manufacturing day - case study - maclean engineering

MacLean Engineering - Case Study - Transform CAD data

October 2nd 2015Presenters – Don Larson, Larson Software Technology & David Manock, Vizualsite LLC

www.cgmlarson.comCopyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2015

Agenda

• Introduction• Housekeeping• Manufacturing Day• Company Overviews• Slide Presentation• Live Software Demo• Summary• Closing Information

http://www.cgmlarson.com/

Webinar: Housekeeping

• All attendees will be muted for the duration of the Webinar• If you experience problems when joining the webinar please

use the questions function to communicate• VOIP is the recommended audio option• Questions during the webinar can be posted• Questions will be answered following the main presentation

or by a follow up email• Handouts - materials you can downloaded during the webinar

• Case Study• VizEx Transform Datasheet




Manufacturing Day

• Larson is pleased to contribute to this significant event and support the promotion of manufacturing in North America

• An important component of manufactured equipment is the supporting documentation, in other words technical manuals

• More specifically the documentation usually contains technical graphics

• The production of technical graphics can be a complex process, todays presentation will demonstrate how this can be optimized



Larson Software Technology

• Based in Houston, Texas• Founded in 1984, CGM Experts for 30 years• Develops powerful, innovative CGM graphics software, based on

open standards• Promoting CGM Usage, VizEx Reader a free CGM and TIFF viewer• Larson technology simplifies the graphics workflow for Technical

Publications Professionals, Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists.



MacLean Engineering

• MacLean Engineering is a privately owned Canadian company• Specializes in the design, manufacture and marketing of high quality

mechanized equipment• Target market is the Underground Mining, Commercial

and Municipal Sectors• MacLean products are supplied with a

comprehensive suite of technical manuals• Manage approximately 30,000 technical

graphics, taking into account the support of3 languages the total is nearer 90,000

www.macleanengineering.com


Webinar Objective


• The focus will be on technical graphics production using Larson’s CGM technology

• Featuring - VizEx Transform• Additionally – VizEx Edit and VizEx View

• How do we? • Optimize the transformation of 2D and 3D CAD data• Add value to the transformed graphics

• All the data we demonstrate today is with the kind permission of MacLean Engineering


Introduction


• In the distant past technical graphics were originated on the drawing board

• A Technical Illustrator would create the illustration by interpreting engineering drawings• First the pencil stage, usually on tracing paper overlaying a perspective grid• When complete the illustrator would overlay the pencil

illustration with drafting film and ink the drawing usually with Rotring rapidograph pen

• You could even call it ‘Art’

• Today the same process is very different!



Today’s Technical Graphics Process

• Technical graphics are now usually generated or revised in a electronic format• The file could be legacy, possibly a scan of one of the illustrations

created on the drawing board• The most likely starting point for a new graphic today is

probably from a CAD system• This could be a 2D or 3D CAD system

• The scenario for this presentation is where the data originates in 2D and 3D CAD Systems• Real company data and processes



The MacLean Requirement

• A new Technical Publications system• MacLean selected an S1000D based system as opposed to a DITA

solution. • Both based on XML , structured information strategy

• PERCEPTION: S1000D is only for the Aerospace & Defense industry • FACT: it can be implemented for any piece of complex equipment• ADVANTAGES: provides a modern, granular and

controlled process to produce and deliver technicalpublications

• INVESTMENT: All software tools are off the shelf and affordable

www.s1000d.org



The MacLean Objectives

• Replace a proprietary graphics transformation system and file format• Reuse CAD data generated by SolidWorks (3D) and AutoCAD (2D)• Reuse existing non-proprietary material and processes • Use the CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile) file format, compliant

with the S1000D specification• CGM Open Foundation – www.cgmopen.org

• Manage the CGM files in an S1000D CSDB • Common Source Database / Content Management System

• Publish the CGM files to PDF and an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual


http://www.cgmopen.org/


The Solution

• The MacLean S1000D Publishing Solution is based on a collaboration between 2 vendors

• Larson Software Technology provide the automated graphics transformation engine

• ADG provide the Data Management and Publishing Solution• A great combination which can be replicated in other scenarios



The Solution (Continued)

Binder

Viewer

CSDB Server

IPD Manager

TIFF &Excel files

DWG

HotspottedCGM’sCreated:EnglishFrenchSpanish

DM’s &Graphics



The Graphics Transformation

DWG

3 CGM Files generatedand hotspots created

English

French

Spanish

TIFF and Excel Files



VizEx Transform

• VizEx Transform is a truly unique application • Enables the transformation of multiple graphical data formats into CGM in one

simple to use interface

• Why use the term transformation and not conversion• During the process, VizEx Transform can add value to the graphic by generating

hotspot information on the graphics

• The process is automated, with the ability to run in a batch mode and from a command line, triggered by an event

• Input Formats: DWG, DXF, PDF, AI, EPS, CGM V1-V3, BMP, CALS-G4, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF

• Output Formats: CGM V4, WebCGM, SVG



• VizEx Edit the CGM Native Editor• Edit S1000D graphics for use in Technical Manuals, IETMs & Illustrated Parts

Catalogs• Quickly add hotspots and enter associated metadata• "Tree View” window makes it easy to modify hotspot attributes• Tabs permit several files to be opened in a single session• Hotspotter technology is available as a fully integrated option

• Input:• Vector: CGM V1-V4, DWG, DXF, PDF, AI, EPS• Raster: BMP, CALS, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PNG,

• Output:• CGM, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, SVG



• VizEx View - Family of Viewers for deploying CGM files• Distribute your CGM graphics easily to co-workers, customers, partners and suppliers

• VizEx View HTML5 • Enables delivery of quality native CGM graphics in a

web browser on virtually any platform, including Apple iOS. No app or plug-in required.

• VizEx View Plugin Supports:• Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers• Platforms include Windows and Linux (Firefox only)

• VizEx View C++ (Software Development Kit)• C++ library for Windows and Linux developers • Includes sample code, documentation, object code library (.DLL or .SO on Linux)



Case Study Demonstration



Summary

• Technical Graphics are a significant part of the technical publications process

• There are some keywords and phrases that need to be considered as part of the process• Quality – Maintain a high level when publishing and deploying• Reuse – Leverage data already created, legacy and new• Management – Effectively manage the technical graphics post transformation• Cost Effective – Decrease time to market and return the investment• Valid – The graphic files are conforming to the chosen specification, preferably

an open format• Consistent – The technical graphics conform to the project business rules



Closing Information

• You can discover more information about Larson Software Technology at www.cgmlarson.com

• A link to a recording of the webinar will be sent via email• All the materials will be available:

• www.slideshare.net/donlarson1

• Twitter feed, follow us!• www.twitter.com/cgmlarson

• Next Webinar: VizEx Edit – The Native CGM Editor Wed, Oct 28, 2015 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Eastern



http://www.slideshare.net/donlarson1

http://www.twitter.com/cgmlarson

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7392897751038281218

