Rapid Prototyping Decision Support System

An application has been produced to rate Rapid Prototyping system suitability based on designer requirements. The software is part of a project to produce a comprehensive Design For Rapid Prototyping (DFRP) methodology. Using a combination of database searches and user-defined weighted. rating, the system uses various design requirements to make qualitative suitability decisions. MS Visual Basic has been used to implement a user-interface to manipulate an MS Access database. Proposed features include system validation achieved by designers' feedback on prototype performance. This will help to remove the false expectations sometimes associated with RP and will ultimately promote its wider usage.