Collaborative CAD platform

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gflorent
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Collaborative CAD platform

Post by gflorent »

In the context of a bigger project (CampOSV/PYOSVUE), I am currently working on a collaborative CAD platform that intends to bring collaborative software development practices to open hardware design.
Obviously, FreeCAD has a huge role to play as the most advanced Open Source CAD project.
For what it is currently worth, you may have a look at http://139.162.143.137:3000/gflorent/test-repo for a prototype implementation. Basically, it is Gitea (very similar to Github) + CAD functionalities : CAD files (STEP, IGES, STL, BREP) and FreeCAD files are rendered.
As of today, for FreeCAD users, the only plus (as compared to Github) is the possibility to visualize FreeCAD files online. Each BREP in the zipped FCSTD is displayed in a different color (select a shape:t -> toggle visibility, w-> toggle wireframe). Nothing is there yet to handle merges/merge conflicts.
Feel free to create a user account (http://139.162.143.137:3000), to create a repo and to add some FreeCAD, STEP, IGES, STL, BREP files. Beware that it is a prototype that comes with no guarantee whatsoever !!

We have bigger plans for the future :
- assembly of heterogeneous parts (think of assembling a STEP, a BREP and a (geometry description) Python file) through the use of vectors attached to parts features.
- lightweight parts libraries (embedding data and creation logic in JSON files)
- parts and assemblies description in Python using PythonOCC...
- PLM info attached to parts and assemblies
- an enhanced Git Workbench in FreeCAD ?

We believe that 3 factors will make distributed version management possible/manageable for Open Source CAD (aka solve the merge CAD problem):
- if using FreeCAD, the appearance of a robust Open Source solution for assemblies: an Assembly (from 2, 2+ or 3 or another?) workbench will emerge as the de-facto standard in the FreeCAD ecosystem and make merge conflicts more localized (to some specific parts).
- if using a programmatic description of geometry/assemblies and neutral formats, the possibility itself to make a programmatic description of assemblies and parts (we are working on that). Since the assembly/part description would be code, it is easily managed in a distributed version control system.
- a specific approach to CAD merging/merge conflicts, yet to be implemented !

Anyway, I would love to have some feedback, ideas, thoughts, criticism, questions, experiences about managing the collaborative development of Open Hardware projects using Open Source software, be it in the FreeCAD context or in a more general way

Cheers.
triplus
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by triplus »

Sounds ambitious and therefore good luck.

P.S. If you are interested likely a contribution directly to FreeCAD code and to improve WebGL viewer/exporter could make sense. As the result i see on the mentioned web site looks good. And therefore if FreeCAD could produce such WebGL exports by default. That would be great.
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bitacovir
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by bitacovir »

gflorent wrote: Fri Nov 30, 2018 12:03 am As of today, for FreeCAD users, the only plus (as compared to Github) is the possibility to visualize FreeCAD files online. Each BREP in the zipped FCSTD is displayed in a different color (select a shape:t -> toggle visibility, w-> toggle wireframe).
My mini wind tunnel is there!! XD XD XD
I notice that the visualisation of some geometry faces is missing when the camera angle changes (bellmouth walls).
Also, I cannot select.
chrome_2018-11-29_22-14-01.png
chrome_2018-11-29_22-14-01.png (151.92 KiB) Viewed 4283 times
chrome_2018-11-29_22-13-00.png
chrome_2018-11-29_22-13-00.png (209.25 KiB) Viewed 4283 times

As reference: my mini wind tunnel project published in FreeCAD Forum
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=22139
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gflorent
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by gflorent »

triplus wrote: Fri Nov 30, 2018 12:15 am Sounds ambitious and therefore good luck.
Thanks! A standalone version of this project already works (https://github.com/osv-team/osvcad, https://github.com/osv-team/party). We are porting it to a web platform step by step.
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gflorent
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by gflorent »

bitacovir wrote: Fri Nov 30, 2018 1:15 am
My mini wind tunnel is there!! XD XD XD
I notice that the visualisation of some geometry faces is missing when the camera angle changes (bellmouth walls).
Also, I cannot select.
Yes, the mini wind tunnel was used to test for performance since it contains over 1000 BREPs. Due to the load, some faces take time to appear/be refreshed. I retested and you are right, there is a slight offset between the click and the selected subshape; will investigate. Thanks for the feedback!
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Joel_graff
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by Joel_graff »

gflorent wrote: Fri Nov 30, 2018 12:03 am Obviously, FreeCAD has a huge role to play as the most advanced Open Source CAD project.
I have nothing to contribute to the discussion, but I couldn't help but enjoy reading that little bit.

Whether or not it's true, it's nice to be recognized!
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Kunda1
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by Kunda1 »

Joel_graff wrote: Fri Nov 30, 2018 4:47 pm
I have nothing to contribute to the discussion, but I couldn't help but enjoy reading that little bit.

Whether or not it's true, it's nice to be recognized!
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microelly2
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by microelly2 »

intersting
I will test the viewer for my surface models.
http://139.162.143.137:3000/microelly/nurbs
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nemesis
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by nemesis »

Hi,
Quite interesting project as Opensource PLM for CAD is not available.
I did some test here
http://139.162.143.137:3000/nemesis81/KartCross
this are parts develop with realthunder assembly3 WB

what is the Error 500?

another question.
as far as I understand it display the brep of the freecad file, so I guess it is why, on a single file, with a single body, when we are suppose to see only one part, there is also other "part" displayed?
Attachments
the file displayed
the file displayed
Screenshot_20181202_091556.png (125.32 KiB) Viewed 4040 times
the supposed files in freecad
the supposed files in freecad
Screenshot_20181202_092742.png (97.67 KiB) Viewed 4040 times
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microelly2
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Re: Collaborative CAD platform

Post by microelly2 »

nemesis wrote: Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:34 am what is the Error 500?
I get this error when I display a FreeCAD-file which contains only a mesh.
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