What method is characterized by having all components created within the same design?

Top-Down Assembly is characterized by having all components created within the same design. This method emphasizes starting a project with a primary skeleton model or assembly, allowing designers to create parts that directly reference and relate to one another within that overall structure. This approach enables a high level of integration and coordination, as changes made to the assembly or skeleton can automatically propagate to the individual components, ensuring they fit together seamlessly.

In this method, the design intent can be maintained throughout the project, as it allows the designer to visualize how each part interacts with others right from the outset. It supports design optimization because adjustments can be made holistically rather than having to fit pre-designed parts together later. This is particularly beneficial for complex assemblies and helps in managing relationships between parts more effectively than assembling them separately.

Other methods, such as Bottom-Up Assembly, focus on creating individual components separately and then bringing them together into an assembly, which does not achieve the same level of integration at the initial design phase. Component Integration and Part Modeling do not specifically imply the collaborative design approach that Top-Down Assembly represents.