The Conceptual Layout communicates details of the design without a formal format. The drawing is an engineering brainstorming sketch. The starting point that prepares engineering for the research tasks ahead. Once everyone is in agreement, the project continues into finer detail until there is enough research and development to start extracting piece parts of the layout to fabricate a prototype. It’s during this planning phase were key decisions are made in directing the development plan.
Normal design procedures consisted of material research, selection of vendor parts, frequent interface with fabricators, , design reviews, and drawing management planning. The designer should keep in mind of cost estimates, risk assessments, time management, and safety requirements during the entire design phase.
Below is a layout of a new vacuum chamber assembly for retrofit into an existing industrial glass coating system. This will be a system upgrade. This technology is similar to thin film coating on semiconductor wafer chips except on a larger scale for architectural safety glass for buildings like skyscrapers.
Applied Materials, Fairfield CA 2009.
SIDE NOTE: I was hired as a contractor for one year to assist engineering complete and existing upgrade. At the same time myself and a few other designers and engineers were hired to train the company's counterparts in India. Little did we know that the company plan was to sell off the division and move it to India. As soon as the project was complete we were all let go. This is a common occurance in the Silicon Valley which made it harder for senior employees like myself to find permanent employment.