The Rapid Design System: memory-driven feature-based design

A CAD system based on feature-based design is discussed. Feature-based design is an attempt to establish a higher level of representation, i.e., primitives (features) which have meaning and are interpretable by both the design system and the designer. A feature can refer to any technical or economic aspect of a product's representation or any attribute of the forming process and/or finished product. Features which are typically associated with a product dictate: function, form, material, dimension, tolerance, datum, fabrication process, surface finish, inspection process, etc. The Rapid Design System (RDS), a feature-based design system which takes advantage of an associative memory for storage and retrieval of past design experiences, is discussed.<>