Data Exchange from design to RP&M

From: Marcus Joppe (University of Bremen)
To: RP-ML
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 1994
Subject: Data Exchange from design to RP&M
Dear Madam and Sir !
     I'm a computer science student from the University of Bremen. Since 4  years I've been working as a 
software developer for Rapid Prototyping  & Manufacturing at BIBA. BIBA (Bremen Institute of Industrial  Technology and applied Work Science at the University of Bremen) is  an engineering research institute, with activitys in the areas of Product  Design, Production Technology and Human Labour. It's task is to  research and to develop, with emphasis on practical orientation, in  co-operation with industrial contractors and using national and  European programmes for funding. In the field of RP&M BIBA is  involved in several projects, like INSTANTCAM, since 1989. In the field  of RP-Software we have developed some interfaces for RP&M, like  VDA-FS to STL, VDA-FS to SLI and some post-functions for STL-Data  Sets (Verifying, Visualisation etc.). Now I'm beginning my diploma work  at BIBA, where Dipl. Ing. Hans M ller is my supervisor. The theme of  this diploma is called "3D Positioning of Layer Data Sets for Layer  Manufacturing Techniques". The goal of the practical part is to  develope a software tool, which shall generate a facetted closed  volume from a sliced model. After volume generation the model can be  freely translated in the 3D space (transformation, rotation etc.) and  sliced again at the new position. An additional feature of the software  shall be the generation of an STL-File from the closed volume. One topic of the theoratical part of my diploma, is to get an complete  overview about existing and future concepts for data transfer from  design to RP-Processes and software products based on RP-Data Sets.  I hope you could be so kind to help me to get more detailed information  about these topic by answering the following questions.

1. Existing Data Exchange Concepts for RP&M (Developed)
- Which Concepts of Data Exchange from design to RP&M beside facetted, sliced or neutral graphic 
(VDA-FS, IGES) models do you know ?
- Which File-Formats for Data Exchange from design to RP&M beside  STL, CFL, LEAF, CLI, SLC, VDA-
FS, IGES do you know ?
- Which Interfaces for Data Exchange from design to RP&M beside  vda2tr, vdafs2stl, vdafs2cli, CATslice do you know ?
- Which activitys and results (Projects, Software-Tools) do you have in  this context ?
- How would you descripe the situation of Data Exchange today ?
- What are the main problems with existing concepts or Interfaces  today ?

2. Future Data Exchange Concepts for RP&M (Under Development)
- Which future Concepts of Data Exchange from design to RP&M beside  direct sliced models do you know or heared about ?
- Which future File-Formats for Data Exchange from design to RP&M  beside STEP, LEAF or CLI (Brite 
Euram Layer Format) do you know or  heared about ?
- Which future Interfaces for Data Exchange from design to RP&M do  you know or heared about?
- What are your activitys in this context ?
- What do you think about the concept of direct slicing ? 
- What do you think about STEP ?
- Which way would be the best for Data Exchange for RP&M in your  opinion ?

3. Process dependent "Third Party" Software Tools for RP&M 
- Which Process dependent Functions for RP&M beside Supports,  Offsets, Visualisation, Verifying, 
Positioning do you know ?
- Which Process dependent "Third Party" software Tools for RP&M  beside MAGICS, ISTOFFSET, STL-
CAD, HUTPP, RAPID TOOLS,  Intelligent Design Editor, RAPITO-Toolset, Layout, Bridgeworks do you  
know ?
- Which activitys and results (Projects, Software-Tools) do you have in  this context ?
- What are your future activitys in this context ?
- What are the main problems in this context ?
- Which future Process dependent Functions would be important ?
- What do you think about Functions for later manufacturing process  (like Casting, Moulding etc.) and which would be important for this ?
- What do you think about an integrated RP-Workbench to solve most of  the existing problems and what would be important for it ?

     I know it may be take some time to answer all this questions. If you  don't have the time for all questions, it will be nice if you can answer  only some. It would be great if you can send me information and/or  adresses from others who could help me. I am thanking you in advance.
With sincere regards
Marcus Joppe