Can the JT data format solve the problem of interdisciplinary communications in the PLM industry? The white paper, "The Business Case for a Common Data Distribution Platform: A Look at UGS' JT," examines the case for its adoption as a standard for design, analysis and manufacturing in PLM and beyond.
The Business Case for a Common Data Distribution Platform:
A Look at UGS' JT
A Cyon Research White Paper January 30, 2006
Cyon Research Corporation 8220 Stone Trail Drive Bethesda, MD 20817-4556 USA
phone: 301-365-9085 fax: 301-365-4586 Web: www.cyonresearch.com The Business Case for a Common Data Distribution Platform: A Look at UGS' JT
A Cyon Research White Paper
Executive Summary
In this white paper, Cyon Research discusses the use of the JT data format as a standard for design, analysis, and manufacturing interoperability throughout the PLM industry, and as a basis for increasing the use of design data in areas beyond traditional engineering departments.
What is the nature of the problem?
Significant progress has been made in recent years in the development and implementation of software solutions targeting the design and manufacturing of complex products. This has been driven by the need to create highly marketable products quickly and cheaply. One of the most impactful solutions is 3D data generated by CAD systems.
The problem discussed in this paper is: Design data in manufacturing firms is typically created and stored in a format that can only be read by the CAD program that created it. It is therefore not accessible to many members of the organization who could benefit from it. How does a manufacturing organization facilitate getting design data to downstream activities and other current non-users of design data?
How has this challenge been addressed in the past?
One way this challenge has been met in the past is to require that users of design data have a seat of CAD software available, typically the same software as that used to create the data.
For years, CAD software vendors and users have worked to establish interoperability standards and the tools to implement data translation. Translators that use the IGES and STEP formats are imperfect for most downstream applications. Direct translation from one system to another has proven problematic.
Solutions in use today
In addition to industry-standard formats for translating data from one system to another, a new generation of "lightweight" (that is, a less verbose subset of the source) 3D data formats are being applied to this problem. A lightweight format typically only includes the design data that is required by downstream applications, removing top-level content such as features and constraints, protecting the originators' intellectual property. This often includes more than just graphic information, but less than full feature definitions and design history.
Copyright 2006, Cyon Research Corporation 2What is UGS' solution to the problem?
UGS has incorporated JT as the interoperability foundation for its 3D CAx applications and as the visualization platform throughout its PLM solution. UGS has added substantial capabilities to this format and offers a full suite of applications to enable downstream users to leverage 3D without a CAD seat. UGS has also offered JT to the industry, establishing an organization-the JT Open Program-to provide guidance for its future development.
What is Cyon Research's opinion of JT in this context?
Cyon Research believes that the use of JT enables previous non-consumers of design data to effectively use 3D with a minimum amount of difficulty. Users who would have needed a seat of CAD software can now accomplish many tasks with lower-cost applications, through the use of JT.
Cyon Research also believes that the JT Open organization will guide the evolution of the standard to meet the needs of both users and software developers. We are pleased to see JT become a published standard, making it easier for companies to generate and use JT information. But the existence of JT does not obviate the need for other currently available formats that may fit other needs.
Copyright 2006, Cyon Research Corporation 3The Business Case for a Common Interoperability Platform: A Look at UGS' JT
A Cyon Research White Paper
What is the nature of the problem?
Consumers today want new, high-quality, innovative products at affordable prices. This holds true for both low-priced consumer products and expensive capital goods that are expected to last for decades.
The competitive nature... [download for more]
