Integration of virtual reality based assembly simulation into CAD/CAM environments

Due to growing, worldwide competition, manufacturing companies have to employ new technologies to cut costs, improve product quality and, more importantly, shorten the design-to-manufacturing and -assembly cycle for new products. During recent years, virtual reality (VR) has proved its potential for the visualization and interactive manipulation of complex data. This paper describes a process for integrating an interactive VR-based assembly simulation of a digital mockup into an existing CAD/CAM infrastructure. The necessary hard- and software preconditions for the process are explained so that it can easily be adopted by nonVR-specialists. The article outlines how assembly simulation can improve the CAD/CAM procedures and structures, which CAD model preparations have to be carried out and which virtual environment requirements have to be fulfilled. Finally, deficits of existing VR simulation software are discussed and possible solutions and necessary developments are presented.