Analyze a Component

aP Pro scenarios allow you to analyze components, determine the cost, manufacturability, and sustainability of the components you want to manufacture.

When you first open and analyze (cost) a component, aP Pro creates an initial scenario for that component.

Scenario Information

Each aPriori scenario contains:

  • A component: a model of a real-world part or assembly, typically imported from CAD file models.

  • Sets of values and inputs about the component, including the Digital Factory, process group, material, and setup option settings. This information is used to drive aP Pro's analysis of the component.

  • Results of an analysis of the component, including costs, times, design guidance, and carbon estimates.

Using Multiple Scenarios

You can define multiple scenarios for each component, each with different values, for analysis and comparison. For example, you can create a scenario with a Digital Factory in China, and another scenario with a Digital Factory in Western Europe, for the same component. Both are related to the same CAD file, but aPriori's analysis of each one will differ because their Digital Factories differ. See Compare Scenarios.

Scenario Types

You can create scenarios for any type of components - parts, assemblies, roll-ups or comparisons:

  • A part scenario shows the cost of manufacturing the part using the specified GCDs and manufacturing process.

  • An assembly scenario shows aggregate costs from the part sub-components, the assembly sub-components, and the assembly process. You can change a single component, or a component and all of its children, using the Scenario menu. See Analyze Assemblies.

  • A roll-up or comparison scenario contains aggregate costs from the part, assembly, and virtual cost objects components. See Roll-ups.

Naming rules for Components and Scenarios

aP Pro accepts the following special characters in component and scenario names:

! @ # $ % ^ & ( ) _ ` ~ - _ = + \ | } { [ ] ’ ; / ? . ,

Note: aPriori recommends that you avoid using the following special characters in component and scenario names:

> < ” * \

Topics and Examples