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Change Summary Tables

Geometry and Cost Engine Changes

The table below contains a row for each geometry or cost engine change. Each row lists the following:

  • Process group to which the change applies
  • Impact level of the change (High, Medium, or Low)
  • Whether the change can or must be disabled using site variables. See also Site Variable Spreadsheets.
  • Description of the change and its impact

Changes are geometry changes unless explicitly labeled Cost engine change in the description.

The entries are arranged alphabetically by process group.

You can use this table to guide you in performing Step 2 and Step 3 of impact assessment (see Impact Assessment Steps). Click on the name of a process group in the first column to get more information on changes for that process group.

Process Group Impact Level Can be Disabled? Must be Disabled with Prior CMVs? Impact Description
Bar & Tube Fab Low No No This release improves recognition of standard stock forms, even when the CAD model includes some dimensional inconsistencies or deviates somewhat from the canonical stock form.
Forging Low No No This release provides a new Forging GCD,Cross Sectional Analysis, which the latest Forging cost model uses for improved stock selection and improved material utilization estimates.If you do not upgrade your cost model version, this change has no cost impact.
PCB Low No No This release provides a new GCD,PCB Array, which captures the array nesting layout from Gerber and ODB++ files, allowing end the user to view the proposed nesting from the design. In this release, the GCD is for informational purposes only, and so this change has no cost impact.
Plastic Molding Low No No This release improves the visualization of part thickness in the Viewer, so that thickness spheres no longer protrude through the part surface excessively. This change affects only the visualization, and has no impact on costs, sustainability estimates, or design guidance.
Various Process Groups Low No No This release recognizes some AxiGrooves that were previously unrecognized.

Before you upgrade, review the process groups you use, and identify the ones have that have changes with cost impact. Once you have determined whether to accept or disable each High-impact geometry or cost engine change for the process groups that you use, you can upgrade to the new release. If there are no High-impact geometry or cost engine changes, you can upgrade to the new release.

aPriori also recommends that you review the cost model changes as well as the Low- and Medium-impact geometry and cost engine changes for the process groups you use.

All Changes

The table below indicates which categories of change impact each process group, as well as the cost model versions supported in the last three releases.

Process names in the table’s first column link to process-group-specific sections which can help you to perform Steps 3 and 4 of your impact assessments (see Impact Assessment Steps). Each of the sections contains summary tables as well as change details grouped by the following three categories:

  • Geometry or cost engine changes that could impact configured Digital Factories: these are changes that might impact costing even for Digital Factories that use earlier cost model versions.
  • Bug fixes or small improvements to prior cost model versions that could impact configured Digital Factories: these are back-ported bug fixes, which might impact costing for Digital Factories that use earlier cost model versions.
  • Cost model changes that do not affect configured Digital Factories: these are changes that do not affect costings with Digital Factories that use earlier cost model versions.
Process Group Geometry or Cost Engine Changes Bug Fixes or Small Improvements to Prior Cost Model Versions Changes to New Cost Model Version Cost Model Versions Supported in the Last 3 Releases
2-Model Machining NO NO NO 130, 130, 120
Additive Manufacturing NO NO NO 170, 170, 170
Assembly NO NO NO 230, 230, 220
Assembly Molding NO NO NO 120, 120, 120
Assembly Plastic Molding NO NO NO 70, 70, 70
Bar &Tube YES NO NO 250, 250, 240
Casting - Die NO NO NO 190, 190, 180
Casting - Investment NO NO NO 100, 100, 90
Casting - Sand NO NO NO 190, 190, 180
Composites NO NO NO 80, 80, 80
Forging YES NO YES 250, 240, 230
Heat Treatment NO NO NO 180, 180, 170
Machining NO NO YES 330, 320, 310
Multi-Spindle Machining NO NO NO 40, 40, 40
Other Secondary Processes NO NO NO 160, 160, 150
PCB YES NO NO 70, 70, 70
Part Assembly NO NO NO 110, 110, 110
Plastic Molding YES NO NO 270, 270, 260
Powder Metal NO NO NO 170, 170, 160
Rotational & Blow Molding NO NO NO 170, 170, 170
Sheet Metal NO NO NO 300, 300, 290
Sheet Metal - Hydroforming NO NO NO 130, 130, 130
Sheet Metal – Roll Forming NO NO NO 50, 50, 50
Sheet Metal – Stretch Forming NO NO NO 110, 110, 110
Sheet Metal – Transfer Die NO NO NO 180, 180, 170
Sheet Plastic NO NO NO 160, 160, 160
Stock Machining NO NO NO 210, 210, 200
Surface Treatment NO NO NO 250, 250, 240
User Guided NO NO NO 70, 70, 70