Clean up and repair of existing data files
Cadmodels.biz offers salvage and repair of discrepant data. Please contact us in order for you to be able to send us your design for quotation.
3D CAD Data Repair
3D CAD data can be defined as the electronic file information used by 3D CAD and CAM manufacturing programs. 3D CAD programs are used to develop various kinds of mechanical parts and assemblies within a simulated "real world" environment, the files from which can then be "exported" or "translated" into other formats for the purposes of evaluating, prototyping or manufacturing the actual product. While the part or product designs are being managed within the native 3D CAD file format by the designer or author, the data is deemed "flexible" or "editable" which means that changes to part or product geometry can be easily made. The CAM programs used to physically make parts designed in 3D CAD programs often require file exchange formats that render data into a "fixed" or "un-editable" state. The most common 3D CAD data file exchange formats include IGES, STEP, and STL which can be used in a number of different manufacturing processes and 3D CAD / CAM programs. In certain cases the file export or translation process can result in errors usually on the receiving end of such data. These errors can often be visibly seen by the reviewer in the form of "voids" or apparent surface irregularities on the parts being evaluated. A void is simply an opening or "hole" on the surface of the part which makes "volume" calculation impossible for the receiving program. Volume calculation is important for parts like injection molded plastics where there is a need to know how much material is required to mold the part in large production quantities. These translation errors in some cases can be avoided by the designer through the process of exporting and them "re-importing" the un-editable data back into the native program. The designer can then check for voids, surface irregularities or any other defects that appear to be unintentional. If there are errors present, the designer can then use various techniques to either "patch" or repair the imported data and then re-export the file or an alternative approach to modeling the problem geometries within the native environment can be done. In most cases, files are exported and sent to manufacturing without any type of error checking. This happens mainly because of the time sensitive nature of most product development timelines. It's typically assumed that with most simple geometries or non-complex surface forms that the exported data will import seamlessly into the programs used by the manufacturers. In the event that problems do occur in the translation process, the skill set required to fix the problem data is sometimes above and beyond that of the designer or manufacturer and there may be a requirement for a service provider which specializes in 3D CAD data repair.