Database schema design for CAD/CAM applications. A graphical user interface system. Scene-shifting for Computer animation

Although not many engineering databases for CAD/CAM have been operational up to now, it can be seen that they offer some advantages that make their usage inevitable in the future. Let only one of the most important features be mentioned, namely their function of integrating single tools into one "toolkit" by passing design data on from one application to the next. However, the optimal usage of an engineering design database demands some experience in the field of schema modelling. Because there are decisions to be made about the appropriate mapping of relationships, trade-offs must be made, e.g. between redundancy and performance, and so on. These topics are treated in this paper, in which practical rather than theoretical aspects are stressed. To illustrate the discussion, one particular data model is introduced.