Conversion services

More and more design offices are resorting to Datakit for services. The consultations, typically related to deadlines, budget or skills issues are generally of a complex nature that only specialists can deal with. Special processing and the ability to fix flawed models is often required.

Large volumes of CAD data are generally migrated when a company switches to new CAD software. Very often, the concerned companies also want special processing on layers, colours or line styles and thickness …
Specialists are often indispensable too for reading incorrectly coded files. It may for example be necessary to work on the original file when it contains information converted into symbols, that the target software cannot decode. Another problem occurs when different tolerance values are applied in the source and target software. This is typically the case when converting from a CATIA V4 file to SolidWorks, where the functions for sewing surfaces in SolidWorks are insufficient to reduce the precision gap.

Datakit is also brought in to solve problems of model quality: errors of topology or tolerance that may make the transferred file unusable.
Here Datakit deals with problems of unconnected edges, holes, non-manifold solids and also gaps that need filling between surfaces.

Some manufacturers also ask Datakit to produce watertight models or fully closed solids from their data, as some software need this quality of input for computing a volume, a mass or carrying out Boolean operations.
Others supply files of digitized data that require some processing before they can be sketched over, or the creation of a drawing including all the required views.

Whatever the volume and type of data or the required work, there are two imperatives: to respect the initial design and to ensure that the transfer remains fully confidential. It is Datakit’s responsibility to supply a turnkey service and a file that can be functional. The conversion must be completed, the data correctly recovered, and the parts properly positioned.

Only specifications and test files can be used to properly evaluate the required work. Before contacting Datakit, customers must consider precisely what they are expecting Datakit to do. Issues such as workspace, the management of colours, of layers or line styles, how assemblies will be treated - as external or internal references - must be clearly set out to avoid any ambiguity about what type of work is expected. Test procedures should also be part of the discussion. A secured FTP site is available, in which each company may deposit its data. If this form of communication is impossible for authorization reasons, CDs can always be used as a transfer medium.

A quote is provided for each transfer request, and a given volume of services can be bought in advance and used throughout the year.