Function-Based Design
Interdisciplinary Capstone Design Week 10
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Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function-based design Overview
A structured and systematic approach to engineering design (Pahl & Beitz)
Conceptual design < Solution neutral term
Feature/Geometry < Functionality
Hierarchy Various levels of function-abstraction
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
What is Function?
What the product must do Logical flows of energy, material, or information between objects or the change of state of an object caused by one or more of the flows
Function/Flow of energy: type of energy and action
Function/Flow of materials: through-flow, diverging flow, converging flow
Function/Information flow: mechanical/electrical signals, software
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function Analysis Overview
Express the overall function with the conversion of inputs into outputs
Break down the overall function into sub-functions Draw a block diagram showing the interactions between sub-functions Draw system boundary Search for appropriate components to perform sub-functions and interactions
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function Analysis - Procedure
Step 1: Express overall function Black box representation in terms of inputs and outputs As broad as possible at first narrowed down later
BLACK BOX Inputs
Outputs Function
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function Analysis - Procedure
Step 2: Break down overall function Create a set of essential sub-functions Express with a statement of a verb and a noun As specific as possible Inputs/outputs of sub-functions compatibility
Sub-function 1 Sub-function 2 Overall function Sub-function 3 Sub-function n
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function Analysis - Procedure
Step 3: Draw a block diagram Order and link sub-functions appropriately Black box Transparent box Different convention for different types of I/O flows; energy, materials, information
Transparent box Subfunction Subfunction Subfunction Subfunction
Inputs Function
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function Analysis - Procedure
Step 4: Draw the system boundary Define precise extent and location of the system boundary Possibly narrow the boundary to define a feasible product Depends on management policy and client requirements
Step 5: Search for suitable components Depends on nature of product or device to be designed Consider many alternative components
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function Analysis - Example
Design example: Power screwdriver Step1: Express overall function
Black box model of a power screwdriver
Overall function Inputs Outputs
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Function Analysis - Example
Step2 & 3 & 4
Functional model of a power screwdriver
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Functional Basis Approach
Definition of Functional Basis A standard taxonomy of function and flow in an attempt to formalize the representation of functional abstraction Objectives To develop universal design language allowing designers to communicate product function efficiently Impact Product architecture development, Systematic function structure generation, Archival and transmittal of design information, Comparison of product functionality, Creativity in concept generation, Product metrics, robustness, and benchmarks Proposed by Stone & Wood (1999)
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Reconciled Functional Basis Flow Set
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Reconciled Functional Basis Function Set
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Case Study: Tree Tagger
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Case Study: Humidifier
Black-box Model
Electricity
Noise, Heat
Water
humidify room
Vapor
On/Off
Humidity
Energy flow
Material flow
Signal flow
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Case Study: Humidifier
Functional basis modeling
ee
on/off
import electricity
ee
convert EE to TE
ae
dissipate AE te
noise
water
import liquid water
store liquid water
guide liquid
water
transmit TE
te water
convert liquid to gas
te
dissipate TE
heat export gas
vapor
guide gas vapor
vapor
humidity
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Case Study: Gripper
Black-box Model
Electricity
Noise, Heat
Object
grasp object
Object
On/Off Position/Orientation Position/Orientation
Energy flow
Material flow
Signal flow
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
Case Study: Gripper
Functional basis modeling
ae dissipate AE dissipate TE allow DOF noise
te ee import electricity convert EE to ME tre re couple TRE & RE
heat
on/off
ee
tre+re
tre+re
import object solid position solid object transmit TRE + RE me object secure object object
object
pos./orient.
pos./orient.
pos./orient.
pos./orient.
Product Design and Production Systems Laboratory
