Are you tired of sifting through countless folders and files when working on engineering design projects? Do you struggle to keep track of multiple iterations and versions of your work? Look no further than the KDAOV design process and its accompanying folder structure. In this post, we'll dive into how to set up a streamlined system for organizing your CAD inputs, D Series, P Series, V Series, and releases, all with the goal of boosting productivity and efficiency.
Introduction to Mastering Folder Organization with KDAOV: A Step-by-Step Guide
As any engineer knows, design projects can quickly become overwhelming without a solid organizational system in place. That's why it's essential to have a folder structure that streamlines your work and ensures that you can find what you need quickly and efficiently. In this post, we'll explore the KDAOV design process and its accompanying folder structure, providing a step-by-step guide to organizing your engineering design projects for success.
First up, let's take a closer look at the KDAOV design process itself. This process consists of five phases: Knowledge acquisition, Design, Analysis, Optimization, and Verification. Each phase is crucial to the overall success of the project, and it's essential to have a folder structure like the one provided below, in place that aligns with this process.
The KDAOV folder structure consists of several key components, each with its own specific purpose. These include CAD Inputs, D Series, P Series, V Series, and Release Folders. Let's break down some of these components in more detail (most of the folder names are self-explanatory, and hence not covering all the folders) and explore how to use them effectively.
CAD Inputs
This folder should contain all the files that are 3D in nature, including CAD models developed from specification sheets, CAD files downloaded from various websites, and CAD files from other stakeholders in the project, such as PCB steps from the electronics team. By keeping all your CAD inputs in one place, you'll be able to easily access and modify these files as needed throughout the design process.
D Series
The D Series is created at the beginning of the detailing phase and is used to mark a frozen idea. This means that you'll migrate from D(n) to D(n+1) when you're working on an idea, and a new idea pops up for which modification on existing design files will lead to a loss of an existing idea. Some essential points to remember when using the D Series include creating a new D Series for every design iteration, adding D(n) at the end of assembly file names only, and not sharing D Series files with clients (work in progress files are an exception).
P Series
The P Series is created for design files that are given as input for prototyping. Each P Series will have a prototype of its own, and you should use the P Series files for doing modifications necessary for prototyping, such as slicing the part or adding extra thickness for 3D printing. A few key points to keep in mind when using the P Series include creating a P Series file from either D or V Series files, using the P Series for "try it out" purposes, and creating a new P Series for every new prototype.
V Series
The V Series is created once a D Series has been finalized for releasing to the client. The V Series files should not be modified in their lifetime unless the modifications requested from clients are minor and approved by your supervisor, such as adding fillets or more drafts. These files serve as unaltered reference files shared with client's post-client approval. Some essential points to remember when using the V Series include creating a V Series when a D Series is ready for formal release, not modifying V Series files without prior approval from the project manager and creating a new V Series for every formal release approved by the client.
Release Folders
Finally, Release Folders are used to store files that will be shared with others, such as clients or vendors. Some key points to remember when using Release Folders include selecting the bodies you want to save before giving Save As when exporting multi-body parts, requiring approval from the project manager before sending a source file, and creating separate folders for files being released to clients or vendors based on manufacturing nature.
Design Feasibility Checks
These folders contain studies conducted to validate various aspects of the design, such as assembly, manufacturability, and handling.
Simulations
These folders contain studies conducted on software to validate the structural integrity of the design.
As you can see, following the KDAOV process and maintaining a structured folder system can save you time and minimize errors in your engineering design projects. By adopting this process, you can effectively organize your files and ensure that everyone on your team knows where to find them.
Remember, creating a folder structure may seem like a tedious task, but it will save you countless hours in the long run. Also, make sure to maintain consistency in naming conventions and file organization across all your projects. This will help you and your team to quickly find the files they need and avoid confusion.
In conclusion, adopting a folder structure system based on the KDAOV process is an effective way to organize your engineering design project files. By utilizing the D, P, V, and Release folders, you can easily track the progress of your project and maintain a clear line of communication with your team members and clients. So, start organizing your project files today and streamline your engineering design process!