Best way to provide a model to customer.

[tjallen29]

Hello all,


I am looking for the best way to provide a customer with a 3D representation of an assembly (made in WF 2.0), while at the same time limiting the customer's ability to take accurate measurements from (so they can't reverse engineer our design and possibly sub-contract to someone else).


The model provided would still need to be rather accurate in terms of overall dimensions, so that the customer can insert our model into a larger assembly of theirs and check clearances, etc. We've tried a shrinkwrap, IGES, STEP,and they all would allow for someone to take accurate measurements from the solid.


Is there a way to make the solid look less precise (almost as if molded from clay), while still maintaining good overall dimensions? Does Wildfire 3.0 or 4.0 provide better tools for doing this sort of thing?


Thanks for the help!

 

[FireWild]

Try EDrawings it works great.





http://www.edrawingsviewer.com/pages/programs/download/

 

[csusie]

.stl file?

 

[spidernate]

I believe you can still take measurements with edrawings. You could do a shrinkwrap with faceted surfaces instead.

 

[jeff4136]

The average person will hate a faceted rep if
they need to use it in a next higher assy.


I'd do a surface subset shrinkwrap, alter as necessary to
delete or change proprietary features, close up the shell
and solidify. There's no shortcut. Next best; send them
a drawing with assembly interface and max envelope details
and let them model it themselves.

 

[design-engine]

PDF posted thru an online project management tool is the way we do it at design engine. So you can see customer comments and feedback on the site with a time and date stamp. In this way you don't get all that 'he said she said' garbage that a client can play when something goes wrong. If the conversation is all documented (unlike email) on a secure forum, PDF uploads make sense becaue everyone is held accountable.

To add, I think giving some customers a 3d model can slow down the approval process (which slows down you getting a check) Unless of course your customer is an engineer and knows what they are looking at.

I would like to be on a a technical committee or operations team with those that develop Intralink and PDM tools. I have no interest really but there is so much room for improvement. From What i've seen these PDM tools are too much library and not enough project management still after all these years.
Edited by: design-engine

 

[Schlouey]

I believe you can still take measurements with edrawings

This may be the case by default but you're able to specify in the options whether or not the drawing can be measured.

 

[Guru.hm]

how abt 3D pdf....

 

[design-engine]

3d pdf is great still however...

you still need a project management tool to document what you send/tell/state to the customer.

 

[c_thompson_68]

I also second the suggestion on using eDrawings. As previously mentioned, the measurement option can be turned off when saving the file as an eDrawing.

Another benefit of eDrawings is for your customer to insert comments into the eDrawing file. If I do not have a history of trust with the client, I use eDrawings until they pay me for the native CAD files. Of course, they may still attempt to reverse engineer the concept even without taking measurements.

Chris

 

[audctrl]

Sometimes we will take an assembly and completely fill in the internals so all they basically get is the outside of the assembly which is 90% or better cast surfaces. We have certain processes, clearances, parts and or materials inside our assemblies that make our product unique.


But now a days customers are becoming more and more demanding on what they receive, some want fully featured models in their native system. So we have to become more creative in what we send them and still protect our IP. One way to help protect yourself is to get your stuff patented and/or have NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreement) signed by customers and suppliers working on said project.


But then again a customer can buy say 100 of your assemblies, take them apart and inspect every component and figure out how what your doing anyway. The hard part is to catching a company and then trying to proove it.

 

[pjw]

At the end of the day, what is to stop the customer from buying your product and reverse engineering it anyway? Thes best way to do this is create a shrinkwrap of your assemnly (need AAX) and then once you have your PART file you can insert extrusions and solid geometry after the 'Extern Copy Geom' and 'solidify' to cover up internal details prior to export as STEP. The outside envelope of a product isn't normally sensitive data for us to supply to customers. Alternatively, you could just supply copied 'envelope' surfaces and supply these to the customer if they are happy to have something that doesn't look anything like the product.

 

[Kevin De Smet]

While I understand the protective nature, seriously guys, give a little and take a little

 

[design-engine]

we suggest to our customers to patent both their design or utility patents in the country of manufacturer at least. Most patent attorneys will sell you a multi country kit that includes China. The Chinese government will come down hard on manufactures who violate laws.

As far as another resource to interface with customers... what about windchill. Is that tool to be the preferred choice for Pro/E users according to your reseller?

 

[moriarty]

Isnt that what all the Adobe Digital Rights Management tools are for


[url]http://www.ptc.com/products/proengineer/rights-management-ex tension[/url]


Anyone tried this ?

 

[audctrl]

While I understand the protective nature, seriously guys, give a little and take a little

We give the customer the complete outside of the assembly. If the assembly contains our latest technology of two of the components, then we protect that technology by filling in that area. Those two components are the heart of the assembly with their form, fit and function. Sure it is patented, and we have signed NDAs but why take the chance?

 

[Raunen]

Hi.
In my former job we merged all parts into one part, before sending them to customers.
Some of the tricky parts were also solified before merging.
This way you can give the customer all the different 3D file types they want. Even Pro/E files.