Abstract: This paper analyzes the methods in collaborative design with heterogeneous CAD systems, and proposes a new approach of operation transformation based on feature modeling. By analyzing the modeling mechanism of neutral command adopted in collaborative design system with heterogeneous CAD systems, a feature-based minimum mapping set is presented. Based on above approach, a prototype is developed to finish the operation transformation between SolidWorks 2005 and UG NX3.0 with a plug-in style. An example of collaborative design process of a simple product design is applied to verify the feasibility of the prototype.