Version 1.0, August 31, 2001, Copyright, Hugh Jack 1993-2001

DI:15.1 DESIGN

 

· Recall the basic process of design (or at least one of the many)

 

· The important phases of this diagram are,

  1. - The ongoing refinement of the overall design
  2. - The ongoing refinement of the detailed design
  3. - The analysis of the design

 

· This diagram (or at least the main concepts) form the basis for CAD systems. A complete CAD system will provide as much of the structure above as possible.

 

· Some of the tools provided in a CAD environment are,

  1. - Innovative and conceptual design
  2. - Qualitative design analysis
  3. - Structuring of part (eg. assemblies)
  4. - Knowledge based/intelligent design tools
  5. - Engineering design information (standards lookup, or electronic catalogues)
  6. - Optimization
  7. - Design interfaces, and tools

 

· Some applications are well suited to 2D CAD systems,

  1. - PCBs (Printed Circuit Board Design)
  2. - ICs (Integrated Circuit Design)
  3. - Mapping (road maps, topographical maps)

 

· Consider the example of a sheet metal layout

 

 

· 3D CAD systems are becoming widely used for Mechanical design in a number of businesses these days including,

  1. - Aircraft Design
  2. - Automotive
  3. - Consumer electronics
  4. - etc.

 

· CAD systems provide advantages such as,

  1. - Visualization
  2. - Minimizes design errors
  3. - Graphical display of hard to visualize information (eg. 3D warping of plastic part)
  4. - Standardized drawings, and documents
  5. - Faster lead time
  6. - Customer perception is improved
  7. - Productivity improvement over time
  8. - Developing alternate concepts
  9. - Evaluation of alternate concepts
  10. - Analytical investigation of parts
  11. - Experimental investigation
  12. - Detailed drawings and specifications
  13. - Preliminary `construction' of design prototype
  14. - Easy bridge to prototype construction
  15. - Easy to change designs
  16. - Optimization