Robust Parameterization Schema for CAx Master Models

Today's engineering companies rely heavily on an engineer's ability to use computers to analyze and optimize designs. With this use of computers in the design process, products undergo multiple design iterations between preliminary concept and final form, which in turn results in Computer Aided Design (CAD) models being passed from one discipline to the next. An industry wide shift towards the use of CAD master models (CADmm) is taking place in attempts to keep consistency within the design process. With this change to CADmms, manufacturing and engineering development companies are attempting to more fully employ the use of parametrics in their initial CADmm so the initial model handed downstream is robust enough to be used throughout the entire design loop. Unfortunately, current parameter definitions are often not robust enough to incorporate all the design changes from the various analyses and manufacturing operations. To address this problem, we present a more robust parametric methodology that broadens the current definition of parametrics as currently employed on CADmm within CAD packages.