Variant Design in Electrical Engineering - An Extension of Parametric Modeling

In the area of computer aided design for mechanical engineering
(MCAD), one of the most important innovations of the last decade has
been the introduction of parametric modeling. Now parametric
modeling will be extended to the field of computer aided design for
electrical engineering (ECAD). In this engineering domain the
technology of variational design will release a tremendous potential of
cost and time reduction, simultaneously with a considerable
improvement of quality. Hence, it can be considered as a significant
base technology for next generation ECAD systems.
After a brief introduction, this section starts with a consideration of
some substantial disadvantages which are inherent to contemporary
ECAD systems. Furthermore, we present an overview of approaches to
variational design available in today’s ECAD systems in a manual
manner. After that, the technology of parametric driven modules for
variational design in the context of electrical engineering is presented
as one of the most promising approaches for disposing the above
mentioned drawbacks. To demonstrate the essential necessity of this
technology for future ECAD systems, some examples occurring in
industrial practice are illustrated. Then, the advantages and
consequences of this new aspect of parametric modeling are discussed in
detail. Finally, we close with some remarks about an automatic variant
module being under development in a co-operation project between the
Graphical Engineering Systems Department at the University of
Stuttgart, Germany, and the software development company
Technische Computer Systeme Süßen GmbH, Germany.