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What it reads, format by format, with measured accuracy.
More and more customers send the 3D PDF or the JT as the drawing. GALGA PMI reads both without a CAD licence, like STEP AP242, 2D PDF and DXF. Here is what it gets from each one, how we measured it and what to ask for when something else arrives.
Input formats
| Format | What it reads | How | Measured accuracy | What to ask the customer for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP AP242 with semantic PMI | Dimensions, tolerances, GD&T frames, datums, notes and title block, with the face of each characteristic. | Datum by datum from the file itself: nothing to interpret. | 98.1% · 423/431 characteristics on the NIST public parts. | “STEP AP242 with semantic PMI” export (FTA in CATIA; PMI in NX and Creo). |
| JT (ISO 14306) with PMI | GD&T frames, datums, datum targets, title block and notes, plus the part mesh. | Own JT reader: PMI as data. | Validated against the 3D PDF of the same parts; no public figure yet. | JT with PMI (the usual export of large OEMs). |
| CATIA 3D PDF | Dimensions, tolerances, GD&T frames, datums, notes, title block and the part in 3D. | Reads the PDF text and symbols; anything doubtful is flagged “review”. | Validated on real automotive parts, field by field; not publishable. | 3D PDF with the annotations visible and the model (not a screenshot). |
| Siemens NX 3D PDF | Same as CATIA. The text comes as outlines: read by the shape of each glyph. | NX typeface templates matched against the outlines. | Frames 96% (211/219) · dimensions 98% on the 11 NIST public parts; 94% and 92% on parts not used for training. | 3D PDF exported from NX with the PMI. |
| Creo 3D PDF and other CAD | Frames, dimensions and notes. | OCR with assisted review: more characteristics flagged for review. | Assisted review · no published figure. | STEP AP242 with PMI if they can. |
| 2D PDF with real text (from CATIA, NX, AutoCAD, SolidWorks…) | Toleranced dimensions, GD&T frames, notes, general tolerance and title block; balloons on the drawing. | PDF text with its position plus the drawing strokes. | Exact on the text; public reference drawing 34/34. | A PDF generated from CAD, not printed to PDF from an image. |
| 2D PDF with outlined text (text “converted to geometry”) | Dimensions, GD&T frames and notes. | Each annotation is rebuilt from its glyphs and read by shape, as with NX 3D PDFs. | Dimensions 78% · frames 74% on the 11 NIST public drawings; improves every version. | A PDF with real text if they can export it that way. |
| Scanned drawing (image) | Dimensions and frames. | OCR with assisted review (Total edition). | Assisted review · depends on scan resolution. | The original CAD PDF, if it exists. |
| DXF | Dimensions with tolerance and ISO 286 fits, GD&T frames, notes, title block from attributes; also “exploded” drawings (text and lines). | From the drawing entities, no OCR; drawn to PDF for the balloons. | Exact: the values are those in the file. | DXF (any version); a title block as a block with attributes helps. |
| DWG | — | Not read: closed format, and the converters’ licences do not allow commercial use. | No | Save as DXF or print to PDF from AutoCAD (one click). |
| CATPart, prt, sldprt (native CAD) | — | Not read natively. | No | 3D PDF, STEP AP242 with PMI or JT: any of the three, with no extra licence for the customer. |
How we measure accuracy
With the PMI test parts published by NIST, which anyone can download. A characteristic only counts if the type, nominal, tolerance and datums all match; anything the program flags “review” does not count. For formats read by shape (NX, outlined text) the templates come from 6 parts and the result is also measured on the 5 parts not used. Details, failure by failure, in Cases.
Why 3D PDF and JT matter
Large OEMs already send the drawing as a 3D PDF with the JT alongside, and the 2D drawing is fading out. Ballooning tools ask for native CAD or a 2D PDF; they cannot use the 3D PDF. GALGA PMI reads the 3D PDF and the JT already in your inbox, asking nothing more from the customer and needing no CAD licence.
What to ask for when something else arrives
- DWG: “save as DXF” or “print to PDF” from AutoCAD; both are read.
- CATPart without a drawing: the 3D PDF or the STEP AP242 with PMI; a one-minute export in CATIA.
- Scanned drawing: the original CAD PDF if it exists; otherwise it is read with assisted review.
- Creo 3D PDF: STEP AP242 with PMI is better.
Frequently asked questions
Does it read DWG files?
No. Save the DWG as DXF or print it to PDF from AutoCAD: GALGA PMI reads both. DWG is a closed format and the free converters do not allow commercial use.
Do I need CATIA to read the 3D PDF or the CATPart?
Not for the 3D PDF, STEP AP242 or JT: they are read with no CAD licence at all. Native CATPart is not read: ask the customer for one of those three formats.
What if the 3D PDF comes from Siemens NX instead of CATIA?
It is read the same way. NX text comes as outlines and is read by the shape of each glyph: 96% of frames and 98% of dimensions on the NIST public parts.
Does it read PMI from a JT?
Yes: GD&T frames, datums, datum targets, notes and title block, with the part mesh for the viewer. Linear dimensions in JT depend on how the CAD exports them.
How accurate is it on my parts?
As accurate as you measure it: the 7-day trial runs on your files, on your computer. The figures on this page are from public parts, with the criterion published under Cases.