CAD DATA MIGRATION
CAD Data Interoperability & Migration Guide
Plan CAD platform migration around native-data inventory, neutral formats, assemblies, drawings, metadata, validation and downstream manufacturing workflows.
Inventory before conversion
- Classify native parts, assemblies, drawings, libraries, templates, PDM metadata and custom automation by business importance.
- Identify files that must remain editable versus files that only require reliable archival viewing or exchange.
- Record units, coordinate systems, drawing standards and external references that can create silent conversion errors.
Validation strategy
- Select representative simple and complex models and compare geometry, mass properties, assemblies, drawings and metadata after conversion.
- Test CAM, simulation, inspection and supplier exchange workflows instead of validating CAD opening alone.
- Define tolerances and acceptance evidence for conversion rather than relying on visual inspection only.
Cutover and coexistence
- Plan read-only legacy access and supplier/customer compatibility during the transition.
- Control duplicate masters so teams do not edit the same design in two systems without ownership rules.
- Retain conversion logs and unresolved exceptions for engineering review before legacy access is retired.
Professional references
These references establish the standards, technical framework or authoritative engineering context used for this page. Vendor commercial terms are not used as engineering evidence.
- NIST Smart Manufacturing Systems Test Bed — NIST reference environment for manufacturing information, models and system integration.
- ISA-95 / IEC 62264 Enterprise-Control System Integration — Reference architecture for manufacturing operations and enterprise-system integration.
Engineering-use note. This PROFENG resource is for screening, comparison and technical preparation. Replace assumptions with project data and use the responsible qualified professional, applicable standards, codes and authority requirements for final design, compliance or safety decisions.
Commercial independence
PROFENG may display a separately disclosed approved partner after the engineering content. Partner status never changes formulas, conversion factors, procurement criteria, technical references or calculation results. Pending and unapproved programs remain hidden.