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Legacy Data Reuse for Vehicle Support: Moving to 3D in the US Army

This presentation discusses the need to transition from legacy 2D drawings to 3D models in the US Army for various purposes such as redesigning parts, manufacturing spare parts, archival, and virtual prototyping. It outlines the current state, challenges with legacy data, decision factors, conversion methodology, and future plans. The potential savings and benefits of automated conversions are also highlighted.

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Legacy Data Reuse for Vehicle Support: Moving to 3D in the US Army

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  1. Reuse of Legacy Data for Vehicle Support within the US Army Dr. Raj Iyer US Army Tank Automotive Research Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC) Warren, MI Presented at the NDIA 6th Annual Systems Engineering Conference, San Diego, CA October 21, 2003

  2. Outline • Need to move to 3D • Issues with legacy data • Decision factors • Methodology • Conversion issues • Where we are going • Demos • Conclusions

  3. Need to move to 3D • Large holdings of legacy 2D drawings in most companies • Need to redesign (or design new) parts based on older designs • Need to manufacture spare parts using new machine tools that cannot use legacy data – improved logistic support • Need to archive designs for future use • Need to visualize 3D models for non-engineering use • Virtual prototyping – engineering analysis

  4. TACOM’s product line To provide engineering & technical support to Army combat vehicle systems to ensure systems readiness throughout the lifecycle

  5. Where we are today • Have close to a million scanned images in archives – Army vehicles are on an average 30 years old • Manually converted 20,000 scanned images to 2D CAD drawings • Manually converted about 2000 2D drawings to Pro/ENGINEER 3D models on FMTV • Evaluating automated software for 2D to 3D conversions

  6. Issues with legacy data • Scanned images • Poor scanning resolution • Poor quality of hardcopy drawings • Multiple sheets because of scanner restrictions • Need to be vectorized first • Vectorized drawings • Duplicate and overlapping edges • Disconnected and crisscrossing edges • Near zero length entities • Breakup of entities • Incorrect scale factor • Ambiguous dimensions

  7. Conversion decision factors • Future production quantities • Remaining product lifecycle • Potential for design changes • Availability and quality of technical data package (TDP) • Mechanical content • System density

  8. Conversion requirements • Governed by “TACOM 3D Modeling Best Practices” document • Models must be fully parametric and feature-based • Pro/ENGINEER recommended format – but does not preclude other CAD systems • Models must have associative 2D drawing with dimensioning scheme consistent with original 2D • Material and surface finish to be identified in 3D • Layers, colors, notes, file names, …

  9. System architecture

  10. Conversion methodology

  11. Conversion issues • Works best with machinable piece parts • Cannot handle assembly drawings • Accuracy and robustness of conversions • Preprocessing and post-processing needed • Automated vs. interactive • Availability and completeness of data • Pro/ENGINEER API issues • Carryover of notes and non-geometric information • Conformance to TACOM standards

  12. Process issues • Can we mandate 3D across the enterprise? • How to make 3D the official legal document for procurement? • Do we need to hold on to the 2D? • How do we manage raster, 2D and 3D concurrently? • How do we interface with the PDM? • Are our suppliers capable of handling 3D exclusively? • Do we have rights to the contractor’s design data?

  13. Where we are going • Working closely with Imagecom in customizing and fine-tuning FlexiDesign for automated conversions • Standards-based (STEP) approach to archiving and exchanging data • Feature-based 3D-3D translations where needed • Strategy for data management throughout the product lifecycle (PLM) • Evaluating effect on automated manufacturing • Reverse engineering

  14. Potential savings • Automated conversions 4-5 times faster than manual conversions based on pilot conversions • May not require engineers or 3D modeling experts • In-house conversions on an as-needed basis possible • Flexibility in outputs – Pro/E, Catia, UG, SolidWorks • Lower costs in procuring and manufacturing parts by providing supplier with CAD data that they can directly use

  15. Demos

  16. Virtual simulation in 3D

  17. In summary • The Army now recognizes the need to move to 3D like private industry • Take advantage of cost/time savings that auto makers have made by moving to 3D • Cost-saving automated software are becoming available and affordable today • Not a 100% solution – but definite productivity improvements over manual conversion approaches

  18. Contact • Any Questions? • For more information: Dr. Raj Iyer Engineering Business Group, TARDEC 6501 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48313 Tel: 586.574.7186 E-mail: raj.iyer@us.army.mil http://www.tacom.army.mil/tardec

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