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Architecture for a Web-Based engineering automation program. Madison Mine r Software Engineer EDA, Inc. Presenter background EDA has been an automation consultant for over 21 years. Madison has been a software engineer @ EDA for 9 years.
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Architecture for a Web-Based engineering automation program Madison Miner Software Engineer EDA, Inc.
Presenter background • EDA has been an automation consultant for over 21 years. • Madison has been a software engineer @ EDA for 9 years. • EDA has experience automating Solid Edge, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Google SketchUp, MS Office and more. • EDA has automated quoting, drafting, design, engineeringand manufacturing. • EDA has developed many Web-Based engineering, sales and quoting programs.
Why automate Solid Edge over the web? • Advantages: • Easy to maintain and deploy. • Easy to use. • If the program only generates .SAT or .DWG files,users do not have to have Solid Edge installed. • Easy to develop a high quality interface. • Can be used by mobile devices, Macs, Linux, etc. • Available anywhere in the world 24 hours a day. • Disadvantages • Can be difficult to develop back end. • Internet connection required for use. • Can be troublesome supporting multiple browsers.
What kind of program can you automate over the Web? • Engineering: • 3D Models or 2D Drawings can be delivered through the browser or email. • Sales and Quoting: • Web systems can be built for in-house sales, customers or both. • Saves sales staff time & reduces back and forth with engineering • Customer Ordering: • Web application can help customer with configuration of custom products, tracking past orders, order modification. • Provide customers with drawings/models, with or without quote. • Providing a drawing assists in the preliminary discussions and gives the customer a good understanding before they talk with salesmen. • Reduced mistakes, increased sales and customer loyalty.
Server System • Can be installed on one logical server. However, at least two logical servers are recommended. • Required Components: • Web Based UI • Queue • Solid Edge • Recommended Components: • Separate Solid Edge Controller • Database
Web Server • Software • Windows Server 2008 (Apache or other) • SQL Server (MySQL or other) • ASP.NET (PHP or other) • User Interface • HTML/XHTML • Flash can be used but is not recommended. • Database • Stores Users, Sales, Model info etc. • Queue • First-In-First-Out or other priority • Keep the Queue on the logical web-server to allow multiple Solid Edge Servers
Communication Between Web Server and Solid Edge Server • Many different methods could be used: • .NET Remoting • Has been deprecated and rolled in to WCF • Easy to set up • Works well • .NET Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) • Can be faster and more scalable
Solid Edge Server • Installed Software • Windows 7 (Same as your current SE users use) • Solid Edge Controller (custom program) • Solid Edge • Solid Edge Controller • Windows or Console program • Listens for request from Web server • Automates Solid Edge • Restarts Solid Edge if necessary • Reports Errors, including timeouts • Delivers completed drawings and models • Notifies the webserver when the job is complete
Model Delivery System • Email Delivery • Does not require the user to wait while models are built • Allows an opportunity to capture a visitor’s email address • Works well up to ~50MB files • Asynchronous Web Delivery • Does not require the user to wait • Works well for any size files • Synchronous Web Delivery • Easiest to develop • Require the user to wait while files are created • Works well for fast jobs (2D) • Works well for any size files
Architecture for a Web-Based engineering automation program Thank You! Questions? madison@edainc.netwww.edainc.net