8 Geometric Cost Drivers

A Geometric Cost Driver (GCD) is a geometric attribute in the solid model of an MCAD component (part or assembly) that drives cost on the manufacturing floor. A GCD may be a physical concept, such as the thickness of sheet metal or the finished mass of a cast part; or it may be a geometrical concept, such as a bend, a hole, or a draft angle.

Each GCD can occur in multiple instances per component. In part manufacturing, GCDs are generally obtained through geometric analysis of the CAD model (for example, holes, straight bends, side cores, etc.). In assembly manufacturing, GCDs are often user defined (for example, ProWelds and virtual welds).

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Overview

• Geometric cost drivers tree/table

• GCD commands

• GCD operation sequence selection

• "Not Supported" GCD Messages

• GCD categories

• Component GCDs

• Volume GCDs

• Bending/forming GCDs

• Holes GCDs

• Surfaces GCDs

• Weld GCDs

• 2-Model GCDs

• GCD relations