Towards ubiquitous data access service of 3D part library in cloud scheme with host independence

Abstract

Most current part libraries are developed and deployed in specific usage scenario or CAD systems, which inevitably brings obstacles in information sharing and exchanging of parts. To reduce repeated development and provide a uniform platform for designers in different sites, a 3D part library in cloud scheme is presented in this paper. Host programs with predetermined specification can access the part data through an adapter according to their customized requests with uniform interfaces, which constructs a ubiquitous service. To realize host independence, the part models are created in a modeler with native ACIS, and then, they are converted into 3D files in different formats for practical needs; finally, these models are imported into CAD systems or other platforms in real designs. The framework is composed of three components, namely, as PLS (part library service) provider, PLS adapters, and PLS hosts. PLS provider is the kernel of 3D data access service in cloud scheme, while PLS adapters serve as the bridges that connect PLS provider and hosts, and the PLS can be grafted on various applications including current mainstream CAD systems as an embedded module or run on the websites or even mobile terminals. The PLS provider is deployed and maintained on cloud, and designers can acquire remote part information within a local ongoing project. In the detailed construction of this part library, diversiform knowledge in part parameters and structures is implanted to define the geometry and rule constraints for the 3D modeling, with which the backstage has the ability of conveniently editing the information in the part library for better upgrade and contrapuntally services. This concept has been implemented within a PaaS framework to provide the ubiquitous 3D part data accessing route, which has been successfully applied in a large number of enterprises, and accumulates considerable practical cases.