In the beginning was CAD and CAD was the only important system for engineers. Then came PDM… In my view, the topic of CAD/PDM integration is one of the most fascinating ones in the history of CAD, data management and collaboration. From many standpoints, PDM makes sense to become a best friend to CAD and engineers – don’t lose CAD files, manage revisions, re-use previous designs, collaborate with peers. However, it is not happening easy… For the last 10-15 years, most of PDM systems introduced a huge headache to CAD sales, engineers and corporate IT managers. Yes, some of PDM systems misbehaved less than others, but the trend is clear.
The integration between CAD and PDM was one of the key elements for PDM system to success. Bringing PDM system into CAD and accessing PDM system from CAD (File) menu was considered as the right way to integrate CAD and PDM. CAD vendors always tried to provide a better PDM / CAD integration to their own CAD tools. Nevertheless, integration story in Multi-CAD world was and still is a challenge. I covered it in the past in my Multi-CAD & PDM integration: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. In my view, even after two years, that blog post is still very relevant.
I can see CAD API openness as one of the key elements of future trajectories of CAD / PDM integrations. Opposite to that, the option to build CAD / PDM bundles is possible and CAD vendors are trying to push towards that (examples from Dassault Catia Enovia and SolidEdge SP are probably the most relevant).
However, do you think a traditional multi-CAD PDM option is done? Apparently it is not done yet. Usage of advanced viewer and 3D collaboration solution was the most straightforward way to solve the problem in multi-CAD PDMs. However, integrate into CAD interface was always a challenge.
Last week announcement by GrabCAD about licensing of Siemens PLM Parasolid library is an interesting refresh is CAD / PDM world. Navigate to the following link to read the announcement press release by Siemens PLM. Siemens blog article GrabCAD demonstrates cloud based collaboration for engineers at SEU14, selects Parasolid puts some more lights on what GrabCAD is planning to do –
GrabCAD has licensed Siemens’ Parasolid® software to provide 3D model interrogation, inspection and visualization within their Workbench application for cloud-based product data management.
Another GrabCAD article – Everyone calm down, we are not going to develop CAD system brings additional explanation. Here is an important passage:
How can we use a geometry engine to improve the PDM experience? There are actually a lot of things you can do with geometry that don’t require a CAD system. For example:Precise measurements, Interference checking, Mass properties; Projected geometry calculations; Boolean operations.
Time will show what does it mean in details. My hunch is that 3D model interrogation can add few additional points to GrabCAD Workbench in the way Workbench integrates with Parasolid-based (and not only) 3D CAD systems. I can see clearly SolidWorks and SolidEdge are on the top of the list.
What is my conclusion? To find an efficient and easy way to integrate CAD and PDM software was a significant challenges for many PDM companies in the past. It looks like GrabCAD are trying to innovate and find an unusual way to do so. Will GrabCAD end up by developing a very advanced geometrical solution to collaborate with 3D data or build their own CAD system? Time will show. What is clear that to find a way to unlock CAD data for better collaboration remains the first priority for PDM developers. Just my thoughts…
Best, Oleg
