MATEC Web of Conferences 139, 00017 (2017)

DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713900017
ICMITE 2017

MBD Attributes Template Method of Aeronautical Products

Xiumao Yang1, Zhengliang Wu1, Yongzhu Hou2, and Jihong Liu2,*
1
Hongdu Group Company of Aeronautical Industry, 330024 Nanchang, China
2
School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang Uiversity, 100191 Beijing, China

Abstract. Model-based Definition (MBD) expresses the technical information of traditional engineering
drawings in a three-dimensional environment. The formed MBD dataset completely express the product
information, what changed the product development model and improved product development efficiency.
However, the integrity of the MBD dataset is difficult to guarantee and the efficiency to build it is low. In
order to solve this problem, this paper proposes to use MBD attributes template method to solve the
generation problem of attributes information in MBD dataset. Firstly, the concept and connotation of MBD
attributes and MBD attributes template are described. Secondly, the type of aeronautical products and MBD
attributes are combed to form MBD attributes template for different types of products. Thirdly, the process
of MBD attributes template method is proposed. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is verified by
the MBD attributes template construction and attributes values filling of a forging part. The results show
that MBD attributes template method not only improves the efficiency of MBD attributes generation, but
also improves the integrity and accuracy of MBD dataset.

1 Introduction used to assist the MBD annotation to completely

defining the product model. The attributes is of a wide
Three-dimensional model plays a vital role in variety and its account is large, thus: 1) there is
engineering domain. It can drive product design, incomplete problem when designers add MBD attributes,
manufacturing, assembly and inspection stage of and is not conducive to management; 2) designers need
production development directly. The Model-based to consult the relevant manual and standard to add MBD
Definition (MBD) technology is proposed by the attributes what is time-consuming and laborious. In this
American Society of Mechanical Engineers based on its paper, MBD attributes template method is proposed to
digital product definition specification (ASME Y14.41- solve the problem of MBD attributes generation. By
2003) and combined with its digital manufacturing combing the types of products and MBD attribute types,
experiences [1]. MBD technology express technical the MBD attributes template is formed according to
information in the three-dimensional model, forming a different products types. And the MBD attributes values
completed product model drive product development are itemized to support the construction of MBD
activities, is a current research focus. For example: MBD attributes fast and accurate.
design under the product lifecycle scenario [2]; through
the MBD dataset to assist the construction of the MBD
process model [3]; multi-level structured MBD model 2 MBD attributes
support the mechanical parts reuse [4].
MBD technology expresses the technical information in
MBD has been widely used in the whole
a three-dimensional environment, forming the MBD
aeronautical field. MBD-based 3D design has become
dataset that can fully describe the product. Technology
the main development model of the current aeronautical
information includes geometric dimensions and
enterprises. However, there are still has many
tolerances, roughness, datum, and other technical
management problems and technical problems need to
requirements once in the two-dimensional drawings. The
be solved [5], including how to improve the efficiency of
physical form of MBD dataset is MBD model, which
MBD dataset construction and ensure the integrity and
essence is adding the technical information to the three-
accuracy of the MBD dataset.
dimensional model.
In view of this problem, [6] studied the automatic
The ASME Y14.41-2003 standard specifies the
annotation technology of 3D model based on GB/T
contents of the MBD model firstly. As shown in Figure 1,
24734 to improve the efficiency of 3D model annotation.
the MBD dataset includes three parts: design model,
However, the MBD dataset contains MBD attributes
annotation and attributes. The design model is the
besides annotation. MBD attributes contains both the
traditional meaning of the three-dimensional model
management information needed for other product
which is consists of model geometry and supplemental
development phases and the technology information

*
Corresponding author: ryukeiko@[Link]
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
License 4.0 ([Link]
MATEC Web of Conferences 139, 00017 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713900017
ICMITE 2017

geometry; Annotation is one type of technology just follow the template to fill in the contents according
information which is visible in the model of various to the attributes template;
dimensions and tolerances, roughness, datum and other (2) For the attributes that can form a set of rules, the
content. They do not need to query or do other designer can directly select the corresponding attributes
operations of the model. Attributes is other information values rather than through their own search and entry.
which used to complete the definition of the product.
The content of attributes is not visible in the model, but
can be obtained through querying the product model. 3 Classification of products and MBD
attributes
MBD model
To achieve the MBD attributes template method we
should firstly divided the type of products and MBD
attributes. The classification of products is in order to
Annotation Design model Attributes distinguish the characteristics of different types of
Aeronautical products, which is the basis of constructing
different MBD attributes template. The classification of
MBD attributes is to sort out the management
Supplemental
Model geometry
geometry
information and technical information of aviation
business needs and complete the MBD model content.

Geometric elements 3.1 Classification of Products

The aeronautical products include eight types: part,
Fig. 1. Contents of MBD model. assembly, piping, harness, deformer, virtual part, overall
model and finished product. Each category can continue
In engineering practice, the implementation of MBD- to be divided into multiple subtypes. The division of
based 3D design not only considering the integrity of the each category and its meaning are shown in Table 1.
definition of product dataset, but also need to consider
the collaborative of design and manufacture, model- Table 1. Classification of Products.
based product lifecycle management and other factors. In
this situation, it requires the attributes of MBD model Type Subtype Meaning
both supplement the content of the annotation and
include some basic information and a part of the Sheet metal,
management information of other development stage. In Machine part,
addition, engineering design is a process of repeated Forging part, The design
iterations and constantly validate, so the information that Casting part, unit which
Part
can be processed and obtained at different design stages Welding part, constitute the
Composite assembly
is not the same. In the field of aviation, the design and
material part
manufacture of aircraft introduced the concept of .et al
maturity to describe the different stage of the parts Riveting assembly, Composed of
design. After the previous stage is completed, the Clamp assembly, parts, usually
product design can enter a new stage of maturity. The Assembly
Welding assembly as a system or
maturity of product digital design usually divided into .et al subsystem
three stages: M0, M1 and M2. A component
Tube, Conduit
In this paper, the MBD attributes is defined as the Piping of one or
assembly
attributes of the MBD model which contains the more tubes
technical information needed to design and Geometric
manufacturing process and the management information harness, Two - The wiring
dimensional wire parts used to
in the product development process. This information Harness
harness, connect the
needs to be defined in different maturity stages such as Circuit diagram, different parts
M0, M1 and M2. .et al
In this paper, we use MBD attribute template to Obtained
determine the MBD attributes content required by the Part deformation, through the
different types of products. The MBD attributes content Deformer
Standard part deformation
will be standardized, itemized and regularized in order to deformation, design by
improve the MBD model design efficiency and the .et al other types of
integrity and accuracy of MBD attributes. products
MBD attributes template has two advantages: Fastener assembly, In the form of
Annotation model, a geometric
(1) Build a unified MBD attributes template for Virtual Part Catheter package graph set,
different types of products. The designers no longer need model without a
to consider what attributes should to be added. They can .et al solid model

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MATEC Web of Conferences 139, 00017 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713900017
ICMITE 2017

Overall skeleton Wool Model M2

Used to
model, Theoretical
control the
Overall shape model,
design range
Model Aircraft Link
of system, —— M1
benchmark model, Definition
sub-system
.et al
The final Theoretical Weight M2
Finished Weight
—— delivery of the Model Weight M2
Product
design

3.2 Classification of MBD attributes

4 MBD attributes template method
As showed in Figure 2, the MBD attributes template
As with the division of products type, the MBD
method consists of six steps:
attributes can be divided into multiple types, each of
which contains multiple subtypes. Table 2 lists the types Start
and subtypes of the MBD attributes of the aeronautical
products, and the maturity level that should be generated
for each subtype attribute value. It should be noted that:
Select MBD attributes
1) different subtypes of the same type may belong to template tool
different maturity stages, such as the material grade
belongs to the M0 stage but the wool size belongs to the
M1 stage, even though they both belongs material Product design
environment
description type; 2) most of the technical information Identify the design
Add new part
contained in MBD attributes exist in subtype general environment
notes of the product notes, including manufacturing and Part design
inspection basis, heat treatment, surface treatment, non- environment
destructive testing methods, sharp edge chamfering, Fill in product
inspection location, machining requirements, and so on. information

Table 2. Classification of MBD attributes.

Add MBD attributes
Maturity template
Type Subtype
Stage

Security Security Level M0

Description Time Limit M0 Fill in the MBD
attributes information
Weight Unit
Standard Automatic
Length Unit
Annotation Generated
Copyright Notice
Product ID M0 End
Product Type M0
Product Product Subtype M0
Description Supply Characteristics M0 Fig. 2. MBD attributes template method.
Symmetrical or Not M1
Step 1: Select MBD attributes template tool:
Symmetrical Description M1
During the product design process, the MBD attributes
Material Material Grade M1 template method is executed by the custom MBD
Description Wool Size M2 attributes template tool;
Theoretical Shape M1 Step 2: Identify the design environment:
Design
Theoretical Circle M1 Automatically identify the current design environment,
Basis
Design Suggestions M1 which mainly including product design environment and
Product
Development Stage M0
part design environment. Each type of design
Version environment should have different MBD attributes
Single Element Type M1 template process. If the current design environment is
Product product design environment, then the user needs to add a
Long Period or Not M1
Characterist
ics
Important Parts Amount M2 new part and build its MBD attribute template, go to step
Key Parts Amount M2 3; if the current design environment is part design
External environment, then the user needs to directly build the
—— M1
Reference corresponding MBD attributes template of the current
part, go to step 4;
Auxiliary Step 3: Add new part: Create a new part in the
—— M1
Geometry
product design environment automatically;
Product General Notes M1 Step 4: Fill in product information: fill in the part
Notes Structural Elements M1 type, subtype and part ID of the product will be created;

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MATEC Web of Conferences 139, 00017 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713900017
ICMITE 2017

Step 5: Add MBD attributes template: product structure tree automatically by clicking the
Automatically find the corresponding MBD attributes "Apply" button.
template according to the filled part information and After completing the creation of MBD attributes
express the template in the product structure tree in a template, user can enter the MBD attributes value filling
structured way; interface shown in Figure 4 by clicking the button shown
Step 6: Fill in the MBD attributes information: Fill in Figure 3 marked ②. The user needs to specify the
in the values of the various types of MBD attributes in stage of the current product design first (M0 stage in the
the template based on the added MBD attribute template. Figure 4) before the MBD attributes value is filled in.
The attributes values are filled in three ways: automatic After selecting the corresponding maturity stage, the
creation of attribute values, selection of attribute value system will loading the MBD attributes required for this
entries and manual entry. phase. The user can check or fill in the relevant attributes
value according to the given template. If all the attributes
values are completed, the system updates the attributes
5 Validation values to the product structure tree.
In this paper, the MBD model of a forging part is used to When the product design completed the M0 stage,
illustrate the MBD attributes template method. This the user can continue to fill the MBD attributes values of
article use the VB language and VBScript language to other maturity stage such as M1 and M2 by the function
achieve the development of MBD attributes template of Filling MBD attributes values and ultimately
tool based on the CATIA platform, and through the complete the product design.
CATIA macro function to provide custom MBD
attributes template tool bar. As shown in Figure 3, MBD 6 Conclusion
attributes template tool bar contains two functions: 1)
create MBD attributes template; 2) fill in MBD attributes MBD technology brings both convenience and
values. challenges to engineering design and manufacturing.
How to construct MBD model accurately and rapidly is
an essential engineering problem needed to be solve.
This paper proposed the MBD attributes template
method, and form different MBD attributes template for
different product types by combing the aeronautical
products and MBD attributes types. The MBD attributes
template can constructed in a more completely and fast
way. In addition, the article formed the MBD attributes
values rules that can be formed. The designer can
directly select the attributes values, thus reducing the
workload of the designer, and improving the efficiency
and accuracy of the MBD attributes. In fact, the MBD
model also contains annotation information besides
MBD attributes, which will be the focus of our future
work.

Acknowledgements
This work has been supported by Project of National
Key Technology R&D Program through approval No.
2015BAF17B01.

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Fig. 3. Create MBD attributes template.