The future of computer-aided design and engineering at CERN

This working note discusses design and engineering processes at CERN and Computer Aided Design and Engineering tools. The main focus of this note is Mechanical design and CAE activities and how to share and organize the data produced by CAD/CAE tools. These issues cannot be addressed without taking a global view of the engineering activities at CERN. As more and more of the detailed design work is done by external suppliers, the design processes at CERN change. Traditional design work where draftsmen are producing drawings on the request from engineers is replaced by conceptual design work done by domain specialists and engineers. Furthermore CAD and FEM tools have evolved from specialist tools to mainstream utilities mastered by most engineers. Design activities nowadays can now be carried out directly by the project engineer without the use of a design (drawing) office. This environment poses different requirements for design- and engineering support activities as well as the selection of CAE-tools. Design activities should be carried out within project teams, while a small central design office should be maintained as a centre of competence for integration studies with CAD and Digital Mockup. Increased focus on CAD-interoperability and data exchange with suppliers is recommended.