So, what "HAS" gone wrong
with Engineering? Part III
We haven't made a Drawing
Since 3D CAD was Introduced!

So What "HAS" Gone Wrong with Engineering?

So What "HAS" Gone Wrong with Engineering? Part II

The Tale of the Center Grinder!

I have used the above drawing for many articles. But this may be my most profound use of it.

I cannot make this point clear enough!

Since we are dealing with 3D CAD only, we do not create drawings. We create AIDs (Associated Information Documents). They can look just like a drawing but they are very different. They are made up of views generated and associated to the 3D model in a documentation module in the 3D MCAD system. So when I refer to the AID, please realize this are documents that look like the "2D drawing". I hate that term, what other kind of drawings are there. AIDs are "not" drawings.

A drawing is made up of non-associated orthographically projected views.

The Death of the Drawing

The drawing or AID was the only document delivered to manufacturing to define the parts until around 1990!

There are 4 types of AIDs that come out of a 3D MCAD system.

• Part

• Inseparable Assembly

• Assembly

• Detailed Assembly

The above drawing is a detailed assembly. All of the parts are defined and an illustration is used to show how it is assembled. This is by far the most complete and efficient engineering format. But it has a few problems. The manufacturing is was probably done in house, where the complete project can be easily controlled. No part numbers just part names would be a bit problematic for outsourcing.

The Secret of Part Numbers

This is all that is necessary to manufacture the “Center Grinder”

I have already created this assembly in ZW3D as a training exercise. You can see how I did it in both IronCAD and ZW3D. Both have much different modeling techniques and system environments.

Effective 3D CAD Modeling Techniques

Learning 3D Mechanical CAD

3D MCAD

Today most MCAD systems are based on the dated Pro/e (Creo) paradigm. It is incredibly problematic. But it is hardly the only MCAD system. I will show you the most to least productive MCAD system paradigms.

The Most Productive CAD system paradigm

The most optimum system has these two features

• Multi-Object or Single Model Environment

• The Integrated Drawing

There are only three system I know with these features, ZW3D being the only one with history based design, robust direct editing and integrated surfacing, both of the others are direct edit only.

ZW3D

In ZW3D, you have a multi-object environment and integrated AID (drawing), which means a complete project can be done in a single file.

Let me show you.

Here is the Center Grinder in ZW3D.

Let's take a look at the assembly tree. All of the parts reside in the multi-object file. All of the parts are separate which is different than a single model environment where all parts coexisting in one design space. We will see a system with that feature later.

Now lets see now we can model top down or in context. We select and edit the bearing. Notice the tree has now moved to  a list of features. The part is in product position. This is also called airplane or car position and exports with the relative coordinates. I will show this later when I work with IronCAD.

We can also open the part.

You can see top down or in context modeling is built into the basic modeling functionality of ZW3D, not just some clunky add on.

Now for the integrated AID (drawing). This is the one function that would have saved Boeing from the PLM and MBE nightmare it is in today. This functionality was in PC based 3D CADKEY in the late 1980's and Boeing opted for mainframe based Catia 3. Both were 3D wireframe and equal in functionality. It was another 10 years before Boeing moved to the PC with one of the worst CAD system, Catia 5.

CADKEY or Catia? Boeing’s Billion-Dollar 3D CAD Mistake!

We can actually duplicate the Center Grinder detail assembly with ZW3D. We go to the assembly and select 2D sheet.

We can also have multiple sheets. Here is sheet two. You can see the sheets available on the bottom tab.

This is when someone is doing a single project. ZW3D can also have associated parts and sub-assemblies for large assemblies with multiple designers.

Here is the manager. This shows you all of the assemblies, sub-assemblies, parts and AIDs.

We will open the bearing AID (drawing). We can open in the manager or select 2D sheet when the bearing is in the edit or open mode.

We can also see there is an AID (drawing) for the flange

So there you go, the most complete and comprehensive 3D MCAD solution.

File directory of Center Grinder in ZW3D

Here is another great example of a completed assembly and documentation in a single file.

ZW3D vs Catia Lesson 3 Assembly

Engineering deliverables

3D Model (STEP or other Neutral Format) with AID

The native 3D Model as a PMI. The problem with PMI there is no viable standard export format. ZW3D solves this problem by offering the PMI included in a 3D PDF.

The Second most productive MCAD system Paradigm

The next most productive system is the Single model environment with external AIDs (drawings). It is no accident that TECH-NET sells these two packages. We used to sell CADKEY which was also a single model environment. But it was a direct edit only package. I feel history based design is mandatory for a completely functional 3D MCAD SYSTEM.

I think IronCAD is the only system that meets this criteria.

IronCAD

IronCAD is a true single model environment. All of the parts and sub-assemblies co-exist in a single space. This is the most productive and flexible 3D CAD environment. IronCAD is the very best part and sub-assembly manipulator. It is a pleasure to have all of your parts and sub-assemblies readily available. I only know of three other systems have a true single model environment.

You can see all of the parts and sub-assemblies in the scene browser (feature, part or assembly tree)

IronCAD calls it a scene because IronCAD started out as Trispectives, a graphic design program. It still has integrated realistic rendering and animation.

We can edit any part at any time. You can see that we select the bearing in the scene it also highlights in the scene browser. The bearing edges turn blue which indicates the bearing part has been selected.

Now lets click the outer tube and see what happens. You can see it takes me to the feature level that is yellow. I can edit the tube by pulling on the handles.

One more click and I am at the face or surface level where I can directly edit the part. You can see the small handle to pull the face. You can also move the face with the Triball. 

 IronCAD is the only truly integrated history/direct edit 3D MCAD system.

We can, of course, hide the other parts and sub-assemblies and work on the part. You can see in the scene browser the Bearing is the only active part.

Being a single model environment you have to have a way of separating the parts and sub-assemblies. If you look to the lower right corner you will see a "assy". This is where you set the configurations, this is set for the top assembly.

Let's take a look at the assembly AID (drawing). Ironcad has a separate AID (drawing). You can see at the bottom that it is shown in a separate tab. You can have separate standalone AIDs for parts and sub-assemblies tied to the same assembly. But it is best to have them in one AID file. While this is better than the Solidworks clones it still takes a bit of management. We usually have the model and the AID (drawing) files in the same folder. Much simpler than having parts buttered all over the hard drive or network.

Assembly section views. You can see we have nine sheets.

Now for some detailed AIDs (drawings). Here is the bearing. You can change the configuration any time in any of the views. So you can have different parts or assemblies on the same AID (drawing).

Here we have a multiple parts on the same AID (drawing)

While in the AID you right click on any view an you will be taken to that part in that orientation. In this case we will select the Yoke.

While this is not as effective as ZW3D with its integrated AID, there are many things that give IronCAD a unique advantage. I believe IronCAD is the very best conceptual design package increasing modeling productivity 5X with new design and 10X with modifications.

Five Functions that Increase 3D CAD Productivity!!

Is 3D CAD Productivity an Oxymoron?

File directory of Center Grinder in IronCAD

Engineering deliverables

3D Model (STEP or other Neutral Format) with AID

There is no one perfect CAD package. But then I use 3 different CAD systems and not one of them is a Pro/e (Creo) clone. I do believe you can model in any package and you could actually use ZW3D as an accumulator (a better word than assembly) due to its integrated AID (drawing). With its robust direct edit and integrated surfacing you can modify most any part and the AID (drawing) will reflect that changes.

The Pro/e (Creo) Clone

This includes Solidworks, Catia 5, NX, Solid Edge and Inventor.

Here is the Center Grinder imported into SE from a parasolid file generated in ZW3D. Everything comes in fine. All of the parts and sub-assemblies come in as separate files on the hard drive.

Here is the bearing with the "edit in place" option. It is very similar to ZW3D and conducive to top down design.

Here is the the bearing opened in a separate file.

Here is the AID of the bearing. This is another separate file.

Can you do effective work in a Pro/e Clone? Of course!

I have given you two solutions that would make PDM almost not a problem. Now I suggest we take the Model and AID out of the CAD system and deliver them as engineering documentation maintained as a separate document control system. This alone would eliminate the problem that PLM has created. This would also allow engineers to get back to engineering and, of course, documentation creation, release and maintenance.

File directory of Center Grinder in Solid Edge.

Now don't forget to add the AIDs (drawings), basically doubling the amount of required archiving and maintenance of the files. All mixed up in one single folder. But then many designers design bottom up. Designing parts separately and inserting components. What a mess. What would that folder full of folders look like. Who is maintaining that mess??

This would be the same for Catia, Creo, NX, Solidworks and Inventor.

Here is another exercise showing the comparison of IronCAD's single and ZW3D's multi-object design environment to the Catia separate part, assembly and AID file system. It has the same problems, but it also shows the advantages of top down/in-context design as compared to separate part design. The productivity increases are stark and cannot be denied!

Engineering Deliverables

3D Model (Native or other Neutral Format) with AID

Now I don't know how these Pro/e (Creo) clones store the part and AID file. Can they be stored in their own folders? Or are they like this assembly? If they are in their own folders how do you assure they are correctly linked to the assembly file?

Here is a video showing IronCAD vs Solid Edge with Direct Editing!

The native 3D Model as a PMI.

Problem with PMI there is no viable standard export format. You would have to have a seat of the native software to be truly compatible.

This is an actual production Catia PMI from Bombardier. Please take a look at this article and see the lack of standards in this format. You can see they are making up the required information on the fly. Quite a mess.

PMI vs AID

At this time there is no standard "free" PMI reader. The reason is the the PMI is a native file. Boeing demands the use of the 3D native model as the design authority.

Compare and Validation Programs? Band-Aids for Self Inflicted Wounds!

Why MBE/MBD/PMI Will FAIL

Why MBE/MBD/PMI Will Fail Part II

PLM/MBE/PMI Absurdity!!

A Short Primer and History of Dimensioning

Adobe Acrobat Pro 3D was released in 2007 to provide a common solution would read the PMI (Catia 5 at the time) and deliver the 3D model as STEP and the PMI. I was involved with this product and was very enthused to provide it to my Boeing suppliers. But Adobe discontinued the product, forcing the suppliers to purchase Catia 5. There was no other way to view the PMI for years. Today there are translators the can view the PMI. But remember they are trying to keep up to day with four CAD systems that are releasing different versions every year.

There as been a study to use a STEP file as a PMI deliverable. But again we bump into the fact that these systems are releasing a new version every year. Here is a study done by, you guessed it, no one with any direct engineering or documentation knowledge or experience. I have no idea how InfoTechs think they can solve a problem they have never experienced.

MBE PMI Validation and Conformance Testing Project

ZW3D can import the native files, including PMI, of Solidworks, NX, Catia  and Creo. This makes it a viable replacement for these systems.

Free PMI Importer?

The Manual or Electronic Drawing

So you thought I was going to leave this out?

Sadly, with machined and sheet metal parts the suppliers are demanding a 3D model. I spent a good part of my career converting drawings to 3D.

All You Wanted to Know About Drawing to 3D Conversions

Many are still designing many products that are basically fabrications and electronic drawings are fine. I have always used 3D for all my designs.

Now, the drawing is not gone. Boeing and all large companies have hundreds of thousands of drawings. From the first Boeing Airplane to the 767. Even the 777 used full detailed AIDs delivered as prints. Only the 787 was designed completely in the Catia 5 system and we know that was a complete fiasco. That was when they still had draftsman carrying much of the load. We see a failure with the 737 MAX, from which Boeing may never recover.

There was as story about bringing the 757 back.  It is designed with drawings. I don't think they have enough millennial engineers that can read a drawing to even get started.

3D CAD and the 757

I have a couple of applicable stories on drawing conversions and use.

Story One

I was hired to convert two torpedo propeller drawings to 3D Models. These were drawings of the blade cuts drawn 10X. None of the suppliers had the expertise to even model them. I did one blade of each and rotated and copied. Was not a tough job but far beyond the scope of most machine shops. This was a government job so I can't show the models.

Story Two

Selling IronCAD, a 3D solution to an AutoCAD electronic drawing user.

Story 3

I was hired to do an evaluation of a machined part from an old customer and associate working for a large machine shop. He called and said a large airplane company sent them a drawing and the 3D modeler was finding cavities in the part.

This was after two weeks of modeling in Catia 5.  They needed the 3D model to do the CNC programing and then machine it. I am not sure if the company has a contract with these folks to convert the drawing and provide the Catia model or just deliver the final part. You have to wonder if the large aircraft company would inspect it or leave that to the supplier. I assure you all standards are out the window.

I asked if it was a sand casting and he didn't know.

One look at the drawing.

My associate (20 plus years), the quoting person, the company's purchaser, the manufacturing or engineering professional that initiated the request and who knows how many others, never noticed this was a "Sand Casting"? The 3D modeler didn't notice the significance and he had been working on it for 2 weeks. They had to call a person they knew had the expertise and one look saw the problem by just looking at the drawing? Wow, am I worth my money!

The drawing consisted of the sand casting and the machining of the casting. No one questioned these two separate definitions?

This large aircraft company is a leader in Model Based Enterprise! The model is the design authority!

Can the 3D Model Be Used as the Design Authority?

Why in the world are they sending out drawings? You would think the company would have a department with a "Standard Process" dedicated to convert drawings to 3D models in Catia to assure they were meeting the model as the design authority. I am sure this would be a great place to put the millennial engineer to get familiar with the form, fit and function of airplane parts and documentation.

Now they have to provide the model, which I saw was done incorrectly. First, they have to check that the model matches the drawing, which it doesn't, then they have to inspect to the model. Uh, who is in charge of this mess?

Why does this company depend on the supplier to provide the 3D model in Catia? We can only speculate. But again I note, that they obviously have no standard processes in place. Using the native Catia 5 file, I imported the model in IronCAD and found the cavities. You can see them here in the sectioned view on the right.

But I also instantly saw the part was done incorrectly. The errors stood out like a sore thumb. You have to go through a thorough checking when you convert drawings to 3D models. So two weeks already spent. Corrections another week. Checking another week. How many more hours will it take? It took me less than 30 minutes to define the problem. If you need a checker or an highly experienced design draftsman to sort out problems, give me a call!

Drawing conversions are much different than designing parts. You have to re-detail the part exactly to check it. There are no short cuts. Murphy is looking to play a big part in this process.

Here is an AID (drawing) in IronCAD checking the part and with just a few dimensions I found a serious modeling error. You can see this is a very complex part.

Now back to PLM, MBE and PMI.

Can you imagine doing the PMI on the above part? This is a combined sand casting and machined part! I wonder how they do that on a PMI? How do you defined the cavity? Do you do the casting first as single file? Then do the machining? Now you have two files to replace the single drawing! Sigh! You can only shake your head with the lack of thought when developing this process.

You can see in this simple PMI, the things they had to do to "try" to completely define this part. It is funny they reference a nutplate and rivet in the notes and do not provide the specifications. The nutplate isn't even involved with the part just some referenced holes. When does it get installed? This would be an inseparable assembly with the same part number with two dash numbers in the a sane engineering world. I guess the PMI can only have the single part per the company standard, who knows?  Quite bizarre!

PMI vs AID (Associated Information Document)

Here is how they present the annotation in 3D Space. How easy is this to work with: review, check, modify or print? What software do you need to even access it?  These fellows are alone in the wilderness trying to make this obscure process work. Is there no one to stand up and say enough is enough?

Here is the fully defined AID (drawing). In a format all can view, check, mark up, print, etc. I mean, what were the MBE folks thinking? I am sure the AID took less time to create in a much more convenient format including the detailing (added dimensions). This is done in ZW3D and the AID (drawing) is include in one single file. This was done in less than 30 minutes. I copy and pasted the text from the PMI. But the most of the notes are generic and would be either a text file or copy and pasted.

Good afternoon Joe,

I read through several of your articles/blogs and found it to be very interesting.  For our company, I’m asking if you could offer a suggestion or better solution to our requirements.  We currently have a seat of Catia V5 to look at .catpart files for quote and I also use it to make paper drawings from the models of parts that we currently make.  787 parts mainly.  This is expensive software as you know, and it’s what were led to believe was the best solution for moving forward in the MBD environment.

Our shop prefers parts lists and paper drawings.  Maybe it’s antiquated thinking, but it still works best for us.  Is ZW3D software a good alternative for getting the required information from a Catia V5 model to make a paper drawing and parts list?  Sometimes we do get an EPL or BEPL with the notes, flag notes, etc extracted out already, but not always.

I’m sure you all well aware of what I’m talking about and asking.  We are a Boeing subcontractor but since being bought by the XXX group, we now do other aerospace work as well, Airbus, Bombardier, etc.  Our parent company is based in France so I’m hoping a move away from Dassault won’t be frowned upon😊   Any advice or help in a better direction would be much appreciated.  It’s been some time but we used to buy Cadkey from you years ago.

Thank you,

CONCLUSION

I have shown you a bit the state of the industrial/mechanical industry today as it is actually being applied, Where can you get this level of knowledge? I have tens of thousands of hours of 3D MCAD design and documentation, both in manual drafting and 3D CAD in a variety of systems. I have never created an electronic drawing, but thousands of AIDs.

The 1990's - 3D CAD/CAM Moves to the PC!!

PLM, MBE and PMI is basically for the large companies that can afford this mess. But smaller companies also suffer trying to fit the 3D CAD world into the past standard. I have heard that there is a company still storing printed completely defined AIDs (drawings) as the authority. One company is delivering .dxfs made from Microstation to their suppliers.

They said no more mockups with the 777, they could do it virtually, LOL. This was probably the first decision made by those without the knowledge of the past, now thinking the 3D model could do it all. They didn't create a mockup, just model verifications. A rose is a rose by any other name. So many are fooling themselves and so many others. Yes, it is out of ignorance of the past standard processes. Boeing used the first two 787 for mockups since they never flew! Nope, no AIDs!

Engineering 101 Please read the Fourth Headline

The A380 had to completely redesign its cabling system, they were too short. What did they blame? Using two different totally incompatible system Catia 4 and Catia 5. Think that one through! Only the French would give the same name to two totally incompatible MCAD programs.

We need a real disruption!!

Where do we start.

1. We quit calling it "data"

2. We put the necessary relative IT under engineering management control.

3. We study the past standard based on the drawing

4. We see how we can implement the 3D model into that process

5. We review the other available 3D MCAD system paradigms

6. We move to the best CAD system paradigm

7. With the multi-object or single model environment part management will be simplified

8. The integrated AID (drawing) eliminates the documentation management problem

9. Move the engineering deliverable as a 3D model and AID (drawing) to a Cloud based document control system outside the CAD system eliminating the need for PLM.

10. Allow all of the other departments in the company including outside suppliers access to the cloud base document control system.

Leave manufacturing alone to do their job. They did it before!

There you go!

How much cost savings?

Think about having Dassault, Siemens, Autodesk and PTC out of your lives. Just by changing to a much more functional cost effective 3D MCAD system paradigm would eliminate much of the dependency on the CAD system.

Using Multiple 3D CAD Systems

Depending on the size of the company this could be millions a year. Most of you have been stuck with the limitations of a system for decades, suffering under their constant upgrades to keep you paying. You could cut this overhead by 75%!

The Worst to Best 3D MCAD Systems Expanded!

Okay, let's not do what we did in the past and throw your complete engineering into the hands of another CAD company.

Give me a call. It would be nice to have representation from the government, academia and from each of the major industries get involved. But I only want engineering personnel with hands on experience. Preferably, some professional draftsman of the past with both drawing and 3D CAD experience that find it odd why we are calling a parts list a BOM. I do not want any PLM or MBE genius's, no IT gurus, nothing above a BSME, unless they have a good amount of design and documentation experience.

Parts List or BOM?

We do not have the cloud based document control system as I envision it at this time. But we could contract some programmers experience in this area, Onshape, GrabCAD or others to provide one. It would take very little programming. There are many cloud based 3D CAD part providers. This is a incredibly simple solution.

Go to Onshape to see that it is basically a documentation bucket with a 3D model. But you can have a just single drawing in the form of a PDF available no need for the model. In fact, you can have any file format stored there. Boeing is sending scanned drawings as PDFs by email, imagine if they had their archived drawings available in this system?  This opens the door to a much more complete definition of our engineering documentation. Design notes, analysis, revisions, etc all kept up to date by a staff trained to maintain the system. At Pre-Catia 5 Boeing, this was the Document Control Group.

For those programming companies that would be interested in developing the optimum Cloud based document control system. I have defined it in these articles.

The Embedded Title Block! A PLM Solution!

Standard Cloud Based
Engineering Document Control Part II

"I don't know if I can write another article the defines the true state of the industry better."

I am one of the few that have the experience necessary to help bring engineering back to a standard process. We need people that have experience in both Pre- and Post- 3D CAD!

We also have to realize the importance of engineering documentation. It is the language with which we talk to manufacturing. We need to get the engineers trained to a new standard in engineering documentation. We have to make it much more easily accessible in a format that can be easily used. I have to tell you, documentation was the most important step in engineering! Drafting was in charge and were the keeper of the keys to engineering documentation. When they eliminated the Drafting Group the lost control of the documentation. Today, the PLM and MBE system considers it an after thought.

The Death of the Draftsman or “Where has all the talent gone?”

"Engineering's only purpose is to make available complete, concise and unambiguous documentation to manufacturing."

Educating the New 3D CAD Engineer

Should the Millennial Engineer Learn Drafting?

The Millennial 3D MCAD Engineer

Who am I? Start here.