Feature Data Access (FDA)

Abstract

The purpose of the Feature Data Access is to migrate the customer data from IDEAS environment to NX native environment without losing the design intent when data is created in I-DEAS. Feature Data Access provides automatic conversion of I-DEAS database to NX database maintaining continuity with the workflow and processes followed in I-DEAS. Normally user can view the model created in different CAD systems with accessing the B-REP of the model. But such representation is useful for viewing only, as if user wants to modify the data it is not possible because the body which user sees is a dumb body. By using some intelligence of Feature Recognition few features like protrude, cut, boss … can be identify and user can modify those features; but all features cannot be access as those were created in original CAD system due to limitation of Feature Recognition and possibilities of creating same model with different features. Hence Feature Data Access exports the data from I-DEAS which not only contains the B-REP but all the information to recreate the features via neutral text file format. This format can be easily read in NX as that is simple text format and part can be recreated in NX. Definitely this will take more time than to view only dumb body but the newly created part will have edit-ability. If some features are not supported directly in NX which are supported in IDEAS, some work around is implement to create the same resultant part. E.g. I-DEAS can created extrude with draft, but NX will create two features, extrude and draft for single feature of I-DEAS. If some features cannot be supported in NX which are supported in IDEAS, work around is to provide user with Data Access Feature so as to facilitate the user in creating feature & repairing the part.