Integrated CAD and the implications for design practice

Abstract

The paper reports on specific work carried out using the initial graphics exchange specification (IGES) for data transfer between two proprietary minicomputer-based and microcomputer-based computer-aided design (CAD) systems. The purpose of this work was to pinpoint and highlight the problems that may, and can, arise through performing detailed reflection, transmission and closed-loop tests using IGES translation. As a consequence, the implications of these results for 'integrated' mechanical design practice are also presented.