Scope

In a joint project, Fermilab and DESY are developing a new cryomodule for the TTF2 / VUV-FEL accelerator at DESY. The "3.9 GHz 3^rd Harmonic Cryomodule" is designed in close collaboration of DESY and Fermilab, based on the TESLA accelerating cryomodules. The module is produced at Fermilab, while DESY is developing the embedding infrastructure and performing the installation. Designing the component interfaces and reviewing the CAD models prior to manufacturing requires tight interaction and communication within the project.

To support the collaboration, Fermilab and DESY have connected their 3D-CAD-systems using DESY's Engineering Data Management System (EDMS). The EDMS stores the CAD data and additional general project documentation and acts as a single point of access and a single source of data for the project team.

Benefits

The EDMS improves remote collaborative engineering design work: engineers at different locations can now easily design their component interfaces as they can access each other's CAD data. Furthermore, special viewers enable also physicists and other non-CAD-users to inspect and comment on the CAD models and drawings, thus design reviews can also be performed remotely to a large extent. The need for travel is reduced, and at the same time interaction is increased.

Look & Feel

The EDMS contains a central repository for CAD models and project information, which can be accessed through a server from the Internet. Most of the functionality, escpecially for the document management, is accessible through ordinary Web browsers. A dedicated interface connects a 3D CAD system with the EDMS.

The EDMS Web interface offers document access, search and navigation capabilities. The cryomodule assembly is the root of a navigation structure. "Is Described By" relations link to general project documentation, like e.g. a project overview or a presentation from a review meeting. "Uses" relations link the module with its sub-assemblies, this way building the part breakdown structure (PBS). Apart from the relation browser, documents and other objects can also be accessed through a search engine and through user bookmarks.

The PBS in the Web interface is identical to the PBS in the CAD system. The screenshots show the same structure as before as it is seen by mechanical engineers using a CAD system.

A viewing-software enables non-CAD users to inspect the CAD models, take measurements and provide mark-ups and comments which can be sent back to the authors of the models.