The IDA-STEP GD&T Editor is a specialized software component designed to create, view, and edit Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) directly within neutral, 3D STEP models.
Developed by LKSoft, it serves as an alternative to using expensive, proprietary CAD software for applying annotations. Core Features
Direct 3D Annotation: Users can visually add or modify tolerancing data directly on the 3D solid model, eliminating the need to cross-reference static 2D drawings.
Dual-Layer Synchronization: The tool simultaneously generates human-readable 3D annotations for visual inspection and fully-semantic (computer-readable) data for downstream automated systems.
Full Associativity: Specifications are logically and visually linked to the specific geometric elements they control. Selecting a datum or dimension highlights the corresponding 3D shape automatically.
Standards Support: It strictly supports international GD&T standards including ISO 1101, ISO 16792, ASME Y14.5, and ASME Y14.41. Downstream Integration
Because the editor embeds data straight into neutral STEP files (ISO 10303), the fully encoded semantic data can be seamlessly imported into automated downstream manufacturing and quality workflows without manual data reentry. This benefits: Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
Coordinate Measuring Machines and Computer-Aided Inspection (CAI)
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Environment and Architecture
The GD&T Editor operates as a paid, modular extension within the IDA-STEP Viewer ecosystem. While the base IDA-STEP Viewer Basic is free and allows teams to view these 3D models and annotations, the GD&T Editor component must be added to enable creation and modification permissions.
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