AP 242 – Model-based 3D engineering
Geometry with product and manufacturing information (PMI) such as tolerances and fits in a neutral format – independent of the CAD system, archivable and exchangeable with partners.
Engineering Systems
How we engineer
A plant of this complexity does not emerge from individual drawings. We have developed our own engineering tools and workflows that connect requirements, design and manufacturing in a closed loop.
Requirements engineering
3-Layer Closed-Loop Engineering
Requirements, components, documents and boundary conditions form one shared graph. Every decision has an origin, evidence and a timestamp.
- Layer 1
System
Overall goals, boundary conditions and system requirements of the plant – e.g. output, site, permitting. This is where planning, assignment and release take place.
- Layer 2
Plant integration
Interfaces and balances between assemblies: heat, material flows, pressures, temperatures. This is where we make sure the parts fit together.
- Layer 3
Assemblies
Detailed development of the individual components – lens field, optics, heat storage, DAC, electrolyser, synthesis – in parallel and with their own internal rounds.
The closed loop
- 01Plan
A planning round assigns tasks to the assemblies.
- 02Develop
The assemblies work in parallel and propose results.
- 03Release
The next planning round reviews and releases – with evidence for every node.
- 04Feedback
If a file or requirement changes, everything that depends on it is flagged as “suspect” across all layers until it is confirmed or revised.
Manufacturing data
All the way to the machine: AP 242 and AP 238 (STEP-NC)
We generate design and manufacturing data in open, standardised ISO 10303 (STEP) formats. This keeps information lossless and traceable from requirement to machine tool.
AP 238 – STEP-NC (.stepnc)
Instead of machine-specific G-code, the .stepnc file describes what is to be made: features, machining steps, tools and tolerances – linked to the geometry from AP 242.
One chain, one origin
Every manufacturing file is booked in the engineering graph and traceable to its requirements. If the design changes, the affected manufacturing file becomes visible automatically.