Dealing with Complex CAD Data in Automotive CGI Projects: Our Experience with PLMXML and JT Formats
Working on CGI projects for automotive clients often involves overcoming significant technical challenges—especially when it comes to handling complex industry-standard CAD data. Recently, we took on a new project for an automotive client who provided their 3D assets in PLMXML format with JT file attachments. The dataset was massive, and it quickly became clear that proper tessellation and conversion into workable polygon data would be key to delivering high-quality visual results.
The CAD Conversion Challenge
Opening and processing these files isn’t straightforward. High-end CAD software like CATIA or Siemens NX offers full control over such data but comes with expensive licensing costs. As a small studio, we often seek flexible, cost-effective alternatives without compromising quality.
Our first attempt was using Autodesk VRED, which opened the files successfully but offered no control over tessellation. The lack of tessellation settings led to imprecise geometry that was difficult to optimize for rendering.
We then switched to Pixyz, a powerful tool known for handling large-scale CAD files. Pixyz was able to import the PLMXML and JT files with good tessellation control. However, we encountered another major issue—duplicate geometry. In some cases, objects were repeated up to six times, unnecessarily bloating the scene and file size.
Optimizing the Workflow in Pixyz
After further testing and research, we discovered an import setting within Pixyz that automatically detects and removes duplicate automotive parts. Enabling this option reduced the scene complexity drastically and helped us optimize the polygon count without losing any important details.
With the cleaned-up model, we regained full control over tessellation settings and produced a highly optimized, render-ready asset. The final renders came out sharp, clean, and efficient—ready to meet our client’s expectations.
What is PLMXML and JT Format?
- PLMXML is an open XML-based data exchange format developed by Siemens for sharing product lifecycle management (PLM) information. It acts as a container and reference point for various types of engineering data.
- JT (Jupiter Tessellation) is a lightweight 3D model format commonly used for visualization, collaboration, and digital mockup. It contains both precise geometry and tessellated data, making it suitable for rendering pipelines.
This project was a strong reminder that working with automotive CAD data requires not just the right tools, but also a flexible approach and in-depth understanding of formats and conversion processes. With the right workflow, even the most complex datasets can be transformed into production-quality visuals. Why Autodesk Maya Excels at Preparing 3D Data for Rendering, Rigging and Shading — and When to Use Other Tools for UV Unwrapping