Glossary

assembly

An organizational file that fits together a collection of manufactured parts into a complete model.

DWG

(AutoCAD drawing file) A file format used by Autodesk® AutoCAD® software.

DXF

(Drawing interchange format) A file exchange format containing ASCII records of all objects in a DWG file.

CATIA® V5

CATIA V5 is computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes. Autodesk DirectConnect allows the exchange of 3D model data from CATIA V5 using the native CATIA part (.CATPart) and product (.CATProduct) files.

Cosmo™

A legacy 3D file format from Silicon Graphics Inc. using efficient binary compression using *.csb (Cosmo Scene Binary) files.

edge

A side or edge of a polygonal model defined by two ordered vertices. An edge is graphically represented by a straight line between the two vertices that define it. See topological data.

faces

In solid modeling, surfaces are called faces. Each face is made up of loops, edges, and vertices. Loops, edges, and vertices contain the topological relationships between the individual surfaces that form the solid model. See topological data.

flat

A term used for a Pro/ENGINEER® file format option where the entire geometry of the assembly is exported as a single file. All geometry of the assembly exists in the flat file, and is correctly positioned in model space.

G2 curvature continuity

This continuity type impacts the third CV of the curve. All three CVs have to be considered in order to maintain a smooth curvature comb. If a curvature comb does not have a smooth transitional line, further continuity levels can be applied.

geometric data

The geometric data describes the shape of the object.

Granite® One

A CAD technology platform for design collaboration using solid models.

IGES

Initial Graphics Exchange Specification. A file format for transferring graphics data between CAD/CAM systems. A neutral file format that can be imported into any number of CAD or modeling packages

Inventor (Open Inventor™)

Open Inventor™ is a legacy 3D file format from Silicon Graphics Inc. with no relation to Autodesk Inventor® software. Open Inventor is an object-oriented 3D toolkit that describes complete 3D scenes which can be made interactive and that are optimized for OpenGL. It is an ASCII or binary file format.

parts

Parts are organized into a collection of groups, which then forms a project hierarchy.

Pro/ENGINEER®

A product from Parametric Technology Corporation. A solid modeling format that requires positional construction tolerances.

quilt

An open body that is made of stitched surfaces (used in Pro/ENGINEER).

solid

A closed body that is made of stitched surfaces.

SolidWorks®

A product from SolidWorks Corporation. A solid modeling format that requires positional construction tolerances.

STEP

An international standard for the exchange of geometric product definitions. STEP formats that are relevant to Autodesk products are AP203 (general mechanical CAD) and AP214 (automotive CAD).

topological data

Topological data describes how the geometric components are connected together to form a solid.