DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING

John Driscoll, Imad Moustapha, and Carlos Cziulik

University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses issues related to data exchange standards with particular emphasis on the requirements of Computer Aided Design and Concurrent Engineering. The problems related to data exchange and the necessity of a standardised approach to these problems will be identified, leading to the conclusion that data exchange standards are a requirement of modern manufacturing systems.

Electronic Data Management is presented in terms of procedures and purpose to identify the important integrating role it plays. Electronic Data Interchange Format (EDIF) is discussed as the standard used to describe designs in electronics, alongside an elaborated evaluation of the VHDL hardware description language and the increasingly important role it is playing in modern electronic engineering.

Next three standards are discussed: a de facto standard: DXF, an industrial standard: IGES, and an International Standard: STEP. All are discussed in detail, but special attention is naturally focused on STEP.

Finally, three case studies are presented on : 1) a STEP development environment, 2) an investigation of CAD data exchange using DXF, IGES and STEP, and 3) STEP as a tool in concurrent engineering.

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