The new product generation of IsoDraw CADprocess facilitates and speeds up the use of 3D CAD data for technical documentation.

Only one year after the first release of the CADprocess technology, ITEDO Software is launching a major update. In addition to the optimization of existing functions, this version also contains a number of new functions that further automate the import of 3D CAD data. Through these, the formerly required preparation of data by the Design department is almost eliminated. 

New functionality relieves the Design department
The major improvement is that the Documentation department can now work with structured CAD data. The illustrator can decide which assemblies or assembly parts he wants to import from the CAD data for use in the parts catalog illustration or for other illustrations. He may, without the help of the Design department, place and rotate single assembly parts and assemblies in the required position. A wide range of tools is offered for the handling of the assembly parts in the 3D window. In this context, the explosion function offers a special productivity advantage: The user can "explode" parts along an axis.

"Our CADprocess customers were able to realize enormous savings in the creation of technical illustrations from day one on", says Dieter Weidenbrueck, Managing Director of ITEDO Software. "The daily work experience has clearly shown that there was potential for further savings in the preparation of the data by the Design engineer. With IsoDraw 5 CADprocess 2, the preparation work is reduced to a minimum and has been substantially accelerated through special functions."

The precondition for the use of the CADprocess novelties is just a 3D IGES file with assembly information, as it can be created by almost any CAD system. The Design engineer may export a complete structure into one file, which is then read by CADprocess. While opening a 3D file, the tree structure of the contained assemblies and assembly parts is shown in a dialog window. The user can now decide with a simple mouse click which assemblies should be imported and which should not. Over time, the 3D file may thus be divided into single parts catalog illustrations. Previously, this work had to be done by the Design engineers. After importing, the CADprocess user has a wide range of tools at his access to edit the 3D file according to the graphical directions of Technical Illustration. The productivity increase is enormous. The combination with the structured import of 3D data opens up exciting new possibilities for the illustrator.
 
Direct use of the data for electronic documentation
The import of structures, including their denominations, also offer excellent possibilities for use in electronic documentation, i.e. interactive electronic spare parts catalogs on CD ROM or on the Internet. When you chose electronic delivery for your documentation instead of paper, it is vital that the user is offered an easy navigation through e.g. the parts catalog. High-quality graphics help him identify the spare part quickly and find the corresponding parts number for ordering. The preparation of these graphics, however, often takes much time.

During import, IsoDraw CADprocess automatically creates an object info with a so-called "hotspot" for each part. The user of an electronic spare parts catalog can then click on the part to receive the corresponding parts list information. Thus, there is no manual creation of objects necessary and the structures of the CAD data can for the first time be used in documentation.

The new functionality in IsoDraw 5 CADprocess 2 enormously reduces the workload in the Design department, as well in Illustration. The higher level of automation in the process chain offers a substantial productivity increase to companies.

The CADprocess technology
With IsoDraw CADprocess, 3D design data can automatically be transformed into technical illustrations. After import of an IGES, DWG or DXF file, 3D surface data is transformed in a 3D window, rotated into the desired perspective and then projected. 3D surface data is thus converted into high-quality technical illustrations. In addition to the hidden line removal, the illustration is represented with the thick-and thin line technique, which is typical in Technical Illustration.

The use of 3D design data and the automatic conversion to technical illustrations provides companies with an as yet unachieved productivity increase. CAD files that previously had to be modified in hour-long work are now available within minutes. Therefore, the CADprocess technology is capable of reducing the illustration effort tremendously. The CADprocess technology is based upon IsoDraw, the market-leading product for the creation of technical illustrations. For this reason, the CADprocess user has full access to the complete IsoDraw functionality as well. 

Availability
Shipment is scheduled to start on May 1, 2002.