A web-based collaborative design advisory system for designing micro products is being
developed, which is based on use of both knowledge and rules. The system is aimed at helping
designers to assess/optimise the design of micro products to be manufactured with micro-forming.
The Microsoft C# programming language, ASP.Net technique and Microsoft Access database
system have been used to develop this system. The system is composed of various assessment
modules such as product geometry features, forming processes, materials, machines, tools and cost
assessment modules. Clients can use/browse the user interface of the integrated system through the
internet to import a CAD design model and define design parameters. The system is not only able to
assess the client’s design but also to generate preliminary process plans for the selected
micro-forming processes. A micro-pin design is used as an example to test the capability of the 1st
prototype system. With such a system, some advantages such as increasing the design efficiency in
the web-based collaborative design environment have been identified.