Join Boeing, Lockheed and other world class manufacturers as they use XVL solutions for their digital manufacturing processes.

The global aerospace and defence industry is massive market, reportedly some $1330 billion in 2003, and estimated to be $1380 billion in 2009.
 [source RNCOS].

And yet, the industry is still constantly challenged with the need to streamline every aspect of its operations, build on new technologies to decrease costs, and build more quality into its products in a much leaner manufacturing environment. Aerospace and defence manufacturers have to build on existing ERP, MES, PLM and SFX implementations, as well as 3D CAD systems, and still achieve meaningful improvements to processes, supply chain, production and manufacturing. How can this be achieved? - By integrating Lattice Technology's 3D Digital Manufacturing solutions into existing technologies and processes.

3D Across the Enterprise Delivers Leaner Manufacturing

Our customers have achieved 66% improvements in Design Review, and 60% improvement in product lead times simply by being able to use 3D design data easily, in more areas of product manufacturing. Simply put, Lattice Technology’s XVL format and applications allow manufacturers to use 3D data, that has already been created in the Design departments, in many other departments in a way that is sensible, profitable and productive.

Putting 3D into XVL works

While 3D CAD systems are ideal for the Design departments, they are less so for other areas of manufacturing: expensive software and hardware, lengthy training and so on make 3D CAD unsuitable for the Shop Floor, Procurement, Maintenance, Sales etc. The sheer size of raw 3D CAD data also makes sharing of the data time consuming and costly. Yet it makes sense to be able to reuse 3D data in these areas except for the cost, time and expense of such barriers outlined above. That is why manufacturers need Lattice Technology's XVL solutions: XVL is the industry's most compressed 3D format, making 3D CAD data extremely lightweight and usable while retaining very high accuracy. Using the free XVL Player, all stakeholders can rapidly see, view, measure and markup 3D data in XVL using even the smallest PC or laptop, alongside related PMI, BOMs and other desired information.

The XVL applications deliver powerful tools to be able to use the XVL data in many ways: Automated Design Review that delivers highly accurate interference checks on full 3D assemblies; motion simulation of moving parts; dynamic interference checks; automated disassembly animations; testing of process designs and production of work instuctions alongside related 3D animations; production of 3D BOMs and parts lists; and creation of 2D illustrations directly from 3D data. XVL applications can read out usable 3D data in formats that downstream users prefer - Microsoft Excel, HTML and PDF to name a few, making 3D data use in downstream areas simple, easy and acceptable to workers.

XVL integrates into existing IT infrastructures

XVL and the XVL applications can be rapidly integrated into existing IT infrastructures using the XVL System Toolkit, allowing automation of workflows that deliver highly usable 3D for downstream users. This integration extends across PLM, PDM, ERP, MES and more and is used by many of our customers today.

This integration delivers the following benefits:

• Rapid increases in productivity by being able to use 3D and related data immediately onshop floors and with suppliers using formats they prefer
• Automation of engineering data changes are controlled by the ERP or MES systems resulting in fewer errors
• Greater efficiency by combining 3D design data with all related data held on management infrastructure means access to the right data, all the time
• Faster access to work instructions, assembly methods, design review results and more through the use of simple end-user tools
• Smaller costs of hardware and other IT infrastructure by using XVL, the industry's most highly compressed 3D format which loses no accuracy on the data

XVL works with all major 3D CAD formats

Every major 3D CAD format is supported by Lattice Technology's XVL solutions, allowing all 3D data assets, corresponding PMI and metadata, and other information, to be rapidly reused and shared. XVL also allows data from disparate 3D CAD formats to be easily combined into one file, allowing manufacturers to deal more sensibly with design data from various suppliers, customers etc. XVL also supports neutral and industry 3D formats including IGES, STEP, JT, polygonal formats and PDF. To find out more about format support, please visit our Converters page.

• View a white paper on low-cost satellite design using XVL (source: JAXA).

• Understand the benefits of XVL solutions.

• Explore the challenges of Digital Manufacturing processes.

• Discover the range of the XVL products.