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.

Detailed Steps

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 > Import" (i.e. File > 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. On this page, select each STEP item to determine whether there is an equivalent/matching item in either the Palette or User Library. If a matching item is found, click and drag the item to the "Library/Palette component" column. Select "Next" to proceed to the last page.
5. On this page, click and drag items from "Import Project Explorer" to import into the "Current Project Explorer" section. This determines which items are imported into specific hierarchies in the model. Select "Finish" to complete the 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 (see WF04: Create FBD Model for FCM Simulations).

Screen-by-screen detail (from embedded screenshots)

• Step 2: Open MADE Import Wizard — Main menu: File > Import (Ctrl+Shift+I). Other File menu items visible: New, Open, Close Project, Close All Editors, Save All, Save Project As, Load from Library, Save to Library, Export (Ctrl+Shift+E), recent project (e.g. "MADE Training.made"), Exit.
• Step 3: Select CAD File — "Import Wizard" dialog, "Choose a file to import into your MADE project using the file browser below." Fields: File Location (Browse..., e.g. "C:\Users\Public\Documents\Fuel Tank.STEP"); Import Type radio options: Model Items, Maintenance Actions, Model Items and Maintenance Actions, with associated "Model Configuration" and "Maintenance Action Configuration" dropdowns (each with a "New..." button).
• Step 4: Match STEP items to Palette/Library — "Import STEP File Components" page: left pane "Palette & MADE Library" with an "Automatically search for selected item" checkbox and a search box (e.g. "Fuel Tank"), showing a tree of candidate library/palette items (e.g. Fuel Tank, 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, Pneumatic > Turbofan Engine > Fuel Delivery Subsystem > Fuel Tank) plus an "Open Library" button. Right pane "Imported Model Items" lists the STEP components (e.g. Fuel Tank > Inlet, Lining, Outlet) matched against "Library/Palette Component" (e.g. Fuel Tank, Inlet, Lining, Outlet), with a "Clear all imported" button.
• Step 5: Select MADE import hierarchy — "Import STEP File Components" page: "Drag items from the Import Project Explorer to the Current Project Explorer to import them." Left "Import Project Explorer" tree shows the parsed STEP item (e.g. Fuel Tank (Fuel Tank) > Inlet (Inlet), Lining (Lining), Outlet (Outlet)); right "Current Project Explorer" tree shows the destination model (e.g. (VS1) Vehicle System > Power Generation > Control Unit, Diesel Engine, Fuel Tank (Fuel Tank) > Inlet/Lining/Outlet, Driveline, Coupling, Vehicle). Buttons: "Remove selected", "Clear all imported". Click Finish.
• Step 6: Verify System Model — After import, the Project Explorer shows updated item counts (e.g. Power Generation [3/17], Fuel Tank [6]) and the System Model canvas (e.g. "Power Generation" view) shows the newly imported Fuel Tank block wired alongside Diesel Engine and Control Unit, with flow connections (Mass flow rate, Voltage, Torque) and warning markers on unconfigured items.
• Step 7: CAD Import complete — Final System Model view shows Fuel Tank now connected with a "Flow rate" -> "Static pressure" connection to Diesel Engine alongside "Mass flow rate", "Voltage" -> "Torque", confirming the imported CAD block is wired into the functional model. The user proceeds to allocate functions/flows/connections per WF04.