Migration Method for Parametric Features in Heterogeneous CAD Systems

Parametric feature migration across different Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems is a core technology that supports cross-platform collaborative design and product data reuse. Addressing the fundamental limitation of traditional geometry-based data exchange methods—their inability to transfer high-level design intent information such as construction history, parametric constraints, and feature dependency relationships—this study proposes a three-stage parametric feature migration method based on JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) neutral files. Following the methodology of "exchanging the modeling process rather than the model itself", the complete migration workflow is decomposed into three stages: Feature parameter extraction, which leverages the source CAD system's application programming interface to traverse the model feature tree in depth and serialize the modeling history into a structured JSON exchange file; Topology identification, which employs a multi-dimensional geometric descriptor-based topological element identification method and writes identification results into the JavaScript Object Notation file; and Data validation, which validates feature parameters to be transferred and retrieves transient data required for modeling to ultimately achieve model reconstruction. Taking Siemens NX and ZW3D (formerly VX CAD) as representative source and target systems, a complete feature extraction and regeneration prototype plugin was developed, verifying the feasibility of the proposed method between heterogeneous CAD systems.

@article{WANG2026,
  title     = {Migration Method for Parametric Features in Heterogeneous CAD Systems},
  journal   = {International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications},
  volume    = {17},
  number    = {7},
  year      = {2026},
  publisher = {The Science and Information Organization},
  author    = {Gang WANG and Guangfa ZHANG},
  doi       = {10.14569/IJACSA.2026.0170718},
  url       = {https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2026.0170718}
}