Rhiannon Gallagher sat down with Dan Feighery to talk about how the CAD training and templates in OSCAR can accelerate your 3D data transition.
People are trying to figure out how to create 3D data that is standards compliant, right?
The ASME Y14.41 standard is the ASME MBD standard. That’s not the official name, but that’s what people in our industry know it as. And that standard, like any other standard, is written by a cross-functional committee, which is great for cross-functional input. But with that in mind, you have various people from different organizations using different CAD tools, providing different insights into what should be included in the standard. The CAD tools do not have the same list of options and functionality on how to execute the guidance of the standard. So the standard is necessarily generic, and people can spend a lot of time and energy trying to figure out how to apply it.
What does Action Engineering do to make standards compliance easier?
Our CAD how-to videos take the guidance from the standards and apply it in multiple CAD tools. We have many years of experience serving on the standards committees, so we know what the standards say. We also have decades of combined experience teaching and applying model-based definition. We’ve incorporated the standards guidance into our seed/start files, available on OSCAR. We use the seed files we’ve created for each of the major CAD tools: SolidWorks, NX, Creo, and Inventor.
We’ve incorporated the standards guidance into our seed/start files, available on OSCAR. We use the seed files we’ve created for each of the major CAD tools: SolidWorks, NX, Creo, and Inventor.
With each of those seed files, we’ve created example parts. We’ve modeled the geometry in model-based definition. And then we’ve gone on to demonstrate how annotations can be applied with each of the CAD tools. Now, different CAD tools, as I mentioned, have varying degrees of functionality. CAD tool A may only allow for one way to apply an annotation, whereas CAD tools B and C may provide two, three, 10, 12 different ways. And not all of the methods are equal.
What’s in the OSCAR videos for the CAD tools?
We provide in-depth information that you won’t find on free YouTube videos. We also have tags in each of those videos, to help you zoom in or focus on exactly what you’re looking for. The other benefit of those videos, especially compared with either free content or in-house content by the CAD providers, is that we are thinking about the downstream consumption or reuse of your CAD models. With reuse in mind, what’s the best way to apply an annotation to maximize its reuse for both manufacturing and inspection, as well as by suppliers or anyone that’s not a CAD user and will use a lightweight viewable? This is just as applicable for suppliers, whether they’re using a lightweight viewable or the native CAD tool or a derivative, that’s been translated into another CAD-specific format.
Will the OSCAR videos and seed part files make MBD implementation faster?
With the options and the various ways to apply it, you’re going to be learning from our experts and their experience, and not have to spend time sifting through less efficient ways only to discover two months, three months, five months down the road, that there was a better way for your MBD reuse.
That’s kind of the big overall picture. The other thing that I think’s worth highlighting is just the years of hands-on experience that we bring to those videos. Not just as consultants, but folks who have implemented MBD and know what works and what doesn’t and what the workarounds are when we can’t be fully compliant with the MBD standard but need the next best option for a particular tool.
OSCAR has seed files, tips videos, MBD training, and templates. How do they all relate? How should people use them together?
Well, you should absolutely start with our seed files because we have already incorporated a lot of the setup requirements for coordinate systems and some default settings the standard advises us to apply. You’re starting with a good foundation. If you watch the video and use a generic out-of-the-box template or a company template that may not be fully configured for model-based definition, you’ll be at a disadvantage. You might be struggling with some instances or annotations. And you’re going to need to double-check to see if it’s compliant with the standard. Whereas we’re giving you a compliant seed file as your start file.
You might be struggling with some instances or annotations. And you’re going to need to double-check to see if it’s compliant with the standard. Whereas we’re giving you a compliant seed file as your start file.
With that in mind, you’re also going to be applying the annotations and you’re going to see the same preferences, the same setups, the same reference coordinate system, and axes in the screen captures on our demonstration that you will see if you use our seed file. If you use your own, then there’s going to be a bit of a mismatch, which can be overcome, but it’s another thing for your brain to track, right? If you’re learning a new skill, simplify the presentation, kind of like our philosophy with model-based definition. Simplify just the relevant presentation to the consumer. Do the same thing when you’re learning MBD. Don’t be distracted or have your mind focusing on other aspects of the model and just look at the direct click-by-click hands-on that we’re demoing.
Essentially, the viewer could have the video on one screen and have the CAD file on the other and sort of go back and forth?
Yeah, absolutely. And for all the video demonstrations, we provide a blank version of the CAD file that you can download. ‘Blank’ meaning it’s essentially just the geometry. And then you can apply the annotations one by one. But we also provide a completed version that’s fully annotated, and you can think of it as a cheat sheet. You can work through yours. And then the videos are very intuitive to watch and apply the annotations. But if something’s just not clicking, you can reverse the solutions model or the cheat sheet if you want to get help with that.
For all the video demonstrations, we provide a blank version of the CAD file that you can download.
How else are people using the OSCAR seed files?
The other nice thing about having the completed solutions model is that you have a proof of concept that you can have faith in, that you can run through tests. Use it as a guinea pig to push through your internal system if you want to try out consumption and how MBD can be reused. So it saves you that effort as well. Think of it as a test widget you didn’t have to create and check for standards compliance yourself. It’s a great way to start the conversation with good data everyone can see and work through. This whole 3D data transition process can take a while, but we have a lot of ways to make it easier.
This whole 3D data transition process can take a while, but we have a lot of ways to make it easier.
Tell me a little more about OSCAR and how to sign-up:
OSCAR solves the problem of outdated education by providing engaging MBD training backed up by expert MBD GD&T examples in native and neutral CAD. Users learn the what, why, and how of MBD; and they have the CAD templates to put that training to practical use. Subscribe to OSCAR HERE.