Dive into the heart of design validation by leveraging the power of 3D MBD models. Discover how robust validation can become an essential link in every phase of the product life cycle. From simulation to manufacturing and through to support, your 3D model will be the reliable foundation for all your activities. Moreover, explore how CADIQ emerges as the tool of choice for validating the quality of your geometry and your 3D PMI annotations.
MBD Authoring System Validation includes model comparison and verification for engineering, manufacturing and sustainability applications. With an objective of replacing 2D engineering drawings with a complete 3D product model master, model validation can be integrated into all phases of the product lifecycle. A 3D MBD model includes:
- Structure
- Geometry
- Annotations (aka 3D PMI, GD&T, FT&A, etc.)
- Model attributes
- Domain-specific data
- Metadata
Why validate MBD ?
If the model is the master, then downstream modifications must be reconciled with the product design model. If you integrate all phases of the product lifecycle, then the design model must be re-usable in simulation, manufacturing, support, etc. There is a need for MBD validation in the following scenarios:
- Simulation validation – Unacceptable differences and unsynchronized changes undermine MBD integration of design and simulation.
- Design change validation – Geometry and feature parameter changes must be clearly communicated to downstream users.
- Manufacturing validation – Defects and translation differences undermine MBD integration of engineering and manufacturing.
- Legacy migration validation – Unacceptable differences introduced during migration undermine MBD re-use of legacy data.
- Product lifecycle transition validation – MBD processes are undermined if the model is not validated at critical transitions in the product lifecycle.
3D PMI Quality Checking
How can you ensure that the 3D PMI entities contained in an MBD part meet your company MBD guidelines and standards, and are stable and usable for all downstream MBD applications across the supply chain?
In the same way that model geometry requires verification against accepted standards and criteria, the 3D PMI entities require quality checking against a set of rules and criteria.
CADIQ can be used to check the quality of both the 3D CAD model geometry and the PMI entities.
MBD Engineering Change Control
With no 2D drawings to mark up and edit in the MBD environment, how will the enterprise manage engineering change control?
Users need to be able to clearly identify, document and communicate design changes for all consumers of the MBD part.
The CADIQ solution accurately compares two revisions of the same CAD model and automatically generates 3D PDF report documentation that clearly highlights the changes in model geometry and 3D PMI between the model revisions.
MBD Supply Chain Collaboration
Not all companies in the supply chain will use the same CAD system as the OEM. You may need to export the 3D CAD model, complete with 3D PMI data, to a neutral format such as STEP or JT. How do you know that the exported STEP or JT file is a true and accurate representation of the source model and that no unexpected errors or deviations have been introduced?
A deviation in the geometry or PMI in an exported STEP or JT file presents the potential for significant downstream tooling errors and re-work.
As part of a fully validated and certified automatic supplier data delivery process, CADIQ can be used to accurately compare the 3D geometry and PMI in the exported JT or STEP neutral file to the source native CAD part, and generate a 3D PDF report that identifies any unexpected deviations.
