CAD Collaboration for SAP PLM

Users of enterprise wide PLM solutions are fasing special challenges when it comes to exchange of 3D CAD models with external resources like suppliers, customers or engineering offices. On one hand there are the relations and dependencies between assemblies, subassemblies, parts and drawings and on the other hand the requirement to keep track about what file in what version was already provided and where changes were made which have to be considered. SAP PLM takes care about the central vault, the relations and dependencies between the files and has all necessary information. With cFolder and other web based technologies like Engineering Desktop with PLM 7.0, SAP provides also the interface to communicate, up- and download files. For the data exchange. What’s pretty simple in the “One-File-World” is going to be very complex if it comes to related 3D CAD files. Especially if the files are coming back, maybe modified, and they have to go back into the system again, with the right version or revision and on the right place.
CIDEON CAD Collaboration supports SAP users exactly in this working environment. Researched documents from SAP CAD Desktop can be forwarded to an Export Dialog with one click. The document structure can be displayed on the screen so that only specified documents, individual parts or assemblies are exported. At the same time, document structure can be expanded to the individual parts level while structures which are not required can be blocked out during the exporting process. To avoid inconsistencies, a specific export status informs all users in the system if the documents are still available for changes or if they are already exported and changes may be made externally. Neutral formats such as TIF-. PDF-. STEP-. etc. which are connected with an individual part or an assembly as well as other attached files can also be exported through parameters or a manual selection. Protocol files and an export database document the actions and results which can be stored with additional data in the SAP system.
During the Re-Import CIDEON’s CAD Collaboration checks for changes in structure and files and informs the user responsible to bring the files back in the system about these and provides alternative actions in case a new version has to be created or the old version can be overwritten.