The FTC and CTC were part of the MBE PMI Validation and Conformance Testing Project that concluded in 2015. The FTC and CTC are not intended to represent best practice in how to apply GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) to a part. Simpler GD&T strategies could have been used. The test cases are intended to be valid presentations of GD&T defined in the ASME Y14 tolerancing standards, some of which may not be commonly used.
The STC are modified versions of the FTC that remove some of the more complicated and less commonly used PMI, including all datum targets. The STC were developed in 2023.
These test cases are used by the CAx-IF to test implementations of STEP AP242 in CAD software.
FTC 6-10 have been modified to create Simplified Test Cases (STC). The STC remove some of the more complicated and less commonly used PMI, including all datum targets. The geometry of the STC is the same as the corresponding FTC. STEP AP242 files for each STC are available.
CAD Software (NIST Disclaimer) | STC | FTC/CTC | FTC | CTC |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dassault Systèmes CATIA | V5-6R2023 | V5-6R2019 | V5-6R2014 | V5 R21 |
Siemens NX | NX 2027 | NX 1980 | NX 9 | NX 8 |
Autodesk Inventor | Inventor 2024 | Inventor 2021 | ||
PTC Creo | Creo 10 | Creo 10 | Creo 3 | Creo 2 |
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks | SolidWorks MBD 2018 | SolidWorks 2015 | SolidWorks 2012 | |
The STC are simplified versions of the FTC. | The FTC (6,8,9) and CTC (1-5) above were verified as part of the original testing project that concluded in 2015 and documented in the Test Results below. |
CAD models (CATIA V5, Creo, NX) for testing different types of holes (counterbore, countersink, through, depth) were developed in 2024 for testing in the CAx-IF.
These CAD models (NX, SolidWorks) are from the 2018 project Design, Manufacturing, and Inspection Data for a Box Assembly. The models are based on FTC-07 (box), FTC-08 (lid), and FTC-09 (plate) from above. Those FTC test cases were remodeled to be smaller, have simpler PMI, include fasteners to join the parts, and to be more easily manufactured. A fourth part was also added.
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The verification and validation results from 2015 measure PMI implementation capabilities in CAD software and derivative STEP, JT, and 3D PDF files. The results are based on the test case specifications, CAD modeling methods, versions of CAD software, and comparison methodologies. PMI representation and presentation are evaluated by many verification characteristics and validation issues. The results may identify issues relevant to your use cases for downstream automated-consumption of PMI representation or human-interpretation of PMI presentation. The verification and validation testing results related to the test case PMI were generated based on older versions of the CAD systems. Issues identified for the semantic and graphic representation of PMI in each CAD system may have been (and hopefully have been) resolved since the original testing took place.
The test cases, CAD models, and STEP files can be used without any restrictions. Their use in other software or hardware products does not imply a recommendation or endorsement of those products by NIST.
We would appreciate acknowledgement if any of the test cases, CAD models, STEP files, or screenshots of the models are used, however, the use of the NIST logo seen at the top of this page is not allowed in promotional materials.