IsoDraw CADprocess

With CADprocess, 3D design data can be converted into technical illustrations automatically. Once opened, the data is transformed in a 3D window, put in the right perspective and then converted into high-quality illustrations.

The CADprocess Technology
Using 3D design data and automatic conversion into technical illustrations offer companies an unprecedented productivity increase. CAD files that used to take hours be edited are now available in a matter of minutes. The CADprocess technology is thus helping to considerably reduce the illustration workload. It is based on IsoDraw, the world's leading technical illustration product. CADprocess users have access to the full functionality of IsoDraw.

"But I can do that with our CAD system as well..."
True, modern CAD systems offer a wide range of functions; but the question is do you want to bother your designers with the preparation of illustrations? Experience shows that this preparatory work soon mounts up. And in practically every case, documentation staff invest a considerable amount of time in manual post-editing.

The goal of CADprocess is to reduce designers' workload to a minimum and provide illustrators with an easy-to-use tool for processing the 3D model. CADprocess is thus the perfect complement to your CAD system.

Data import
The designer exports the 3D model to IGES, DWG, DXF, VRML or OBJ. To simplify data transfer, ITEDO provides the export settings for the CAD system in question (e.g. for CATIA; ProE, Unigraphics, I-DEAS, Solid Designer and many more).

Practically every CAD system can create files with assembly information. The designer can export a complete assembly in one file, which is imported with CADprocess. The illustrator then decides which assemblies/components to include. The 3D file can be gradually broken down into individual spare parts illustrations. In the past, this work had to be done by the designer.

Manipulating 3D data
There are a number of tools available for manipulating the 3D data: explosion along any axes, cutaways, rotations, reflections, copying, scaling, etc. Handling is highly intuitive and thus very quick to learn, even without prior knowledge. This means you can be doing productive work within a few days.

Conversion to 2D illustration
CADprocess deletes the hidden lines, sets the line thicknesses as required and optimizes the elements. Individual line segments are connected and smoothed to Bézier curves or ellipses. As a result, the elements are more compact and easier to edit. This in turn reduces the file size, a key advantage for electronic delivery.

Creating callouts
CADprocess has an automatic callout function. Using the object structure in the illustration, you can select which object or assembly levels are to have callouts.

Automatic updating of changes
Along with cost savings, faster production of documentation is important. Often the documentation department gets down to work only when the CAD department has finished its work. If 3D data is used at an early stage there is a risk of the design department making changes. Then the documentation has to be done all over again.

With Link2Source you can selectively read in assemblies and place them on one or more illustrations. Transformations such as explode, copy, rotate, cutaways etc. are updated when the original file is changed. This allows you to start documentation work at an earlier stage because the illustrations are updated for any design changes.

Preparation for electronic delivery
The importing of the structures also provides excellent benefits for electronic delivery, e.g. for interactive spare parts catalogs on CD-ROM or on the Internet. High-quality graphics help users to identify the spare part quickly and to locate the right part number for the order form. However, preparing such graphics can be very time consuming.

CADprocess automatically creates an object information with a "hotspot" for each component. The user then clicks on the assembly in the electronic spare parts catalog and sees the corresponding parts list information. This dispenses with the manual creation of objects, and the CAD structures can also be used in Documentation.

References
Many companies are already using a combination of Pro/E, Unigraphics, CATIA, I-DEAS for example and IsoDraw CADprocess: Matsushita Home Appliance Company, John Deere, AM General, BMW Group to name but a few.