The best solutions will be the STEP-Format. Because it is neutral to all CAD-Systems and is supporting all needed things like solids, assembly structure, attributes and so on.
Thanks - flattery appareciated. Similar reverse engineering's been done by others and their results can be found in products like NavisWorks' JetStream v5 RVM Reader and VRcontext's Walkinside EP. Their conversion efforts were to improve their own products. Mine was meant to provide for porting the model to commonly available design and rendering software, such as AutoCAD, 3DS Max, etc.
No, not as a product - only as a service. The reason is that scripting the model into AutoCAD isn't a perfect solution. Certain POHE's result in convex planes that are impossible to create properly using scripted AutoCAD commands. So the best approach is to write (directly) to a desirable format. We're not supposed to sell things here anyhow. I was just showing off my work :-)
I could see a use for this with smaller companies doing work for larger sites that use PDMS but do not require PDMS output. One in particular is plant that is in PDMS and they have very small local firm do minor design projects. Local firm uses Acad and then the plant back models changes. As it stands, they are using screen shots and PDMS dwgs to determine work envelope. This would be beneficial to them.
As much as I'd like to agree, it takes more than a lower cost PDMS to start using it. It takes a commitment to learn a whole new design product and philosophy. The cost of making such changes often can't be borne by small low margin jobs or companies that do that type of work.
I also want to agree with slidimond. But... I don't think I want to foster use of optional plant design tools if it means the owners' plant model would eventually consist of several models in different formats. For the type of small shop work described, I'd rather see some type of round-trip conversion capability (PDMS -> ACAD -> PDMS).
One way converters though, in my view at least, should be for repurposing the model - such as for high-res photorealistic rendering/plotting, or creating complex kinematic animations, adding special effects, etc. Stuff that can be done easily and inexpensively in other tools.
the company UNITEC provides already interfaces for
STEP, Parasolid, Sat, Iges, Dgn and mechanical systems e.g.
Autodesk inventor, Solid Works, Solid Edge, Pro/Engineer!
(The STEP and Parasolid formats are more attractive than Iges).
By the way STEP is not STEP and will RVM be RVM in the future ;) ?
We do have our experience and lost a lot of money in the past.
Therefore we recommend to buy a interface as product
for a guaranteed investment security.
Unitec provides conversion services for professional production e.g.
Marketing and VR-Presentation to reduce Exhibition costs :)
