- Project description
The efficient connection of computer assisted design (CAD) and virtual reality (VR) is of great importance to product developers nowadays. They increasingly use VR models for design reviews and presentations. The basis for these models is usually the raw CAD created by design engineers. The transformation of CAD data into VR models is done by conversion software, that usually comes with expensive VR data processing tools.
The Competence Center for Industrial Applications of Fraunhofer IGD develops the CAD conversion software CAD2Vis.
The user does not need a license for a specific CAD or VR system. Because CAD2Vis allows data conversion independently of a specific supplier, opposed to other products. It supports important CAD formats such as CATIA V4, CATIA V5, Pro/E, SAT, STEP, IGES, and VDA-FS, as well as the VR formats OpenInventor, VRML97, X3D, and OpenSG.
If the target format supports {term:NURBS:non-uniform rational basis spline} representations, as OpenInventor for instance, then CAD2Vis can store the CAD data as a precise NURBS model. These can be triangulated by target systems in a flexible manner. Otherwise, the precision of a triangulation for other output formats is controllable by the user.
CAD2Vis is especially useful for product developers who want to integrate VR technologies and digital mock-ups (DMU) into their product development process chain. It is an independent solution for the conversion of CAD into VR data. Also, CAD2Vis is suitable for service providers who create VR and internet presentations based on CAD data, or for VR suppliers who want to offer a CAD import option.
Prof. Dr. André Stork can provide you further information on CAD2Vis and the licensing options.