The complexity of a modular systems depends on the requirements of the machine or plant to be modeled and the documents to be generated of the respective discipline.
The development can be effected in the following steps:
- Small/Large model with Maximum Specification with one discipline. All discipline components are installed directly in mechatronic components.
- Small/Large model with maximum specification with several disciplines. All discipline components are installed directly in mechatronic components.
- Model with one or more disciplines. All discipline components are stored in separate libraries and only the required discipline components are installed on extension points after the configuration.
- Model with one or more disciplines. Parts of the project are added per import.
The development steps do not represent a fixed grid in which the modular system developer is trapped. Rather, the steps show that it is possible to develop a model with little effort that can be expanded with increasing demands.
Small model with maximum specification with one discipline
Characteristic:
- The modular system encompasses only a few mechatronic and discipline components.
- All the components and parameters are stored in the same library.
- All the discipline components are installed directly in mechatronic components.
- Disablers can be used to exclude specific components from a project (maximum specification).
Advantages:
- Short development period.
- Clear structure.
- Rapid formula calculation.
Disadvantages:
- none
Large model with maximum specification with one discipline
Characteristic:
- The modular system encompasses many mechatronic and discipline components.
- All the components and parameters are stored in the same library.
- The discipline components are installed directly in mechatronic components.
- Parameters can be used to exclude specific components from a project (maximum specification).
Advantages:
- Relatively short development period.
- Clear structure.
Disadvantages:
- Slower formula calculation.
Small model with maximum specification with several disciplines
Characteristic:
- The modular system encompasses only a few mechatronic but many discipline components.
- All the components and parameters are stored in the same library.
- All the discipline components are installed directly in mechatronic components.
- Disablers can be used to exclude specific components from a project (maximum specification).
Advantages:
- Short development period.
- Clear structure.
Disadvantages:
- Slower formula calculation.
Large model with maximum specification with several disciplines
Characteristic:
- The modular system encompasses many mechatronic and many discipline components.
- All the components and parameters are stored in the same library.
- All the discipline components are installed directly in mechatronic components.
- Disablers can be used to exclude specific components from a project (maximum specification).
Advantages:
- None.
Disadvantages:
- Long development period.
- Unclear structure.
- Much slower formula calculation.
Large model with one or more disciplines whose components are installed on extension points
Characteristic:
- The modular system encompasses one library for the mechatronic components and one further library for each discipline.
- All the discipline components are installed into the mechatronic components through extension points.
Advantages:
- Faster formula calculation, because configuration is initially only carried mechatronically.
- Only the required discipline components are added through importing of the corresponding library.
- Short development period. Because libraries for discipline components can be developed in parallel.
- Clear structure.
Disadvantages:
- Multi-stage calculation of discipline parameters may be necessary if the values cannot be calculated via the mechatronic components.