CAD Integration

Integration with industry standard CAD solutions supports direct evaluation of the Geometric Cost Drivers (GCDs) from the solid model. aPriori’s patent-protected, physics-based deterministic models calculate cost every time the designer makes a change.

aPriori runs concurrently with the CAD application and automatically evaluates the currently active model (part or assembly) for geometry, tolerances, surface finish, material and relevant parameters. From this information, aPriori can determine the Geometric Cost Drivers (GCDs) - that is, those aspects of the product's design that drive costs.  Representative GCDs are a product's size, shape, complexity, number of holes, number of bends, thickness, profile, tolerances and roughness of surfaces, etc. aPriori automatically and continuously evaluates the CAD model looking for GCDs.

These GCDs are evaluated in a physics-based model of the applicable manufacturing process (e.g., machining, casting, injection molding, etc.) in combination with other (non-geometric) cost drivers such as manufacturing cost accounting methods, processes, facilities and production parameters. Your manufacturing facilities or those of your suppliers are represented by Virtual Production Environments (VPEs).

With direct CAD integration, aPriori determines the lowest cost manufacturing method for the part or assembly and provides that feedback in real time back to the designer. When working in the CAD environment, the real-time cost information is made available to the designer through the aPriori Cost Ticker™, providing continuous feedback to the user on the cost impact of design changes.

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The aPriori Cost Ticker ™ is a compact, real-time display that provides designers a visual summary of material, labor, direct overhead, period overhead and amortized tooling costs.

In addition, the user can query aPriori to understand the elements of the design that drive cost (for example, an undercut in an injection molded part might require an additional side core in the tooling).