Digital mockup

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Digital MockUp or DMU is a concept that allows to describe a product usually in 3D for its whole life cycle. The Digital Mockup is enriched by all the activities that contributes to describe the product. The product design engineers, the manufacturing engineers, the support engineers] are interacting together to create, manage the DMU. One of the objective is to have an important knowledge of the future or the supported product to replace any physical prototypes with virtual ones, using 3D computer graphics techniques. As an extension it is also frequently referred to as Digital Prototyping or Virtual Prototyping. These two specific definition refers to the production of a physical prototype, but they are part of the DMU concept. DMU allows engineers to design and configure complex products and validate their designs all without ever needing to build a physical model.

Among the techniques and technologies that make this possible are:

• the use of light-weight 3D models with multiple levels of detail using lightweight data structures such as JT that allow engineers to visualize, analyze, and interact with large amounts of product data in real-time on standard desktop computers.
• direct interface to between Digital Mockups and PDM systems.
• active digital mockup technology that unites the ability to visualize the assembly mockup with the ability to measure, analyze, simulate, design and redesign.

[edit] Methodology and process

The implementation of a DMU implies that specific methodologies and process are put in place. The methodologies contribute to transform the product in representation manageable by the organization. The process to put in place these methodologies requires to manage at the same time the organization of the company, the information technology solutions and the product representation. Usually two implementation process ar available on the market. Some best practice process available through software supplers, and some activity process available through consulting companies.

[edit] Goals

• Reduce time-to-market by identifying potential issues earlier in the design process.
• Reduce product development costs by minimizing the number of physical prototypes that need to be built.
• Increase product quality by allowing a greater number of design alternatives to be investigated before a final one is chosen.

[edit] Technologies

• Product Life Cycle Management
• Visualization
• Collaboration
• Large Model Rendering
• Interference Checking (aka Clearance Analysis or Clash Analysis)
• Measurement Tools
• Cross Sectioning
• Path Extraction & Swept Volume Analysis
• Constraint Management
• Product Structure Modeling
• Product Data Management (PDM)

--88.166.60.82 (talk) 19:18, 2 June 2008 (UTC)strobos@wanadoo.fr