1 Introduction
This book provides detailed information on aPriori cost models. It describes the machines, processes, and routings supported by each cost model, as well each cost model’s assumptions and limitations. It describes the geometry extraction associated with each cost model. And it provides detailed accounts of each cost model’s feasibility requirements, cost formulas, and process setup options, as well as the defaults and thresholds provided by cost model variables.
There is one chapter for each cost model that is provided by a process group (for example, Assembly Process Group, Bar & Tube Fabrication Process Group, or Casting--Sand Process Group), as well as a few chapters that apply to multiple cost models:
In addition, there is a chapter on each cost model that is provided by a special VPE: