To answer the questions above the work begins with gathering information and knowledge about the IMC from design engineers and different documentations. This knowledge is then incorporated into a generative product model inside Knowledge Fusion. Parameters, objects and rules are explained and defined at the same place, this way is a living document created. This way it will not be a documentation saying one thing and a product model that is doing something else.

General classes have been defined that can be repeatedly used to define the concept alternatives. This results in a more efficient code and saves time when defining new application. The product structure is built up with a project definition at root level and different design cases as sub-objects to this project object. Every design case has its own geometry, cost evaluation, manufacturing process planning and analysis part that makes it easy to evaluate and compare each design.

To allow many concept variations and form complex geometry such as struts and airfoil rings, splines are swept to shape the surfaces. It is possible to calculate the weight and a simple cost based on the geometry volume defined by a surface model. The results from each Design Case are presented in an html browser and are saved as a text file. A first step toward manufacturing process planning is prepared by implement necessary root objects in the product structure.

The wish is to have a functional driven method to define the product model and this work is merely a first step toward this vision. The functionality of the IMC is investigated and broken down and all classes defining the IMC geometry have a functional description written in the header.