KR102903239B1 - PLM integrated drawing management method and computer readable recording medium recording a program for executing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a PLM integrated drawing management method, comprising: (a) a step of executing a drawing management application through a client terminal and selecting a CAD drawing stored in the client terminal; (b) a step of analyzing a structure of the selected drawing in the client terminal to map at least one part drawing constituting an assembly and generating check-in data listing the at least one mapped drawing; (c) a step of transmitting the check-in data from the client terminal to a server connected to a network; (d) a step of receiving the check-in data in the server; (e) a step of extracting attribute information from the at least one drawing included in the check-in data and performing data standardization in the server; and (f) a step of updating drawing file data corresponding to the check-in list previously stored in the server based on a standardized result in the step (e).

Description

PLM integrated drawing management method and computer readable recording medium recording a program for executing the method

The present invention relates to a PLM integrated drawing management method and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the method, and more particularly, to a CAD drawing management method applicable to PLM (Product lifecycle management) separately from a CAD design program and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the method.

Programs that manage CAD drawings are well-known, enabling project workers to collaborate on product design. Recently, there has been a trend toward integrating these drawing management programs into PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems.

For example, '3DExperence ENOVIA V6 PLM', a program released by Dassault Systèmes, supports collaboration between various tasks, but because it is a dedicated program that is linked to CATIA, a CAD design program, there is a problem with low compatibility with drawing files created in other CAD programs.

Alternatively, there is a method of utilizing an add-in for a commercial CAD program, but this also has the problem of poor compatibility with other CAD programs.

3D/2D drawings designed for product development and production through RND research activities are utilized for collaboration among relevant users. Therefore, product drawings are created using a variety of commercial 3D/2D CAD software, depending on factors such as geometric characteristics, supplier requirements, and RND infrastructure. Therefore, a method for integrated management of CAD drawings in various formats is necessary.

Korean Patent No. 10-1818745

The problem to be solved by the present invention is, firstly, to provide a PLM integrated drawing management method that enables smooth collaboration among workers by comprehensively managing CAD drawings in various formats.

Second, the present invention provides a PLM-integrated drawing management method that converts 3D/2D drawings designed for product development and production purposes through RND research activities into structured standard data so that they can be utilized for collaboration among users of related work.

Third, it provides a PLM-integrated drawing management method that is independent of CAD drawing design programs and has universal applicability to multiple PLM systems by enabling the extraction of properties from drawing files of various formats through a drawing management application.

The PLM integrated drawing management method of the present invention comprises: (a) a step of executing a drawing management application through a client terminal and selecting a CAD drawing stored in the client terminal; (b) a step of analyzing a structure of the selected drawing in the client terminal to map at least one component drawing constituting an assembly and generating check-in data listing the at least one mapped component drawing; (c) a step of transmitting the check-in data from the client terminal to a server connected to a network; (d) a step of receiving the check-in data in the server; (e) a step of extracting attribute information from the at least one component drawing included in the check-in data in the server to perform data standardization; and (f) a step of updating drawing file data corresponding to the check-in list previously stored in the server based on the standardized result in the step (e).

The above step (e) may include a step of generating data in a standard data format according to a certain rule based on the attribute information; and a step of generating a dataset in a form that can be linked with a PLM system based on the data in the standard data format.

The above check-in data may include at least one of CAD design information corresponding to the check-in list, modeling structure information, drawing property information, and a path in which a drawing file to be checked in is stored in the client terminal.

The above PLM integrated drawing management method may further include a step (g) in which a user inputs a search condition to search a drawing or object list through the client terminal; a step (h) in which the condition input in the step (g) is transmitted to the server to request an object search according to the condition; a step (i) in which a list of at least one object stored in the server corresponding to the condition is searched, and the search is performed on the server; a step (j) in which the list searched in the step (i) is transmitted to the client terminal; and a step (k) in which a checkout target is selected from the list through the client terminal and a checkout request is transmitted to the server based on the selected target.

The PLM integrated drawing management method of the present invention has the effect of facilitating smoother collaboration among workers participating in product design by firstly standardizing and integratedly managing design information for CAD drawings composed of various formats.

Second, it has the advantage of high versatility and easy integration with PLM systems because it can handle drawing data in various formats without relying on a specific CAD design program.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a PLM to which a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a check-in process in a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a client terminal and a server constituting a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data standardization process in a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a checkout process in a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided only to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

PLM stands for Product Lifecycle Management. It's a process for managing the entire product lifecycle, from conception and development to service and disposal. Specifically, it encompasses project creation, libraries, common code BOM creation, CAD design, design changes, drawing distribution, and the use of distributed drawings. PLM can be implemented through programs or applications configured to execute the various processes described above.

A drawing management system (XUS-CAD) according to one embodiment of the present invention described below is applied to the PLM and may be configured to include at least one of a drawing management program, a client terminal equipped with the drawing management program, and a server.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a PLM to which a drawing management system (XUS-CAD) according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a check-in process in a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a client terminal and a server constituting a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data standardization process in a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a drawing management method according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

A drawing management method according to one embodiment of the present invention is integrated into PLM, and may include a check-in process for uploading a working drawing to a server (20) via a client terminal (10) and sharing it with other workers participating in the project, and a check-out process for downloading a drawing from the server (20) to the client terminal (10) at the request of a worker.

The client terminal (10) may include a PLM linkage module (12) for accessing the PLM system. In addition, the server (20) may include a data storage module (23) in which data is stored in a computer-readable form. A PLM program may be installed in the data storage module (23).

In addition, the server (20) may further include a project management module (21) and a PLM operation module (22). The project management module (21) manages projects being performed with workers and can transmit and receive PLM data to and from a client terminal (10) via a network.

The above PLM data may include system management information such as department, user information, and authority; project information such as project (task) creation, schedule, progress, and deliverables; library information such as technical documents, standard documents, and parts classification systems; common code information such as part codes and classification codes shared by workers participating in the project; BOM (Bill of Material) information; CAD design information such as original drawings and process drawings (e.g., review drawings, approval request drawings, and approval drawings); design change information such as ECR (Engineering Change Request) and ECO (Engineering Change Order); and drawing information to be distributed to the company or its partners.

In particular, the CAD design information may include at least one of a CAD drawing file, CAD drawing properties, CAD model structural information, information about a collaboration space (work space), checkout data, and a drawing storage path.

The above CAD drawing file may be a drawing file created by commercial 3D/2D software such as CATIA, Pro-E, or UG NX.

The PLM operation module (22) may be responsible for the overall operation of the PLM system, including the management of the PLM data. In particular, the PLM operation module (22) may include a standardization engine (221) that extracts data elements from the PLM data received from the client terminal (10) and generates a standard data format file, and a standard data set generation engine (222) that processes the standard data format file into a data set that is linked with the PLM system on the server (20).

The client terminal (10) may include a drawing management module (13) for managing the CAD design information. The drawing management module (13) may transmit and receive data with the project management module (21) of the server (20) via a network.

A drawing management application may be installed on the client terminal (10). The application may be stored in a data storage module (14). The drawing management module (13) may be configured to manage CAD design information based on the application.

The client terminal (10) may be equipped with a CAD application for CAD (computer aided design) drawing design work. The CAD application may include, for example, AutoCAD, CATIA, Pro-E, UG NX, SOLIDWORKS, Solid Edge, etc.

An application implementing a drawing management method according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured separately from a CAD application and integrated into PLM, so that output produced through the CAD application can be shared with a drawing management system that constitutes part of the entire PLM system.

Referring to FIG. 2, 'check-in' may be a process of storing drawing design information transmitted from a client terminal (10) to a server (20) in the server (20) and sharing it with other workers participating in the project.

This drawing management method may include a step of executing a drawing management application through a client terminal (10), selecting a CAD drawing stored in the client terminal, and a step of generating check-in data listing the selected CAD drawing and related CAD drawings structurally related thereto.

The step of generating the above check-in data may include a step of analyzing the structure of the selected drawing to map at least one part drawing (e.g., a CAD file) that constitutes an assembly, and a step of generating check-in data that lists the at least one mapped drawing (hereinafter, referred to as an associated drawing).

Additionally, the check-in data may further include a list of at least one associated drawing (hereinafter referred to as a check-in list). The check-in data may be transmitted from a client terminal (10) to a server (20) via a network.

The server (20) that receives the check-in data may include a step of extracting and standardizing attribute information from the check-in data, and a step of updating drawing file data corresponding to the check-in list previously stored in the server based on the standardized result.

In more detail, referring to FIG. 2, a drawing management method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include steps C100, C111 to C116 implemented through a client terminal (10), and steps S100, S111 to S118 implemented through a server (20).

Step C100 is the step where the drawing management application is executed. The drawing management application is a CAD agent in software format for transmitting CAD drawings and drawing properties and other drawing-related information, i.e. CAD design information, created on a client terminal (10) to a server (20), and is configured so that a worker can acquire authority by logging in after executing the application.

The drawing selection step (C111) is a step in which a CAD file is selected from a client terminal (10) through an application in order to post or check-in a drawing created by an individual designer to a server.

The model structure analysis step (C112) may be a step of analyzing the structure of the CAD file selected in step C111 and mapping the CAD file information of the parts that make up the assembly.

The check-in list definition step (C113) may include a step of outputting a check-in target that lists the CAD drawing files selected in step C111 and the associated CAD drawing files mapped in step C112 through a display (not shown) of a client terminal (10).

The collaborative workspace designation step (C114) may include a step of designating a collaborative workspace for sharing CAD drawing files belonging to the list output in step C113. The collaborative workspace may be a logical or physical storage area defined in the data storage module (23) of the server (20), and the checked-in CAD drawing can be shared among workers participating in the design of the drawing in the collaborative workspace provided to the workers.

The check-in approval step (C115) may be a step for approving check-in data, including CAD design information corresponding to the check-in list defined in step C113 and information about the collaboration space specified in step C114, as a check-in target. The check-in data may include the CAD drawing file to be checked in, modeling structure information (e.g., assembly structure) obtained through analysis in step C112 and/or drawing property information (e.g., assembly and/or part properties), and information about the collaboration space specified in step C114.

More specifically, the check-in data may include at least one of information on geometry nodes and/or specific properties of a part or assembly, the position of part shapes constituting the assembly, and the assembly structure of the assembly.

Here, the above geometry nodes can be generated as a VRML format file. Specific properties can be generated as an XML format file.

Information about the position of the above part shapes and/or the assembly structure can be generated as a STEP file.

In addition, the above check-in data may include the storage path of the check-in target drawing files in the client terminal (10) (hereinafter referred to as “drawing storage path”).

The check-in data transmission step (C116) may include a step of transmitting the check-in data approved in step C115 to the server (20) via a network.

The drawing property extraction step (S100) may include a step of extracting the modeling structure information, the drawing property information, information about the collaboration space, and/or the drawing storage path from the check-in data received from the server (20). The drawing property extraction step (S100) may be performed by the standardization engine (221) of the PLM operation module (22).

The drawing property extraction step (S100) may be a process for generating a standard data format file for the purpose of extracting various types of information including the shape and properties of parts and/or assemblies, and in particular, may be a step for generating a standard data format file targeting common elements rather than a form dependent on a specific drawing type transmitted from a client terminal (10) to a server (20).

Check-in data may include working drawing files created by commercial 3D/2D software such as CATIA, Pro-E, and UG NX, and the data standardization process of S100 and S111 can be said to be the process of standardizing information extracted from these various types of files into a form that can be used in the PLM system.

Step S100 may be a step of extracting attribute information from a drawing file (or data) included in the check-in data and generating data in a standard data format according to a certain rule. The attribute information may include at least one of geometry nodes of a part drawing or assembly, specific properties, part positions of parts constituting the assembly, and assembly structure indicating how the parts form the assembly.

The data standardization step (S111) may be a step for generating a dataset (Dataset) in a form that can be linked to the data extracted in step S100 or in a form that can be processed or read by the PLM system. The data standardization step (S111) may be performed by the standard dataset generation engine (222) of the PLM operation module (22).

In step S111, the standard dataset creation engine (222) can convert the data format generated by the standardization engine (221) into a dataset in a form readable by the PLM system or in a form operated by the PLM system by standardizing the data format according to preset rules.

Since the data extracted in step S100 is in different formats depending on the type of drawing file, by standardizing it in step S111, project deliverables can be managed in an integrated manner in the PLM system.

Specifically, by managing 3D/2D drawing design information designed for product development and production purposes through RND research activities as structured standard data while carrying out a project, smooth collaboration between related business users is enabled.

In particular, since the design of product drawings is created using various commercial 3D/2D CAD software depending on shape characteristics, supplier requirements, RND infrastructure, etc., the outputs are in various formats, and therefore, standardization of data is required to manage these outputs in an integrated manner.

The standardized data generated in this way can be processed into data for the connection relationship of 3D modeling structures, grouping in a collaborative workspace based on each development product project, and managing objects by point in time or version due to design changes.

The data standardization step (S111) may include a step of converting the data (or standard data format file) extracted in step S100 into XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format. This method of utilizing a standardized dataset has the effect of enabling the application or drawing management system to which the method according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to be integrated into a PLM system used in various environments.

The duplicate drawing check step (S112) may include a step of checking whether a drawing identical to the drawing to be checked is already stored in the server (20) based on the data standardized in step S111 (hereinafter referred to as “standardized data”).

Here, whether the drawing to be checked in is the same as the drawing stored in the server (20) can be determined based on the model structure, object name such as assembly or part, drawing file name, file properties, etc.

In step S112, if it is determined that the drawing to be checked in is a new drawing that is not stored in the server (20), the drawing to be checked in can be stored in the server (20) as a new drawing. (S112, 'No')

Meanwhile, even if a drawing with the same name as the check-in target is already stored in the server (20) at step S112, if there is a change history and the versions of the two drawings are different, a data update step (S113) may be performed to replace the drawing stored in the server (20) with the check-in target drawing. At this time, in order to manage changes to the drawing or file at each point in time, data recording version update information for the final version of the object data may be generated in the server (20).

The structural information detection step (S114) may be a step of searching whether the standardized data defined in step S111 includes model structural information, and if it is determined that the model structural information is included, generating object-to-object connection data.

The path detection step (S115) may be a step for determining whether a storage space of the same path has already been created within the server (20) based on information about the collaboration space and/or information about the drawing storage path included in the standardized data defined in step S111.

In step S115, if a storage space of the same path does not exist on the server (20), a new storage space is created on the path, and the check-in data transmitted to the server (20) in step C116 can be stored there. At this time, a work space corresponding to the storage space can also be created.

Meanwhile, if a storage space of the same path already exists in the server (20) at step S115, the data stored in the storage space can be updated based on the check-in data. (S115, 'Yes')

Data generated in steps S112, S113, S114 and/or S115 are collated in step S117, and check-in can be performed in step S118 based on the collated data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a checkout process in a drawing management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, 'checkout' can be defined as a process of downloading drawing design information from a server (20) to a client terminal (10).

A drawing management method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include steps C100, C121 to C126 implemented through a client terminal (10) and steps S121 to S127 implemented through a server (20), as methods for implementing checkout.

Step C100 is the step where the drawing management application is executed. The drawing management application may be a CAD agent in software format for transmitting CAD design information from the server (20) to the client terminal (10). In an embodiment, the drawing management application is capable of both check-in and check-out.

The search step (C121) is a step in which the user inputs search conditions to search a drawing or object list, and detailed conditions such as selection of a collaboration space, drawing type, and drawing number can be input.

The object search request step (C122) is a step of requesting an object search according to the conditions entered in step C121 by transmitting the conditions to the server (20).

Depending on the conditions transmitted in step C122, a list of at least one object stored in the server (20) can be searched in the object data search step (S121).

The model structure search step (S122) can list objects related to the CAD object searched in step S121. At this time, in step S121, structural information about the model composed of the object (e.g., information about other objects constituting the model) can be searched together with the searched object, and related objects can be listed based on the structural information searched in this way.

The object data transmission step (S123) is a step of transmitting the list of objects searched in step S122 to the client terminal (10) via the network.

The list of objects transmitted to the client terminal (10) at step S123 can be output through the display of the client terminal (10) at step C123.

The object selection step (C124) may be a step of selecting a checkout target from the list of objects output in step C123.

The checkout request step (C125) is a step for requesting a checkout based on the object selected in step C124, and the checkout request may be transmitted to the server (20) via a network. When the checkout request is made, checkout data including object information about the checkout object, information about the path where the object is stored within the server (20), and the path where the drawing file of the object is stored in the client terminal (10) may be transmitted to the server (20).

In the server (20) that receives the checkout request at step C125, a step of searching for object information corresponding to the checkout data from the data storage module (23) of the server (20) based on the checkout data may be performed. (S124)

In step S126, the data retrieved in step S124 can be collated, and in particular, CAD drawing files for the checkout target can be collected.

In step S125, the person who requested checkout of the object retrieved in step S124, the checkout request time, etc. may be recorded, and a change reservation for the object may be saved. This saved change reservation may be shared with the workers participating in the project.

Meanwhile, in step S127, the path where the drawing file of the object is stored in the client terminal (10) collected in step S124 and/or the CAD drawing file data for the check-out target acquired in step S125 may be transmitted to the client terminal (10).

The client terminal (10) that received the data at step S127 can create a storage path according to the path in which the drawing file of the object included in the received data is stored (C126), and store the CAD drawing file in the created path (C127).

Meanwhile, the computer-readable recording medium of the present invention is a hardware device having recorded thereon a program for executing the above-described method. In the present specification, the computer-readable recording medium includes a nontransitory computer recording medium (e.g., various main memory devices or auxiliary memory devices).

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Claims (5)

Step (a) of executing a drawing management application through a client terminal and selecting a CAD drawing stored in the client terminal;
(b) step of analyzing the structure of the selected drawing in the client terminal, mapping at least one component drawing that constitutes an assembly, and generating check-in data listing the at least one mapped component drawing;
(c) step of transmitting the check-in data from the client terminal to a server connected to the network;
(d) step of receiving the check-in data from the server;
(e) step of performing data standardization by extracting attribute information from at least one component drawing included in the check-in data in the server;
Step (f) of updating drawing file data corresponding to the check-in list previously stored in the server based on the standardized result in step (e);
(g) step in which a user inputs a search condition to search a drawing or object list through the client terminal;
Step (h) in which the conditions entered in step (g) are transmitted to the server and an object search according to the conditions is requested;
(i) a step of retrieving a list of at least one object stored in the server corresponding to the condition, the step being performed in the server;
Step (j) of transmitting the list searched in step (i) to the client terminal; and
A PLM integrated drawing management method further comprising a step (k) of selecting a checkout target from the list through the client terminal and transmitting a checkout request to the server based on the selected target. In the first paragraph,
The above step (e) is,
A step of generating data in a standard data format according to certain rules based on the above attribute information; and
A PLM integrated drawing management method comprising a step of creating a dataset in a form that can be linked with a PLM system based on data in the above standard data format. In the first paragraph,
The above check-in data is,
A PLM integrated drawing management method including at least one of CAD design information, modeling structure information, drawing property information, and a path in which a drawing file to be checked in is stored in the client terminal corresponding to the check-in list. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. delete