Parametric Design Pilot Project - Revision history

ChuckH: /* Parametric design platform */

2013-01-10T04:14:41Z

Parametric design platform

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:14, 10 January 2013
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	= Parametric design platform =		= Parametric design platform =

	(Need review of alternative options here)		(Need review of alternative options here) [http://www.rapcad.org/ rapcad?]

	A candidate for an open source parametric design platform is [[ImplicitCAD]], implementing extended openSCAD in the Haskell programming language. Parametric design computations that are too sophisticated to be expressed in extopenSCAD can take advantage of the Haskell language itself (which is, however, something of a "boutique" language with a small user base) or perhaps use another language in combination with macro substitution (e.g. using open-source cpp or m4) into the extopenSCAD file.		A candidate for an open source parametric design platform is [[ImplicitCAD]], implementing extended openSCAD in the Haskell programming language. Parametric design computations that are too sophisticated to be expressed in extopenSCAD can take advantage of the Haskell language itself (which is, however, something of a "boutique" language with a small user base) or perhaps use another language in combination with macro substitution (e.g. using open-source cpp or m4) into the extopenSCAD file.

ChuckH: /* Parametric design platform */

2013-01-08T01:26:51Z

Parametric design platform

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:26, 8 January 2013
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	(Need review of alternative options here)		(Need review of alternative options here)

	A candidate for an open source parametric design platform is [[ImplicitCAD]], implementing extended openSCAD in the Haskell programming language. Parametric design computations that are too sophisticated to be expressed in ~~openESCAD~~ can take advantage of the Haskell language itself (which is, however, something of a "boutique" language with a small user base) or perhaps use another language in combination with macro substitution (e.g. using open-source cpp or m4) into the ~~openESCAD~~ file.		A candidate for an open source parametric design platform is [[ImplicitCAD]], implementing extended openSCAD in the Haskell programming language. Parametric design computations that are too sophisticated to be expressed in extopenSCAD can take advantage of the Haskell language itself (which is, however, something of a "boutique" language with a small user base) or perhaps use another language in combination with macro substitution (e.g. using open-source cpp or m4) into the extopenSCAD file.

	The primary design files are text files -- very much like computer source programs -- and the entire process should be compatible with software project build tools.		The primary design files are text files -- very much like computer source programs -- and the entire process should be compatible with software project build tools.

ChuckH: /* Parametric design platform */

2012-12-27T23:09:21Z

Parametric design platform

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:09, 27 December 2012
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	* "IKEA-style" assembly drawings		* "IKEA-style" assembly drawings
	* etc.		* etc.

			== Automatic build ("Make") tools ==

			As with a large software project, managing a dynamically-changing hardware project requires tracking the dependencies between sub-modules.

			As a starting point, standard GNU Make can be used to automatically update any dependent file when something it depends on changes. The crux of the matter is determining the dependencies.
			* Many programming languages (e.g. c, c++) have tools for exposing dependencies (e.g. gnu cpp -M flag)
			* Dedicated scripts can be written to parse other types of files searching for their "import", "include", or similar directives
			* A potential general solution is [http://www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/~lester/gendep/index.html gendep], which watches what files are opened in the process of executing a build step.

	= Pilot projects =		= Pilot projects =

ChuckH: /* Specific Projects */

2012-12-13T22:16:26Z

Specific Projects

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:16, 13 December 2012
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	* [[Reprap]] fused-deposition 3D printer		* [[Reprap]] fused-deposition 3D printer
	* CNC circuit mill [[CNC_Circuit_Mill/What]]		* CNC circuit mill [[CNC_Circuit_Mill/What]]
	* ~~Laser cutter~~		* [[Laser_Cutter]]

	I think these machines can be designed so that virtually all of the frame components are made from CNC-cut sheet parts. Sheet parts can be designed with "dotted line" perforated fold lines that can be hand-bent into 3D configurations without a press brake.		I think these machines can be designed so that virtually all of the frame components are made from CNC-cut sheet parts. Sheet parts can be designed with "dotted line" perforated fold lines that can be hand-bent into 3D configurations without a press brake.

	A parametric toolchain should be able to take as parameters the working volume of the desired machine and produce a set of drawings, BOM, and g-code files to build it.		A parametric toolchain should be able to take as parameters the working volume of the desired machine and produce a set of drawings, BOM, and g-code files to build it.

ChuckH: /* Specific Projects */

2012-12-13T22:15:25Z

Specific Projects

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:15, 13 December 2012
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	Light-cutting-force CNC machines seem like good candidates here.		Light-cutting-force CNC machines seem like good candidates here.
	* Reprap ~~type (plastic~~ fused deposition)		* [[Reprap]] fused-deposition 3D printer
	* CNC circuit mill [[CNC_Circuit_Mill/What]]		* CNC circuit mill [[CNC_Circuit_Mill/What]]
	* Laser cutter		* Laser cutter

ChuckH: /* Parametric design platform */

2012-12-13T22:11:08Z

Parametric design platform

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:11, 13 December 2012
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	The primary design files are text files -- very much like computer source programs -- and the entire process should be compatible with software project build tools.		The primary design files are text files -- very much like computer source programs -- and the entire process should be compatible with software project build tools.

	As with most ~~spftware~~ projects, we expect that a multi-tool toolchain will be necessary to produce a suite of output files:		As with most software projects, we expect that a multi-tool toolchain will be necessary to produce a suite of output files:
	* human-readable mechanical drawings		* human-readable mechanical drawings
	* bills of material		* bills of material

ChuckH: /* Parametric Mechanical Design Concept */

2012-12-13T22:10:50Z

Parametric Mechanical Design Concept

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:10, 13 December 2012
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	Existing parametric design workflows remain rife with manual steps between choosing the parameters and completed fabrication drawings and CAM files.		Existing parametric design workflows remain rife with manual steps between choosing the parameters and completed fabrication drawings and CAM files.

	Our intent is to turn this process into a one-click process, just like a typical software project build i.e. "make all").		Our intent is to turn this process into a one-click process, just like a typical software project build (i.e. "make all").

	= Parametric design platform =		= Parametric design platform =

ChuckH: /* Parametric Mechanical Design Concept */

2012-12-13T22:10:14Z

Parametric Mechanical Design Concept

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:10, 13 December 2012
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	In a parametric design flow, size and other options are specified as ''parameters'', and an appropriate documentation set is automatically generated in response to a requested set of parameters. For example, "make this bed frame for a mattress 94 x 62 inches".		In a parametric design flow, size and other options are specified as ''parameters'', and an appropriate documentation set is automatically generated in response to a requested set of parameters. For example, "make this bed frame for a mattress 94 x 62 inches".

	Many CAD packages support parametric features, with variables that represent dimensions. Dependent dimensions can be computed from primary dimension parameters. In essence, the master engineering CAD drawing becomes a ''computer program'' which can generate any one of a huge range of specific drawings in response to variable values. Very early on AutoCAD implemented this by embedding a LISP interpreter in their drawing program.		Many CAD packages support parametric features, with variables that represent dimensions. Dependent dimensions can be computed from primary dimension parameters and other constraints. In essence, the master engineering CAD drawing becomes a ''computer program'' which can generate any one of a huge range of specific drawings in response to variable values. Very early on AutoCAD implemented this by embedding a LISP interpreter in their drawing program.

	Existing parametric design workflows remain rife with manual steps between choosing the parameters and completed fabrication drawings and CAM files.		Existing parametric design workflows remain rife with manual steps between choosing the parameters and completed fabrication drawings and CAM files.

ChuckH: /* Parametric Mechanical Design Concept */

2012-12-13T22:09:34Z

Parametric Mechanical Design Concept

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:09, 13 December 2012
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	= Parametric Mechanical Design Concept =		= Parametric Mechanical Design Concept =

	In a standard design flow, the engineers/designers prepare a documentation set -- fabrication and assembly drawings, bills of materials, process sheets, etc -- for a specific size and version of a product. Sometimes, the design will be prepared in several ''variants'', with different options, and the documentation will typically have variant tabulations.		In a standard design flow, the engineers/designers prepare a documentation set -- fabrication and assembly drawings, bills of materials, process sheets, etc -- for a specific size and version of a product. Sometimes, the design will be prepared in several ''variants'', with different options, and then the documentation will typically have variant tabulations.

	In a parametric design flow, size and other options are specified as ''parameters'', and an appropriate documentation set is automatically generated in response to a requested set of parameters. For example, "make this bed frame for a mattress 94 x 62 inches".		In a parametric design flow, size and other options are specified as ''parameters'', and an appropriate documentation set is automatically generated in response to a requested set of parameters. For example, "make this bed frame for a mattress 94 x 62 inches".

ChuckH: /* Specific Projects */

2012-12-13T22:07:49Z

Specific Projects

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:07, 13 December 2012
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	I think these machines can be designed so that virtually all of the frame components are made from CNC-cut sheet parts. Sheet parts can be designed with "dotted line" perforated fold lines that can be hand-bent into 3D configurations without a press brake.		I think these machines can be designed so that virtually all of the frame components are made from CNC-cut sheet parts. Sheet parts can be designed with "dotted line" perforated fold lines that can be hand-bent into 3D configurations without a press brake.

	A parametric toolchain should be able to take a parameters the working volume of the desired machine and produce a set of drawings, BOM, and g-code files to build it.		A parametric toolchain should be able to take as parameters the working volume of the desired machine and produce a set of drawings, BOM, and g-code files to build it.