Flexible cad format

A user computer method of a user setting conditions for Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis of an original Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of a product converted into a new format, wherein the method includes:

• downloading visualization data to a user computer, the visualization data including an assembly tree extracted from the original CAD model, the assembly tree including each component of an assembly forming the product, and visualization information from the original CAD model for each assembly face in the assembly tree;
• the user computer displaying the visualization data;
• the user being allowed to add CAE settings using assembly faces in the visualization data;
• and
• the CAE settings being transferred to a cloud computer for mapping onto a new-format CAD model, without the new-format CAD model being available to the user computer.

A cloud computer method of preparing for Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of a product converted into a new format, wherein the method comprises:

• a cloud computer storing a new-format CAD model converted from an original CAD model and geometry information including matching information identifying each assembly face of an assembly tree extracted from the original CAD model, the assembly tree including each component of an assembly forming the product;
• the cloud computer receiving CAE settings entered using visualization data and referring to assembly faces;
• the cloud computer matching the assembly faces to corresponding CAD faces in the new-format CAD model using the geometry information;
• and
• the cloud computer mapping the CAE settings to the corresponding CAD faces in the new-format CAD model.

A computer apparatus operable to translate a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of a product constructed for Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis into a flexible form, the apparatus comprising:

• a converter operable to:
• convert an original CAD model into a different format to provide a new-format CAD model;
• extract an assembly tree from the original CAD model, the assembly tree including each component of an assembly forming the product;
• provide visualization data including the assembly tree and visualization information from the original CAD model for each assembly face in the assembly tree;
• and to
• provide geometry information including matching information unambiguously identifying each assembly face;
• wherein the matching information allows assembly faces to be matched with CAD faces in the new-format CAD model.

A user computer operable to allow a user to set conditions for Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of a product converted into a new format, wherein a user computer comprises includes:

• an input operable to read visualization data including an assembly tree extracted from an original CAD model, the assembly tree including each component of an assembly forming the product, and visualization information from the original CAD model for each assembly face in the assembly tree;
• a display operable to display the visualization data;
• a user interface operable to allow a user to add CAE settings using assembly faces in the visualization data;
• and
• an output operable to transfer the CAE settings to a cloud computer for analysis, without the new-format CAD model being available to the user computer.

A cloud computer operable to prepare for Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of a product converted into a new format, wherein the cloud computer comprises:

• memory arranged to store a new-format CAD model converted from an original CAD model and arranged to store geometry information including matching information identifying each assembly face of an assembly tree extracted from the original CAD model, the assembly tree including each component of an assembly forming the product;
• an input operable to receive CAE settings entered using visualization data and referring to assembly faces;
• a matcher operable to match the assembly faces to corresponding CAD faces in the new-format CAD model using the geometry information;
• and
• a transferer operable to transfer the CAE settings to the corresponding CAD faces in the new-format CAD model.