Multi-skeleton model for top-down design of complex modular products

To fulfill TDD(top-down design) strategy for efficient design of complex modular products supported by current CAD tools, building the unified information transmission mode is critical to solve the inconsistency of longitudinal strong constraints of TDD and horizontal flexibility of configuration modular products. Based on the recursive-execution and structure-evolvement of TDD and modular configuration design process, we put forward to replace constraints by published skeleton through inheritance information refinement and classification. Meanwhile, multi-skeleton model for one assembly is proposed to substitute one skeleton of traditional TDD. These skeletons are centralized by position skeleton in modular combination manner, which not only facilitate product cascading change automatically, also ease to reuse and modify module, and validate product and system. Crawler crane sample is elaborated to illustrate the multi-skeleton model application effects of entire products design process, design change and modular reuse. Finally, the conclusion of the work and future directions are given.