Chapter 2: CAD Standards

Overview
• Different vendors (manufacturing) uses many types of
CAD/CAM applications.
• Need for CAD data standardization to link different hardware
and software system.
 Overview

Learning Outcomes:
• Understand the graphic kernel system and its extensions for
developing the graphic software systems.
• Requirements of graphic data exchange formats and their
details such as IGES, DXF and STEP.
• Dimensional measurement interface specification for
communication between coordinate measuring machine and
the CAD data.
Overview
 Standardization in Graphics
• With the proliferation of computers and software in the
market, it is necessary to standardize certain elements at
each stage.
• So that hardware and software could be used without much
modification on the newer and different system.
• The compatibility between various software elements is
achieved by maintaining proper interface standards at
various levels. Following are some of them:
 Standardization in Graphics
• PHIGS (Programmer's Hierarchical Interface for Graphics)
• CORE (ACM-SIGGRAPH)
• GKS-3D
• IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification)
• DXF (Drawing Exchange Format)
• STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data)
• DMIS (Dimensional Measurement Interface Specification)
• VDI (Virtual Device Interface)
• VDM (Virtual Device Metafile)
• GKSM (GKS Metafile)
• NAPLPS (North American Presentation Level Protocol Syntax)
 Classification of CAD Standards
Various standards in graphics programming

Graphics and computing(Application) Standards

Data Exchange Standards

Communication/Display Standards
 Various standards in graphics
programming
Various standards in graphics programming
 Various standards in graphics
programming
Various standards in graphics programming

Data Exchange
Standards (DFX,
IGES, STEP, SET)

Graphic
Standards (GKS,
PHIGS, CORE)

Communication
Standards (VDI,
VDM, NAPLPS)

Graphic system
 2.1 Graphical System
▪ The graphics system is responsible for actually producing the picture from
the detailed descriptions. It is divided into two parts: the kernel system,
which is hardware/device independent and the device driver, which is
hardware dependent.

▪ The kernel system acts as a buffer between the application program and
specific hardware to ensure the independence and portability of the
program.

▪ At interface ‘X’, the application program calls the standard functions and sub
routine provided by the kernel system through what is called language
bindings.

▪ These functions and subroutine, call the device driver functions and
subroutines at interface ‘Y’ to complete the task required by the application
program
 2.1 Graphical Kernel System
▪ Is a graphic standard that was the first ISO standard for low
level computer graphics, introduced in 1977. GKS provides a
set of drawing features for two-dimensional vector graphics
suitable for charting and similar duties – set of commands.

▪ The calls are designed to be portable across different

programming languages, graphics devices and
hardware, so that applications written to use GKS will
be readily portable to many platforms and devices.

▪ Defines a common interface to interactive computer

graphics for creating, manipulating, and displaying or
printing computer graphics on different types of
computer graphics output devices.
 GKS

▪ Main objectives that were put forward for GKS are:

– To provide the complete range of graphical facilities in

2D, including the interactive capabilities.

– To control all types of graphic devices such as plotter

and display devices in a consistent manner.

– To be small enough for a variety of programs.

 Layer model of Graphics Kernel
System

▪ Major contribution of GKS for graphic programming-layer model.

▪ Layer model represents the role of GKS within a graphical system
▪ Environment for user to work in GKS-workstation (eg: VDU, plotter or
printer)
▪ For programmers, all workstations are identical-characteristics of
workstations are built in GKS-possible to work simultaneously on more than
one workstation
▪ Input methods:
1. LOCATOR – a means of entering the location
in world coordinates, (X,Y).

2. VALUATOR – inputs real value in terms of

distances.

3. CHOICE – selects from a set of alternatives for

example an integer options such as 0, 1, 2, 3,
etc.

4. PICK – to select an object or segment in a

drawing already created, identifies a displayed
object.

5. STRING – inputs a string of character values.

6. STROKE – to provide continuously the location

values in world coordinates, sequence of (X,Y)
positions
▪ In GKS, pictures are considered to be constructed
from a number of basic building blocks.

▪ These basic building blocks or primitives are of a

number of types each of which can be used to
describe a different component of a picture.
▪ 5 basic primitives in GKS:
1. POLYLINE – which draws a sequence of connected line segments; for
lines after specifying the line type, line width and line color.

2. POLYMARKER – which marks a sequence of points with the same

symbol; for specific marker types after specifying the
type, size and color.

3. GENERALISED DRAWING PRIMITIVES (GDP) – for specific graphic

primitives such as arc, circle, ellipse, spline, etc.

4. TEXT – which draws a string of characters; after specifying font type,

precision, colour, height of the box, expansion factor, spacing, up
vector and the path (left, right, up or down).

5. FILLAREA – which displays a specified area; for hatching and filling of

areas.
Layer model of Graphics Kernel
System
Layer model of Graphics Kernel
System
Layer model of Graphics Kernel
System
Layer model of Graphics Kernel
System
 Layer model of Graphics Kernel
System
Examples of GKS Graphical Output- Generalised Drawing
Primitives (GDP)
 PHIGS (Programmer’s Hierarchial
Interface for Graphics)
- The other 3D graphic standard which is being accepted by the
CAD vendors as the system capable of taking care of the 3D
graphical work as well as animation.
- Some of the features that are specific to PHIGS and are not well
supported by GKS are the following:

❑ very high interactivity

❑ hierarchical structuring of data
❑ real time modification of graphic data
❑ support for geometric animation
❑ adaptability to distributed user environment
 Layer model of Graphics Kernel
System - NAPLPS
- capable to be integrated into all communication
networks such as television broadcasting signals,
videotape etc.
- colour look-up tables from part of NAPLPS transmission –
enable large range of colours to be produce
instantaneously on host system.
- With developments of VLSI(Very Large Scale Integration)
technology, these graphic standards already started appearing in
hardware in the form of graphic adapter cards or special purpose
chips (IC) to improve the graphic performance (e.g. VLSI VL82C106
Super I/O chip, Nvidia G-Force 6600GT,(128MB) Graphic Card)
 2.2 Exchange of data modeling

- Since CAD/CAM software is available from a number of vendors, it

is necessary that information can be interchanged from different
systems to avoid duplication of effort involved in geometric model
creation.

- It is possible to identify a certain format for drawing exchange and

make it standard so that various systems can convert their internal
format to this standard.

- Example of standards: IGES (developed by NBS USA), DXF

(AutoCAD software on IBM PC compatible)
Data exchange
 Data interchange method
Between two different CAD system using neutral data format (eg IGES or STEP)
 Data interchange method
Between two different CAD system using neutral data format (eg IGES or STEP)
 Development in
drawing data
exchange formats –
from IGES moving
toward the use of
STEP
 IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange
Specification)

- It’s a comprehensive standard and is designed to transmit the

entire product definition including that of manufacturing and
any other associated information.

- CAD user can exchange product data models in the form of

circuit diagrams, wireframe, freeform surface or solid
modeling representations*. Applications supported by IGES
include traditional engineering drawings, models for analysis,
and other manufacturing functions.

- The records are present with 80 column fields, with columns 1

to 72 providing the data and columns 73 to 80 providing a
sequence number for the record with identification as to the
location of the sub-section.
 IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange
Specification)

6 sub-sections:

1. Flag Section
2. Start Section
3. Global Section
4. Directory Entry Section
5. Parameter Data Section
6. Terminate Section
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
• most common format for text files in computers and on the Internet.
• In an ASCII file, each alphabetic, numeric, or special character is represented with a 7-bit binary number (a string of seven 0s or 1s).
Binary
• used for executable programs and numeric data, whereas text formats are used for textual data. Many files contain a combination of binary
and text formats. Such files are usually considered to be binary files even though they contain some data in a text format.
 Component drawing and part of
IGES file generated

Attributes that are being transferred using IGES format:

1. Points
2. Lines
3. Coordinates
4. Profiles
5. Features definitions
 STEP : Standard for the Exchange
of Product model Data
▪ Officially is ISO standard 10303 (Product data representation and exchange)

▪ A series of International Standards with goal of defining data across full

engineering and manufacturing life cycle.

▪ Main goal : able to share data across applications, across vendor platforms
and between contractors, suppliers and customers.
▪The broad scope of STEP is as follows:
1. The standard method of representing the information necessary to
completely define a product throughout its entire life, i.e., from the
product conception to the end of useful life - Digital product data must contain
enough information to cover a product's entire life cycle, from design to analysis, manufacture, quality control
testing, inspection and product support functions. In order to do this, STEP must cover geometry, topology,
tolerances, relationships, attributes, assemblies, configuration and more. Cover general areas, such as testing
procedures, file formats and programming interfaces, as well as industry-specific information

2. Standard methods for exchanging the data electronically between

two different systems - most important aspect of STEP is extensibility. STEP is built on an language
that can formally describe the structure and correctness conditions of any engineering information that needs to be
exchanged.
 STEP : Standard for the Exchange
of Product model Data
▪ STEP was born in 1983, as the merger of previous national efforts such as
IGES, VDAFS, SET, CAD*I, and PDDI.

▪ After years of effort, completion of STEP files include the EXPRESS

information modeling language and the first application protocol, AP203, for
exchanging BREP mechanical CAD geometry.

▪ STEP is international, and was developed by users, not vendors. User-driven

standards are results-oriented, while vendor-driven standards are technology-
oriented. STEP has, and will continue to, survive changes in technology and
can be used for long-term archiving of product data.

▪ STEP was designed for, and is proven to handle large volumes of structurally
complex engineering data.
 STEP: Standard for the Exchange
of Product model Data

STEP documentation is split into eight major areas:

1. Overview
2. Description methods
3. Implementation methods
4. Conformance and tools
5. Integrated- generic resources
6. Application information models
7. Application protocols
8. Application interpreted constructs
STEP Application Protocol AP
203 Explicit Draughting
STEP Application Protocol AP 203
Configuration Controlled Design
 STEP vs IGES
STEP :
• STEP was developed in 1994, and is
still continuously upgraded to satisfy
user needs.
• Solid models are easier to edit than
surfaces.
• STEP files are imported as solid wholes
with the hierarchy of the model rather
than meshes imported in IGES.
• Common interface used in the
industry.
• Carries MBD (model based definition)
and PMI (product &manufacturing
Information)
IGES:
• Its old format, the last update was done
in 1996.
• In general IGES imports surface models
that needs editing in the new software,
hence not desirable by most
CAD/CAM/CAE systems.
• Its time consuming to repair the model
as it usually needs to be stitched into a
solid model.
• Not information rich as solid geometry
such as no mass properties. (IGES-
MSBO) which is a IGES standard for solid,
it is rarely used.
PMI data
 STEP vs IGES
Downstream Applications Prefer Solid
Models:
• Almost all downstream CAD applications require or prefer solid models as input. A
partial list includes:
• Machining
• FEA or other analysis
• 3D printing
• Part and assembly visualization
• Photorealistic rendering (for product design reviews, marketing and sales)
• Ability to automatically create exploded assembly drawings for bills of materials and
assembly diagrams
• Functional assembly movement simulations for use cases as well as training manuals
 DXF – Drawing Exchange Format

- The DXF format has been developed and supported by

Autodesk for use with the AutoCAD drawing files- used for
lower end drafting and model information exchange.
- Not an industry standard developed by any standards
organization, but in view of the widespread use of AutoCAD
made it a default standard for use of a variety of CAD/CAM
vendors.
- A Drawing Interchange File is simply an ASCII text file with a
file extension of .DXF and specially formatted text.DXF files
are either standard ASCII text or special binary form files
which are more compact.
 Organization of DXF File

- Overall organization of a DXF file:

1. HEADER Section
2. CLASSES Section
3. TABLES Section
4. BLOCKS Section
5. ENTITIES Section
6. OBJECTS Section
 DMIS – Dimensional Measurement
Interface Specification
- Is a new standard in communication being established
by CAM-I for manufacturing.
- This standard tries to establish a means of knowing
what has been made by CAM process.
- Main objective : to provide a bi-directional communication
of inspection data between computer systems and
inspection equipment .
- Database is in form of geometric instructions and
manufacturing information is already present, which is
being used by some part of the part programming systems
of automatically converting into CNC part programs.
- From same database, it is also possible to generate
inspection programs for the co-ordinate measuring
machine (CMM).
Product Development Cycle
 2.3 Co-ordinate Systems

- Right handed Cartesian co-ordinate system is used for

defining geometry of part.

- Types of co-ordinate systems:

– World co-ordinate system (WCS)
– User co-ordinate system (UCS)
– Display co-ordinate system (DCS)
Example
 (WCS) World Co-ordinate System

• This refers to the actual co-ordinate system used as master for

the component.
• Some times it may also be called as model co-ordinate system.
• Default coordinate system when user starts modeling.
 UCS (User Co-ordinate System)

• However, sometimes it becomes difficult to define certain

geometries if they are to be defined from the WCS. In such
cases alternate co-ordinate systems can be defined relative to
the WCS.
• These co-ordinate systems are termed as user co-ordinate
systems (UCS) or working co-ordinate systems.
• UCS can be defined by shifting origin only or by combining
origin with orientation of axes as well.
 (DCS) Display Co-ordinate
System
• This refers to the actual co-ordinates to be used for displaying
the image on the screen.

• Also known as screen coordinate system

• The actual screen coordinates relate to the pixels whether

actual values of the screen or the virtual image that can be
displayed to help in image display.

• Virtual size will be larger than the actual pixels of screen

resolution.
 Summary
• Graphic kernel system is used to standardize the graphic system calling
procedures at the lowest level so that programmers and programs can be
easily migrated between different systems.
• The neutral CAD database is an important requirement to help with the
transfer of information between various CAD/CAM systems.
• IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) is used for transferring
information between various CAD systems for modeling as well as drafting
data.
• STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data) is being used
extensively in view of its varied and better facilities for exchanging product
model data.
• DXF developed by Autodesk is used for lower end drafting and model
information exchange.
• DMIS (Dimensional Measurement Interface Specification) is used for
transferring information by measuring in a coordinate measuring machine
and transfer it to the CAD system for verification as well as reverse
53
engineering.