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Using Design Accelerator
In this chapter, you learn about Design Accelerator and how to work with generators and
calculators.
What is Design Accelerator
Design Accelerator represents an important component of Functional Design,
providing engineering calculation, and decision support to identify standard
components or create standards-based geometry. Design Accelerator tools
simplify the design process, by automating these selections and geometry
creation, improving initial design quality by validating against design
requirements, and increasing standardization by selecting the same components
for the same tasks.
Design Accelerator provides a set of generators and calculators that can create
mechanically correct components automatically by entering simple or detailed
mechanical attributes. For example, you can use the bolted connection generator
to insert a bolted connection at once by offering to select the right parts, select
holes, and assemble components together.
To insert components using Design Accelerator generators and calculators, you
must be within the assembly environment. Open the Design Accelerator panel
bar. The available generators and calculators commands are displayed. Generators
and calculators are grouped according to functional areas. For example, all welds
are grouped. The panel bar displays the last calculator or generator used for the
group.
NOTE Before you start working with any generator or calculator, your assembly
must be saved.
To open generator or calculator, click the appropriate command. Generators
are opened on the Design tab, calculators on the Calculation tab, by default. In
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