ESPRIT Project 322, "CAD Interfaces", has been established to define the most important interfaces in CAD/CAM systems for data exchange, data base, finite element analysis, experimental analysis, and advanced modeling. The definitions of these interfaces are being elaborated in harmony with international standardization efforts in this field. One principal goal of the project is to develop techniques for the exchange of CAD information between CAD systems, and from the CAD domain to CAA (Computer Aided Analysis) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing). This volume presents a proposal for a...

Principal authors: U. Kroszynski, B. Palstr9Sm 1.1 The evolution of concepts and specifications for CAD data exchange The CAD/CAM community has witnessed, during the last decade, the appearance of several specifications as well as proposals for standards which either attempt to cover wider areas or to be more reliable and stable than the others. With the rapid evolution of both hardware and software, the capabilities offered by CAD systems and CAD based application systems are far more advanced than they were only ten years ago, even when they are now based on micro-computers or personal...

Edited for Working Group 2 (WG 2): Cisigraph, Cranfield Institute of Technology, Danmarks Tekniske Hojskole, Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, NEH Consulting Engineers ApS, Universitat Karlsruhe