Abstract:  Generally, there are two alternative design approaches: top-down and bottom-up. At present, the skeleton top-down design has been widely studied, but it is too abstract and not easy to grasp, and meanwhile often ignores the application of existing resources and the role of the location and features of the parts in the design of related parts. In addition, the bottom-up design is detached from the design layout, resulting in low efficiency. To solve the problems, a modular middle-out design method based on 3D multi-body is proposed. Firstly, in accordance with structure characteristics of different kinds of products, types of multi-body layouts are described, and layout approaches are introduced briefly. Then, the most important issue of parameter correlation in middle-out design is discussed in detail, and subsequently the problem of how to embed the design results generated by the design accelerator into the smart layout part is explored, so the reverse design idea is realized as the terminal design requirements control the front-end design. Consequently, the correlation between dynamic characteristics and structure as well as parameters is created effectively. Finally, combined with the typical design case, the application of middle-out design method is illustrated. The result shows that the middle-out modeling approach is feasible and effective.

Key words: multi-body layout, middle-out design, modular design, parameter correlation, design accelerator, Inventor