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Bad modelling and draughting practices ran wreak havoc, causing delays in design
edits and problems duringproductiorkAl Dean looks at a solution from Tata
Technologies that aims to solve these issues for Autodesk Inventor ancLCatia V5 users

hichever way you cut it,

creating 3D products is
an involved and complex
business. Problems in
product development can arise from a
variety of areas such as errors or bad
practices in a model's construction
history as well as nonconf ormance to
standards. Not least when the data
is inputted into a data management
system, which thrives on the use of
structured and complete metadata.
Project and part naming conventions,
descriptions and classifications all feed
into building a searchable and usable
system. If a user doesn't adhere to the
defined requirements or conventions, then
information can't be found or reused and
the whole process falls apart.
So, how can an organisation go about
ensuring that the benefits of both 3D design,
20 drawings and data management are
gained to their fullest extent?
i Check IT from Tata Technologies is a
system that integrates into both Catia V5
and Autodesk Inventor to automate the
checking of part and assembly models
as well as drawings to ensure that they
adhere to the standards and best practices
defined by the user. It's split into two areas:
the administrator application, in which
standards and checks are defined, and the
monitor application, which works inside
each user's CAD seat.
Let's start with setting up the system,
which in this case is carried out in Inventor.

DEFINING BEST PRACTICES

The user begins by defining standards. This
is a process that combines both choosing
from a large list of provided checks and
configuring the user's personal checks to
establish a standards file. When working
with Inventor, the system is supplied with
over 120 different checks. These range
from the basics, like ensuring file name and
properties are properly defined, to carrying
out sketch-based fundamental checks. It
then looks at part feature order, feature
size and whether suppressed features are
present. Other checks include whether the
part has been updated before saving and
whether there are any empty sketches.
At this point the user needs to decide
whether to include this into their best
practices. When it comes to drawings, these
include ensuring that no dimensions have
been overridden, that dimension styles are
adhered to and that title blocks are filled out.
In order to build custom checks, Inventor
users have iLogic whilst Catia V5 provides
access to over 300 provided checks.

Once the standard files have been created,

they are commonly stored on a network
allowing all users to access the standards
from one place.

Product:
i Check IT
Supplier:
Tata Technologies
Price On application

BEST PRACTICES IN USE

When installed into Inventor, i Check IT
connects each user to their organisation's
set of standards. It's used in three different
modes. The first is the Manual method. This
requires a decision from the user to check
their work, whether at the end of the day or
when a part or project is complete.
As the parts are checked, the system
flags up any errors. Some checks can be
fixed automatically, but others will require
intervention and editing of the model. Each
check shows the user where the problems
exist and gives enough guidance to get
things ship shape. It can then be saved or
checked into the data management system.
Reports can be generated to confirm that
this has taken place.
The second use model is Batch mode. This
allows the processing of a set of files in one
go, whether from a day's work or at any
stage in a project, i Check IT runs through
the checks and creates a report for each.
The third mode is connected with the
Autodesk Vault and triggers from an event
or workflow. This is very interesting as the
user can automate the checking process
server side, which ensures everything
is correct before being released to
manufacturing. For example, if a part moves
to a released state, the system will run the

myicheckit.com

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checks and only allow that state change

if they pass all the checks. There is also a
PDM framework integration for the Catia V5
version of i Check IT that allows the user to
automate checking within the most common
enterprise PLM solutions like Teamcenter
and Enovia.

If the user can define how models,

parts and drawings are defined, they
can save administration time and
remove many of the problems that
centre around making design changes
99
CONCLUSION

: Best practices are something that many

organisations consider, but few rarely
get around to actually defining and
implementing. Why? The answer is complex
but often can be distilled down to two
things; finding the time to define them and
; finding a way to implement them.
This is the challenge that systems such
; as i Check IT look to solve. If the user can
define how models, parts and drawings
are defined, they can save administration
i Check IT standards
can be applied to
time and remove many of the problems
parts, assemblies and
that centre around making design changes.
drawings from within
In turn, the data management system
Autodesk Inventor in
becomes much more efficient.
an interactive monitor
Thirty day trails can be downloaded for
mode or in a batch
mode for checking
both Catia V5 and Inventor. It's worth a look.