Model-Based Design (MBD): Outside or Inside the Box?

Is model-based design a set of standards and processes that stymie creativity and jail engineers Inside the Box? Or does it create a foundation for product design, freeing engineers from the mundane, while gifting them with technology to create products that will push Outside the Box?

The Answer! MBD Standards bolster engineering innovation

If it’s possible to make Harry Potter into Darth Vader using a very prescriptive set of interfaces (LEGO studs and tubes[i]), then setting up interface organization for complicated large systems to fit together should not limit the designer’s creativity.

Harry Potter morphs into Darth Potter using only common interfaces.

A properly implemented Model-Based Environment (MBE) provides foundational methods and organization to allow users to function together… and ‘snap’ together their parts. It is the manager’s responsibility to inspire users to comply with the standard, so that the parts integrate together as easily as LEGOs do.

Standards that Govern MBE

Listed below are five areas that group MBE standards over the product lifecycle. Notice some standards have latest releases as early as 2012. As a result, most have yet to be codified by industry.

 3D Data Content and Format

• ISO 10303-242 (Scheduled Release Jan 2014): Content and format data exchange using STEP and PLCS
• ISO 14306: 2012: Content and format data exchange using JT with Parasolid
• ISO 14739-1 (Under Development): Content and format data exchange using 3D PDF with PRC

3D Product Definition

• ASME Y14.41 (Released 2012): Digital product definition data practices
• ISO 16792 (2006): Digital product definition data practices
• ASME Y14.100 (Released 2013): Engineering drawing practices

3D Technical Data Package (TDP Delivery)

• MIL-STD-31000A (Latest Release 2012): Standard practice for Technical Data Packages. How to organize your product data and in what format to deliver it.

3D Model Archival

• NAS 9300-007: LOTAR: Long Term Archiving and Retrieval of digital technical product documentation such as 3D CAD and PDM data

3D Model Technical Publications

• S1000D: International specification for Technical Publications utilizing a common source database.

“If it’s easier to be standard than to be nonstandard, people will follow the standard.”—Robert Green[ii]

Tags: ASME Y14.100, ASME Y14.41, ISO 10303, ISO 14306, ISO 14739-1, ISO 16792, MIL-STD-31000, S1000D

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