CAD Import User Guide

Version: 3.9.1

1 Nomenclature

Term	Definition
CAD	Computer Aided Design
MADE	Maintenance Aware Design Ecosystem
STEP/STP	Standard for the Exchange of Product model data

2 Introduction

The Import CAD editor is used to demonstrate a step-by-step process of how MADE can import a CAD model to rapidly build the initial model. The CAD import leverages a .STEP or .STP file which takes components into MADE to match them to items in the existing palette and user library.

3 CAD Import Workflow

Figure 1 ("Workflow for importing CAD files into MADE") depicts "WF50: Import CAD Files":

Pre-requisites:

• A. WF02: Configure MADE Project
• B. CAD Program: Computer Aided Design is used to model engineered systems. The .step file format is an open standard containing information on parts and assembly relationships.

Flowchart steps:

1. Open Existing MADE Project
2. Open MADE Import Wizard
3. Select CAD File (fed by: .step file format)
4. Match STEP items to Palette/Library
5. Select MADE import hierarchy
6. Verify System Model
7. CAD Import complete

Detailed Descriptions:

1. Open MADE and select "File > Open" from the main menu to open an existing project.
2. Open the import wizard from the main menu. Select "Select > Import" to open the wizard.
3. Select "Browse" to search for the directory where the CAD file (.step) is located in the "Open" dialog. Once chosen, select the "Next" button to proceed to the next page in the wizard.
4. In this page, select each STEP item to determine whether there is an equivalent/matching item in either Palette or User Library. If a matching item is found, click and drag the item to the "Library/Palette component" column. Select "Next" button to proceed to the last page.
5. In this page, click and drag items from "Import Project Explorer" to import into "Current Project Explorer" section. This will determine which items are imported into specific hierarchies in the model. Select "Finish" to complete import process.
6. Verify that all items have been imported successfully in the system model.
7. The user can proceed by allocating functions, flows, and connections to the imported CAD blocks in WF04 - Create FBD Model for FCM Simulations.

4 CAD Import Pre-requisites

To successfully translate a CAD model, including its constituent parts, into a MADE model with subsystems, components or parts, the user must be aware of several import rules & limitations:

• Highest level in CAD structure import is 'subsystem' even though it is a 'system'
• Item with no children is treated as 'part'
• Item with part children is treated as 'component'
• Item with 'component children' is treated as 'subsystem'
• Item name & type are transferred to MADE blocks
• STEP file-type compatibility requirements: 204 & 213 (i.e. AP203/AP214-family STEP application protocols — the guide specifies protocol numbers 204 and 213)

5 Accessing the CAD Import Wizard

A STEP-File can be created directly from a CAD program or by using an external CAD Interface Tool.

To import a STEP-File:

• Open a MADE Project. Select File → Import from the Main Menu.
• Click Browse or enter a file location to choose the file to import. Import STEP files (.step or .stp).
• Once a file has been selected in the Open dialog, select the Open button in the bottom right corner.
• Select Next to proceed to the next page.

Figure 2 shows the File menu with New (Ctrl+N), Open (Ctrl+O), Close Project, Close All Editors (Ctrl+Shift+W), Save All (Ctrl+S), Save Project As, Load from Library, Save to Library, Import (Ctrl+Shift+I), Export (Ctrl+Shift+E), a recent project ("MADE Training.made"), Exit.

Figure 3 ("MADE import wizard file browse page") shows the "Import Wizard" dialog: "File Location" field with Browse... button, and "Import Type" radio options: Model Items, Maintenance Actions, Model Items and Maintenance Actions — each with an associated Model Configuration / Maintenance Action Configuration dropdown and "New..." button.

Figure 4 ("Selecting step files") shows a Windows file-open dialog navigated to Public Documents, selecting "Fuel Tank.STEP" (58 KB, STEP File type), with the file-type filter set to "*.made; *.STEP; *.STP; *.xlsx".

6 Matching STEP Items

The next page is divided into two main sections: Palette & MADE Library (Left); STEP Item Structure (Right).

To complete this page:

• Select an item from the STEP Item section.
• Check the Palette/Library to see if any matching items are found.
• If a matching Palette/Library item is found, click and drag the item to its corresponding STEP Item row in the Library/Palette component column.
• Select Next button to proceed to last page.

This palette/library matching action will overwrite its corresponding STEP File item and enable the item to inherit any previously defined failure or maintenance data.

Repeat this step until all relevant items have been matched to the palette/library items. The user can also select the "Add Library" button to insert any existing libraries created in MADE, or the Clear all replacements button to clear the right column of replacement items.

Figure 5 shows the "Import STEP File Components" page: left pane "Palette & MADE Library" with an "Automatically search for selected item" checkbox, search box ("Fuel Tank"), and a tree (Generator (MEP-105A)/Fuel Tank, Generator (MEP-805B)/Fuel Tank, Hydraulic > Fuel System (Basic)/Fuel Storage Tank, Fuel System (UH 60L)/Fuel Tank 2, Fuel Tank 1, Mechanical > Vehicle System > Power Generation > Fuel Tank (highlighted), Pneumatic > Turbofan Engine > Fuel Delivery Subsystem > Fuel Tank), with "Open Library" button; right pane "Imported Model Items" with two columns "Imported Item" / "Library/Palette Component" showing Fuel Tank → Fuel Tank, Inlet → Inlet, Lining → Lining, Outlet → Outlet (all matched), and a "Clear all imported" button.

7 Selecting MADE Import Hierarchy

This page allows the user to select imported items and allocate them to any level of indenture in the MADE model. For example, a large subsystem can be imported into a component in the MADE model.

To complete this page:

• Select the item(s) from the Import Project Explorer section
• Click and drag the item into the desired item in the Current Project Explorer
• Select Finish to complete import process

Figure 6 shows the "Import STEP File Components" drag-and-drop page: left pane "Import Project Explorer" (Fuel Tank (Fuel Tank) > Inlet (Inlet), Lining (Lining), Outlet (Outlet)); right pane "Current Project Explorer" showing the existing Vehicle System hierarchy ((VS1) Vehicle System > Power Generation > Control Unit, Diesel Engine, Fuel Tank (Fuel Tank) [highlighted, showing Inlet/Lining/Outlet already nested beneath it] > Driveline, Coupling, Vehicle), with "Remove selected" and "Clear all imported" buttons.

8 Verification of Import – System Model

Once the import wizard has closed, the system model and project explorer will be populated with the imported items. The user can then complete the model with other MADE workflows, e.g. WF03 (Create FBD Model for Bond Simulations) & WF04 (Create FBD Model for FCM Simulations).

To verify that the import process has been successfully carried out:

• View the Project Explorer and expand the tree diagram to ensure all imported items are present.
• Alternatively, right-click on an item in the Project Explorer and select System Model to open the system modeling canvas.

Figure 6 (second figure with this number, page 9) shows the MADE 3.9.0 main window with Project Explorer (Vehicle System [4/32] > Functions, Coupling, Driveline [11], Power Generation [3/17] > Functions, Control Measures, Control Unit, Diesel Engine [8], Fuel Tank [6], Vehicle) and the "Power Generation" system model canvas showing IN → {Mass flow rate, Voltage} → Diesel Engine (Torque) → OUT, with Control Unit (Amplitude) and Fuel Tank both present but not yet connected (warning icons shown).

Figure 7 ("Use the imported item in the MADE model") shows the same Power Generation system model after the Fuel Tank has been wired in: IN → {Flow rate, Mass flow rate, Voltage} → Fuel Tank (Static pressure) → Diesel Engine (Torque) → OUT, with Control Unit (Amplitude) still flagged with a warning icon — illustrating that the newly-imported Fuel Tank item is now an active, connected part of the functional model, ready for further function/flow definition per WF03/WF04.