CAx domain overview
The
Computer-Aided-"x" (Design, Manufacturing, Inspection) Implementor
Forum (CAx-IF) is a sub-group of the MBx-IF dedicated to the
implementation and testing of the STEP AP242 standard. It focuses
primarily on 3D geometry, represented as precise B-Reps as well as
tessellated geometry, assembly structure, product and manufacturing
information (PMI), model styling and organization, and user-defined
defined attributes. Validation Properties are also defined for these
capabilities, based on user requirements.
CAx User Group and CAx Implementor Group
The User Group consists of industry
representatives who define and prioritize industry requirements, test
cases and acceptance criteria for CAx capabilities in scope of AP242.
The Implementor Group is composed of CAx system developers and vendors of STEP translation and validation tools, implementing AP242 interfaces. It develops Recommended Practices based on industry needs and validates them in the CAx test rounds.
The Implementor Group is composed of CAx system developers and vendors of STEP translation and validation tools, implementing AP242 interfaces. It develops Recommended Practices based on industry needs and validates them in the CAx test rounds.
For more information, please contact: cax-if-contact@lists.purdue.edu
Deliverables are prioritized use cases and test cases V1 for 2020, MBx data exchange (MBx LTA, etc) and Preparation of related public test cases.
CAx User Group
Scope of the user group is Computer-Aided-"x" (Design, Manufacturing, Inspection), based on STEP AP242 Edition 2.Deliverables are prioritized use cases and test cases V1 for 2020, MBx data exchange (MBx LTA, etc) and Preparation of related public test cases.
- Manage industry requirements for interoperability Convey capability gaps to standards bodies
- Create & maintain common industry Use Cases and associated Test Cases
- Harmonize cross-discipline Use Cases by collaborating with other User Groups
- Prioritize list of Use Cases for test rounds by the Implementer Group
- Allocate industry requirements to interoperability validation & verification with KPIs
- Review the scope of STEP Recommended Practices in relation to industry reqt’s
- Create user best practices for STEP MBx translations Communicate to the outside world
- Conferences, Show Cases etc.
- Present pilots (showcase, etc.) Promote results and usage of the MBx-IF
CAx Implementor Group
The main deliverable of the CAx Implementor Group is interoperable STEP software products. This is enabled by harmonized implementation guidelines for AP242, the so-called Recommended Practices. These documents:- define harmonized approaches for realizing specific capabilities in STEP, based on users’ requirements
- are the foundation for the consistency and interoperability of STEP interfaces
- provide comprehensive implementation guidelines with examples
- get validated in Implementor Group test rounds
- are publicly available on the MBx-IF homepage after successful testing and release.
- participants provide STEP files based on current STEP schemas, Recommended Practices and test case definitions
- files are tested for syntax and structure, including conformance to the Recommended Practices
- statistics are gathered and evaluated to determine the success rate for each test
- technical issues are openly discussed in an atmosphere of trust to derive recommendations for improvement of
- The STEP interfaces
- The Recommended Practices
- The STEP standard itself