Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Data format and browser of lightweight CAD files for dimensional verification over the internet

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The demand for the use of 3D CAD data over the Internet environment has been increasing. However, CAD data size has deteriorated the communication effectiveness of 3D CAD files. Good design methodology of a lightweight CAD file is required for rapid transmission on the distributed network environment. In this paper, a file translation system is constructed to produce lightweight CAD files from commercial CAD systems by using InterOp and APIs of the ACIS kernel. Using B-rep models and mesh data extracted from the CAD native files, the lightweight CAD files with topological information are constructed as binary files. As the lightweight CAD files retain topological and geometric information, they are applicable to dimensional verification, digital mock-ups, and visualization of CAD files through a CAD viewer. The effectiveness of the proposed lightweight CAD files is confirmed through various case studies on the CAD viewer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. VRML 97 International Specification (ISO/IEC 14772-1), Available online at: http://www.web3D.org/technicalinfo/specifications/vrml97/index.htm (accessed 30-3-2008).

  2. T. B Jang, K. W Moon, J. Y Chung and D. S. Kim, Merge of VRML Mesh for 3D Shape Data Compression and Transmission, Transactions of the Society of CAD/CAM Engineers, 7(2) (2002) 89–95.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Zhu et al., Research of Binary Compression based on VRML file, Journal of Computer Applications, 25(5) (2005) 1128–1132.

    Google Scholar 

  4. T. Gabriel, P. H. William, L. Francis and R. Jarek, Geometry Coding and VRML, Proc. of the IEEE, 86 (1998) 1228–1243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Garland and P. S. Heckbert, Surface Simplification using Quadric Error Metrics, Proc. of SIGGRAPH’ 97, USA (1997) 209–216.

  6. W. J. Schroeder, J. A. Zarge and E. Lorensen, Decimation of Triangle Meshes, Proc. of SIGGRAPH’ 92, USA (1992) 65–70.

  7. H. Hoppe, Progressive Meshes, Proc. of SIGGRAPH’ 96, USA (1996) 99–108.

  8. J. Rossignac, and P. Borrel, Multi-resolution 3D Approximation for Rendering Complex Scenes, Modeling in Computer Graphics Methods and Application, 10 (1993) 455–465.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Z. M. Qiu et al., Geometric Model Simplification for Distributed CAD, Computers-Aided Design, 36 (2004) 809–819.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. JT Open, Available online at: www.jtopen.com (accessed 30-3-2008).

  11. D. Bartz et al., Jupiter: A Toolkit for Interactive Large Model Visualization, IEEE Symposium on Parallel and Large Data Visualization and Graphics, USA (2001) 129–134.

  12. OpenHSF, Available online at: www.openhsf.org (accessed 30-3-2008).

  13. Actify Inc., Available online at: www.actify.com (accessed 30-3-2008).

  14. Lattice’s technology, Available online at: http://www.xvl3d.com (accessed 30-3-2008).

  15. A. Wakita. et al., XVL: A Compact and Qualified 3D Representation with Lattice Mesh and Surface for the Internet, Proc. of Web3-VRML2000, USA (2000) 45–51.

  16. Standard ECMA-363 Universal 3D File Format, Available online at: www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-363.htm (accessed 17-9-2008).

  17. X3D, Available online at: http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications (accessed 17-9-2008).

  18. 3D XML, Available online at: www.3ds.com/3dxml (accessed 17-9-2008).

  19. COLLADA, Available online at: www.collada.org (accessed 17-9-2008).

  20. Acrobat3d, Available online at: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat3d/ (accessed 17-9-2008).

  21. I. H. Song, K. D. Kim and S. C Chung, Internet-based Dimensional Verification System for Reverse Engineering Processes, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 22 (2008) 1259–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. I. H. Song and S. C. Chung, Web-based CAD Viewer with Dimensional Verification Capability through the STEP Translation Server, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 21 (2007) 1235–1243.

    Google Scholar 

  23. I. H. Song and S. C. Chung, Interference verification of injection molds on the web-based CAD viewer, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 21 (2007) 2133–2140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. I. H. Song and S. C. Chung, XML-based Assembly Visualization for a Multi-CAD Digital Mock-up System, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 21 (2007) 1986–1993.

    Google Scholar 

  25. I. H. Song and S. C. Chung, Design of Lightweight CAD files with Dimensional Verification Capability for Web-based Collaboration, Transactions of the KSME A, 30(5) (2006) 488–495.

    Google Scholar 

  26. I. H. Song and S. C. Chung, A Collaborative Design and Dimension Verification System on the Internet, Transactions of the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME, 33 (2005) 493–500.

    Google Scholar 

  27. I. H. Song and S. C. Chung, Web-based Precision Dimensional Verification System for Rapid Design and Manufacture, ASPE’s 18th Annual Meeting, USA (2003) 359–362.

  28. Y. J. Shin and S, H, Han, Data Enhancement for Sharing of Ship Design Models, Computers-Aided Design, 12 (1998) 931–941.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Spatial corporation, Available online at: www.spatial.com (accessed 30-3-2008).

  30. Spatial corporation, 2005, ACIS Online Help.

  31. Zlib, Available online at: www.gzip.org/zlib (accessed 30-3-2008).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, Korea

    In-Ho Song & Sung-Chong Chung

Authors
  1. In-Ho Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sung-Chong Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sung-Chong Chung.

Additional information

This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Jooho Choi

In-Ho Song received B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engi-neering from Kunsan National University, and Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea in 2007. From 2002 to 2007, he served as a team manager to develop CAD and PLM systems in CIES in Korea. He is currently a post-doc researcher in the mechanical engineering department in Hanyang University. As he had developed a lightweight CAD viewing kernel for CAD/CAM systems, he received a New Technology Certificate from Korean Government (MOCIE) in 2005. He also received several prizes from the Korean Society of CAD/CAM Engineers in 2003 and 2004. He specializes in geometric modeling, CAD kernels, product design and digital manufacturing systems.

Sung-Chong Chung received the B.S. degree with honors in mechanical engineering from Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, and the M.S. and Ph. D. in mechanical engineering from KAIST, Seoul, Korea in 1979, 1981 and 1987, respectively. Since 1983, he has been a professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. In 2000, he received the outstanding paper award from the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He received the academic research and software development awards from the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Korean Society of CAD/CAM Engineers in 2003 and 2004, respectively. His research interests include CAD/CAM, control, mechatronics, manufacturing and precision engineering.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Song, IH., Chung, SC. Data format and browser of lightweight CAD files for dimensional verification over the internet. J Mech Sci Technol 23, 1278–1288 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-009-0102-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-009-0102-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation