Abstract: A system for concurrent CAx workflow includes a collaborative server that manages a model of an engineering object, the model comprising at least design data and analysis data corresponding to the design data, a design client for editing of the design data by a design user, an analysis client for editing of the analysis data by an analysis user concurrent with editing of the design data by the design user; and wherein the collaborative server and the analysis client are collectively configured (i.e., one or both are configured) to enable the analysis user to edit the analysis data, view a plurality of geometric elements within the design data, and create a reference within the analysis data to a selected geometric element of the plurality of geometric elements within the design data. A corresponding apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A multi-user CAx editing system may comprise a plurality of editing clients. The editing clients may be configured to maintain data consistency for geometric elements created within each local instance of a model of an engineering object. For example, each of the plurality of editing clients may include a synchronization module configured to identify one or more distinguishing parameters for each locally created geometric element and generate a unique persistent label for the geometric element, and communicate the unique persistent label and the distinguishing parameters to other editing clients. The communication may occur via a collaborative editing server. The other editing clients may find a geometric element within their local instance of the model that matches the distinguishing parameters and associate the unique persistent label with that geometric element. Subsequent references to the geometric element may be made by referring to the unique persistent label.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program product are disclosed for collaborative product lifecycle management. One apparatus includes a data processing module that receives product lifecycle management (“PLM”) data from multiple client applications in a collaborative environment. The PLM data may be in a client specific format. The apparatus includes a subscription module that receives one or more subscription requests from each client application. Moreover, the apparatus includes a conversion module that converts the PLM data from the client specific format to a generic format. The apparatus includes a storage module that stores the generic format of the PLM data. The conversion module may convert subscription data from the generic format to the client specific format. The subscription data may correspond to the PLM data stored in the generic format. The subscription module may provide the subscription data to the multiple client applications based on the one or more subscription requests.

Abstract: A system for facilitating multi-user computer aided design includes a plurality of locally stored multi-user design (CAx) environments. A server includes a server side CAx environment. The server is communicatively coupled to each of the locally stored CAx environments. The server side CAx environment further includes a predictive modeling module operable to receive an incomplete command from a first user, and predict a complete command based on the incomplete command.

Abstract: A method for collaborative analysis pre-processing of electronic models of engineering objects includes assigning a first user to de-feature a model of an engineering object during a first session to provide a de-featured model of an engineering object, assigning a second user to conduct other FEA pre-processing operations on the model of the engineering object during a second session, and applying the other FEA pre-processing operations for the model of the engineering object to the de-featured model of the engineering object. Example of other FEA pre-processing operations include applying a material definition to a geometry, pre-meshing a geometry, initiating automated meshing of a geometry, validating automated meshing of a geometry, editing a mesh for a geometry, manually meshing a geometry, and defining one or more boundary conditions for a geometry. The second session and the first session may be conducted concurrently. A corresponding system and apparatus are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system for collaborating on a component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first multi-user CAx environment including a data module and an import module. The data module is configured to access a database relating to a component design. The component design relates to a group of function-based commands. The import module is configured to cause an external data entity relating to at least one feature of the component design to be imported into the first multi-user CAx environment, and is configured to cause the data module to store data relating to the external data entity in the database. A method for collaborating on a component design is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for collaborative finite analysis may include obtaining an electronic model of an engineering object, assigning users one or more geometries for pre-analysis editing to provide assigned geometries for each user, and enabling each user to conduct pre-analysis editing of their assigned geometries concurrent with other users. The method may also include conducting finite analysis on the assigned geometries of a first user concurrent with conducting finite analysis on the assigned geometries of a second user. Examples of pre-analysis editing include removing features that are secondary to analysis, applying a material definition to a geometry, pre-meshing a geometry, initiating automated meshing of a geometry, validating automated meshing of a geometry, editing a mesh for a geometry, manually meshing a geometry, defining one or more loads associated with a geometry, and defining one or more boundary conditions for a geometry. A corresponding system and apparatus are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for computer-aided design access control is disclosed. The method includes receiving a part definition for a part at a server, the part definition comprising a plurality of components and a level of access required for each component of the plurality of components, receiving a request from a user to manipulate the part, the user being associated with a user access level, verifying the user access level against each level of access required for each component of the plurality of components, and presenting a render of the part to the user based on the part definition, the render comprising each component of the plurality of components where the user access level meets the associated level of access required and a placeholder for each component of the plurality of components where the user access level does not meet the associated level of access required.

Abstract: A method for collaborative CAx editing may include enabling a user to define a partitioning constraint for a design space and partitioning the design space into editing regions according to the partitioning constraint and assigning users to specific editing regions. The method may also include displaying a feature tree, enabling a user to select and lock a selected feature for editing by a specified user, enabling the specified user to edit the selected feature and blocking access from other users to the selected feature. An apparatus corresponding to the above method is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for collaborative analysis pre-processing of electronic models of engineering objects includes assigning a first user to de-feature a model of an engineering object during a first session to provide a de-featured model of an engineering object, assigning a second user to conduct other FEA pre-processing operations on the model of the engineering object during a second session, and applying the other FEA pre-processing operations for the model of the engineering object to the de-featured model of the engineering object. Example of other FEA pre-processing operations include applying a material definition to a geometry, pre-meshing a geometry, initiating automated meshing of a geometry, validating automated meshing of a geometry, editing a mesh for a geometry, manually meshing a geometry, and defining one or more boundary conditions for a geometry. The second session and the first session may be conducted concurrently. A corresponding system and apparatus are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system for collaborating on a component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a multi-user CAx environment including a data module and an editing module. The data module is configured to access a database corresponding to a component design. The component design corresponds to a group of predetermined functions. The editing module is configured to generate at least one user-defined function operable to characterize the component design, and configured to cause the data module to store data corresponding to the at least one user-defined function to the database. A method for collaborating on a component design is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for generating a toolpath includes providing a plurality of machining target models based on a model of an engineering object, assigning the machining target models to CAM clients operated by users, receiving a machining instruction sequence from each CAM client, and machining a part by executing each of the machining instruction sequences on one or more machine tools. The machining instruction sequences may be merged into a single machining instruction sequence before being executed by a machine tool. The machining target models may be created manually or automatically generated. In certain embodiments, the machining target models are generated by spatially partitioning the model of the engineering object. In one embodiment, features that are allocated to a separate machining process are removed from the machining target models. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program product are disclosed for collaborative project management. One apparatus includes a selection module that receives a selection by a local user of an information handling device to display an application screen of a remote user of multiple remote users. The application screen of the remote user displays a project used by the multiple remote users in a collaborative environment. The apparatus includes a display module that displays on the information handling device the application screen of the remote user. The application screen of the remote user is updated immediately as modifications to the project are made.

Abstract: A system for collaborating on a component a first multi-user CAx environment including a data module. The first multi-user CAx environment corresponds to a first profile. The data module is configured to access data relating to a component design in a database. The database relates to a group of function-based commands. A synchronization module is configured to cause the data module to access at least one work area relating to the component design according to one of at least three access levels when at least one predetermined criterion is met, and another one of the at least three access levels when the at least one predetermined criterion is not met. A method for designing a component is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for scalable multi-user CAD may include a traffic consolidation server consolidating feature edits from CAD workstations editing one or more proximate regions of an engineering object. The traffic consolidation servers may transmit feature changes to other workstations editing the proximate regions of the engineering object while forwarding the feature changes to a CAD model server. CAD model servers may be configured to receive consolidated feature changes pertaining to an assigned region of the engineering object. An assignment server may balance processing loads on traffic consolidation servers. Methods and apparatus corresponding to the above system are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A multi-user CAx editing system may comprise a plurality of editing clients and a collaborative editing server. The server and editing clients may be collectively configured to: a) assign a feature to a first user, detect an attempt to edit the feature by a second user, and reassign the feature to the second user if the first user indicates that the feature may be reassigned, and/or b) detect an editing conflict between a first and second user for a feature and send a reversion request for the feature to one or more clients and/or c) initiate changes for a feature within a remote instance of the electronic model edited by another user and initiate reversion of the changes for the feature within a local instance of the electronic model in response to determining that the changes to the feature within the remote instance of the electronic model generated an error.

Abstract: A system includes a collaborative data store that stores an object which can comprise a description, model, representation, arrangement or composition created by one or more contributors, the object comprising a plurality of features, the object encoded in a vendor-neutral format, a collaborative server configured to manage the collaborative data store, a first computer or electronic device client comprising at least one processor and configured to execute a first software application and enable the first user to edit the content of the object encoded in a first proprietary format that is different than the vendor-neutral format. The first computer or electronic device client and the collaborative server may be collectively configured to detect updates to the content of the object encoded in the first proprietary format, convert the updates to feature changes and update the object encoded in the vendor-neutral format with the feature changes.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program product are disclosed for collaborative product lifecycle management. One apparatus includes a data processing module that receives product lifecycle management (“PLM”) data from multiple client applications in a collaborative environment. The PLM data may be in a client specific format. The apparatus includes a subscription module that receives one or more subscription requests from each client application. Moreover, the apparatus includes a conversion module that converts the PLM data from the client specific format to a generic format. The apparatus includes a storage module that stores the generic format of the PLM data. The conversion module may convert subscription data from the generic format to the client specific format. The subscription data may correspond to the PLM data stored in the generic format. The subscription module may provide the subscription data to the multiple client applications based on the one or more subscription requests.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program product are disclosed for collaborative project management. One apparatus includes a selection module that receives a selection by a local user of an information handling device to display an application screen of a remote user of multiple remote users. The application screen of the remote user displays a project used by the multiple remote users in a collaborative environment. The apparatus includes a display module that displays on the information handling device the application screen of the remote user. The application screen of the remote user is updated immediately as modifications to the project are made.

Abstract: A method for collaborative editing an electronic model of a CAx object may include providing access to an electronic model that is spatially decomposed into a plurality of editing regions, enabling a user to make changes to an editable feature corresponding to a particular editing region and blocking the user from making changes to an editable feature corresponding to an editing region assigned to another user. A corresponding apparatus may comprise one or more software modules and associated hardware that are configured to execute the described method.