Issue link: https://resources.rand3d.com/i/1175402
CATIA V5-6R2018: Advanced Assembly Design and Management 1–4 © 2019, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® Top-Down Design The top-down design approach places critical information in a top-level assembly and then communicates that information to lower levels of the product structure. The first step in creating a top-down design model is to create an initial assembly structure. Design information is placed in this assembly through the use of skeleton models and parameters that are controlled by design tables. Any changes made to the top-level information are automatically propagated to all affected components. Top-down design techniques simulate a design team and facilitate concurrent engineering. The top-down design approach forces you to consider all areas of a final model before creating any geometry. Consider the following questions when using this technique: • What does the assembly do? • How does a specific model interface with other components in the assembly? • What are the inputs and outputs of the assembly? Planning the assembly using the top-down design approach helps to create clean, reusable geometry that interfaces correctly with the rest of the assembly. Collaborative Design Collaborative design involves two or more people simultaneously developing geometry for an assembly. For example, when designing a car, several departments contribute to the finished product. A major concern in a collaborative environment is the loss of data or duplication of efforts. If two people open a part model at the same time, the last person to save defines the latest revision, while the first person's modifications are lost. Communication is one defence against these types of setbacks. Another solution is to install a Product Data Management (PDM) application. Sample provided by ASCENT for review only All copying and reuse strictly forbidden.