Graphical design processing apparatus for assessing and modifying design of components

A graphic data processing apparatus comprising:

• a data input device for entering graphic data and assessment item data, said graphic data including data representative of points defining a drawing of an article of manufacture, said assessment item data specifying at least one assessment item;
• graphic data processing means for generating, according to said graphic data, drawing data representative of said article of manufacture, said drawing data including said data representative of said points and data representative of lines connecting the points;
• a display for displaying a drawing corresponding to the generated drawing data;
• a pattern data memory for storing the drawing data representative of said drawing;
• an assessment data memory for storing assessment data;
• and
• design assessing means for retrieving from said pattern data memory a retrieved portion of said drawing data, the retrieved portion relating to at least one assessment item specified by said assessment item data, and assessing said retrieved portion of the drawing data, for each of said at least one assessment item, based on a portion of said assessment data relating to said at least one assessment item,
• said design assessing means including:
• (a) means for displaying design assessment instructions on said display, according to said retrieved portion of said assessment data, so that a user of the apparatus is aided in assessing adequacy of said retrieved portion of said drawing data, for said each assessment item,
• (b) means for rendering said graphic data processing means operable to permit a user of the apparatus to revise said retrieved portion of the drawing data in response to an assessment by said user, according to said design assessment instructions, that said retrieved portion of said drawing data is not acceptable,
• (c) determining means for determining at least one physical value of said article of manufacture associated with said each assessment item, based on at least said retrieved portion of said drawing data, and
• (d) decision means for deciding whether said at least one physical value calculated by said determining means is acceptable, by comparing each calculated physical value with a predetermined reference value, said decision means rendering said graphic data processing means operable to permit the user of the apparatus to change said retrieved portion of the drawing data, in response to a result of said comparison.