Functional surfaces as initial product design concept in 3D-CAD-Systems

Finding an initial shape design for innovative product concepts is one of the most challenging and most creative parts in product design processes. To support design engineers during that particular phase, knowledge based design automation tools can be used. This paper proposes an enhancement of existing design methodologies in terms of initial shape design of innovative product concepts.The presented approach consolidates PLM and parametric 3D CAD technologies into one integrated method. A concept of parametric working surfaces as an institutionalized feature embedding product lifecycle knowledge is described and briefly demonstrated with a software example. The approach intends to support the product designer with additional information from different company departments as well as giving the designer a tool to explicitly declare the design intent of its design concept in the very early phase of geometric shape definition.