The majority of product design already takes place in 3D CAD systems.

The data is reused in various formats in follow-up processes and in many software applications. Drawings, usually derived from 3D, are currently still necessary for the overall development process. Initiated by automotive and aircraft manufacturers, a new trend is saturating in all industries: the use of 3D data for all users and processes.

These include drawing-less manufacturing processes, spare parts catalogs, repair instructions and the closely associated long-term archiving of 3D data. These initiatives are currently being implemented in the industry under terms like “3D Master” and “Model-Based Definition”.

The right format

CAD functions enable the realization of complex design. However, their usage requires constant training.

Allowing the entire enterprise to use 3D means that the systems implemented must be extremely simple to use.

Archiving 3D data, which, depending on the industry, can require a period of up to 100 years, is unthinkable in its generic formats. One approach to meet these challenges is neutral formats.

Selecting a format for a company and all its development partners is not an easy task.

Besides the guaranteed future of the format, the technological quality also is crucial as well. Companies and associations that work with 3D-neutral formats can provide guidance in the process: In the ‘Long-Term Archiving and Retrieval’ (LOTAR) project initiated by the aviation industry, the ‘Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data’ (STEP) plays an important role.

At the same time, the use of ‘Jupiter Tessellation’ (JT) is common in the automotive industry. The ProSTEP iViP Association runs projects on the industrialization of ‘Jupiter Tessellation’ (JT), which is an ISO standard certified format now.

Lite3D provides the right content and quality

Originally initiated by Daimler, TECHNIA has developed a portfolio for neutral 3D data, today focussing on JT, but open to supporting other formats as well.

The Lite3D product family contains:

  • Viewing – Desktop and web-based viewer for JT and TIF – free of charge in its base version
  • Data clearing – Model simplification for better performance and IP protection
  • Quality checking – Identifying defects in file structure and geometry
  • Revision comparison and derivative validation – Identifying differences between two model revisions.


Want to know more?

Read more about the Lite3D products: LiteBox3D, LiteComply and LiteDrop or contact us.

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