day fully functional evaluation, including all the translators.

http://www.ironcad.com/downloads/trialdownload/

To download the very complete “Getting Started Guide” go to:

http://www.ironcad.com/download/ironcad/tutorials/IRONCADGettingStartedGuide.pdf

It is easy to load and get up to speed. It includes all the translators so you can get started seeing the advantages of implementing the power of INOVATE or IRONCAD CONNECTIONS. You can directly access your existing engineering data. Take some time to get the other departments involved. This truly is the solution to make each person in the company access to all the engineering data and in the know.

There is much more to these products take a look at the comparison at 

http://download.ironcad.com/download/Product/Information/ProductComparison.pdf

Pricing

INOVATE CONNECTIONS – $1,295.00
Truly the most useful tool and best value in the CAD market Place
Annual Maintenance $495.00 – Includes subscription and support.

IRONCAD CONNECTIONS – $3,995.00
Thousands less then the mid range or high end programs.
Annual Maintenance $1,295.00 – Includes subscription and
support. 

If you have any questions or would like to set up an online demonstration or get a quote. feel free to email me jb@tecnetinc.com or call 206-842-0360.

Joe Brouwer