Create a common reference scheme
Identify mounting datums, connector locations, terminal contact faces, and coordinate systems used by the electrical and mechanical teams. Keep the flat outline tied to those references. Use tolerance planning to decide which relationships are controlled dimensions. A file that imports successfully can still be mirrored, rotated, or positioned from the wrong reference.
Geometry exchange package
| Handoff item | Required meaning | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|
| Flat model | Manufacturing outline and region references | Compare to released fabrication drawing |
| Installed model | Nominal support and enclosure relationship | Check contact sides and coordinate system |
| Motion positions | Critical states through travel | Review clearance and unintended restraint |
| Assembly views | How the final shape is reached | Trial the sequence using real parts |
Model regions and positions that matter
Represent supported areas, moving spans, local thickness changes, and component envelopes at a useful level of detail. Show minimum-clearance and assembly positions, not only the finished nominal pose. Coordinate installation sequence with these views. Label idealized bend surfaces and omitted details so recipients do not infer precision that the model does not contain.
Close the loop with physical observations
Compare representative assemblies against the proposed path and record unexpected contact, slack, rotation, or terminal force. Update the model and drawing together when the observed behavior changes the design. Preserve the agreed revision in the manufacturing package. Use test results for endurance and fit evidence; the model alone cannot establish a qualified cycle count.
Before you release the design
- State units, origin, and top/bottom convention.
- Include local thickness where it controls fit.
- Mark simplified or unmodeled features explicitly.
- Track model, drawing, and test sample revisions together.
Watch points
- A centerline surface without thickness can conceal a clearance conflict.
Practical questions
Should the model contain every layer individually?
Only where the detail helps resolve a decision. Regional finished envelopes may suffice for packaging, while terminal thickness or construction transitions may require explicit sections.
Can a bent STEP model prove that the flex will take that shape?
No. It describes a proposed geometry. The actual shape depends on support, construction, assembly, and motion; compare the proposal with representative hardware.
Technical references
References support the material or design context. Check the exact grade, part number, document revision and project conditions before release.Updated 27 September 2026 · Technical content policy · Engineering guidance supports project review; the agreed drawing defines the build.