Troubleshooting on the move

A new lightweight PLM browser will enable users to query designs and potential problems through a series of interactive virtual 3D turntables of exploded products, parts and factory layouts

. Dassault’s 3Dlive, which becomes commercially available later this month, is seen as something any user can have on his or her laptop – and even address that sinking feeling when something that should have been done may not have been. The browser will only require a 14MB live download – the version recently demonstrated to Eureka used 2MB of broadband and ran quite happily on a WiFi hub. The application works with Enovia, Delmia and Catia. What about possible bandwidth problems? “The issue is now one of latency, rather than bandwidth – and there has been a lot of work to reduce the number of transactions,” says Mark Norris, director of strategy and industry verticals at Enovia Europe. “The data is in a lightweight tessellated format, so there is no exact geometry that anyone unauthorised could gain access to. It’s really for people who do not have a CAD seat, such as managers, planners and technicians.” Features include a 3D Compass to guide users through the company’s 3D PLM universe and 3D Heads-up, which enables online instant messaging, 3D image sharing, co-navigation and annotation. Delmia Live Shop Floor Review delivers current work instructions based on PPR (Product, Process and Resource) data, allowing users to view 3D work instructions in conjunction with 3D simulations. Catia FT&A (Functional Tolerancing and Annotation) displays FT&A annotations and gives users the ability to query or filter annotations. And Enovia Live Collaborative Review delivers annotated views, 3D measurements and 3D cross sections for collaborative studies and presentations.