Product design method, product design apparatus, product design system, and product design program

A product design apparatus for designing a product using a computer, comprising:

• a basic data storage unit for storing 3D CAD-based model data of a plurality of products different from one another in terms of design and 2D product projection data corresponding to the 3D CAD-based model data;
• a list display section for displaying a list of the product projection data on a screen of the computer;
• a detailed design unit for displaying the 3D CAD-based model data corresponding to the product projection data selected from the displayed list of the product projection data and for performing a shape modification of the 3D CAD-based model data through an operator's operation;
• and
• a design data storage unit for storing the 3D CAD-based model data that has been designed by the detailed design unit.

A product design system comprising:

• a product design apparatus for designing a product using a computer;
• a database server connected to the product design apparatus through an electrical communication line and accumulating 3D CAD-based model data designed by the product design apparatus;
• a browse data server connected to the database server through an electrical communication line and including a browse data creation unit for creating browse data based on the 3D CAD-based model data accumulated in the database server and a data storage unit for accumulating the browse data;
• and
• a data browsing apparatus connected to the browse data server through an electrical communication line and including a browse data display unit for displaying the browse data accumulated in the browse data server, wherein
• the product design apparatus comprises:
• a basic data storage unit for storing 3D CAD-based model data of a plurality of products different from one another in terms of design and 2D product projection data corresponding to the 3D CAD-based model data;
• a list display section for displaying a list of the product projection data on a screen of the computer;
• a detailed design unit for displaying the 3D CAD-based model data corresponding to the product projection data selected from the displayed list of the product projection data and for performing a shape modification of the 3D CAD-based model data through an operator's operation;
• and
• a design data storage unit for storing the 3D CAD-based model data that has been designed by the detailed design unit.

A product design program which allows a computer to execute a product design method for designing a product using a computer, wherein

• the product design method comprises:
• a data preparation process for preparing 3D CAD-based model data serving as basic shapes of a plurality of products different from one another in terms of design and 2D product projection data corresponding to the 3D CAD-based model data;
• a list display process for displaying a list of the product projection data on a screen of the computer;
• and
• a detailed design process for displaying the 3D CAD-based model data corresponding to the product projection data selected from the displayed list of the product projection data on the screen and for performing a shape modification of the 3D CAD-based model data through an operator's operation.