3D collaboration now free for every desktop on JT

JT, the open and still evolving data format for 3D product visualisation, collaboration and data sharing, is set to grow even faster following UGS’ introduction of a free downloadable viewer, dubbed JT2Go, along with JT plug-ins for Microsoft Office. It means that potentially every desktop and every environment for every role can get to rich engineering data in real time. The viewer lets whole development teams and value chains share 3D product and manufacturing data on JT, right down to the BoM (bill of materials) level using PLM XML – all for nothing, although there’s a 90 day trial period for the more advanced functionality. Everything from engineering design reviews to request for quotes, package reviews and manufacturing tooling reviews, can be covered, while the plug-ins mean the files can be embedded right into Office documents. UGS, which is pinning its hopes for development on the JT approach for collaborative product lifecycle management (PLM), insists the new offerings are bound to accelerate adoption beyond JT’s automotive, aerospace and heavy equipment heartland. And there’s every prospect of success. As Stu Johnston, UGS product marketing manager, JT spans the roles of CAD system interoperability, e-publishing and real-time collaboration mostly dealt with by IGES/STEP, e-Drawings/DWF (Autodesk) and now Adobe 7, respectively. General Motors says it’s so good that it’s standardised on JT. Terry Kline, GM’s global information officer for product development, says the firm now has millions of JT files. His view: “The new viewing products will enable global GM suppliers to quickly and efficiently view GM product data at no additional cost, using their existing infrastructure… This offering creates immediate bottom line value across the industry.” Ford is also a big JT user for product development and visualisation across vehicle lifecycles. In fact, the JT pipeline has become the collaboration hub for Ford’s global network. And the big automotive suppliers are in there too: Visteon, for example, reports benefits from JT throughout design and manufacturing, citing particularly its CAD-neutral, robust functionality and lightweight capabilities. Lorie Buckingham, CIO at Visteon says that JT will enhance communication and collaboration throughout its entire supply chain. “Advancing software and hardware will help the entire automotive industry as it changes from paper based 2D drawings to a rich 3D format,” he says. There are two key points here. First, this new collaboration and viewing technology breaks down the barriers to 3D collaboration by providing a fast, deploy-on-demand data sharing solution that can run across different PLM environments, on existing infrastructure at no additional cost. Second, as JT continues to evolve beyond the newer compression algorithms, with lighting, textures and PLM XML, the functionality and intelligence of its 3D information will expand – enabling, for example, photo-realistic images for sales and marketing teams wanting interactive 3D publications. As Johnston says: “This is the next stage in the JTOpen development. It’s response to the requests for a low or no cost viewing application to evolve the value of JT.”