ShapeCAD

Depending on the industry, ShapeCAD refers to two entirely different tools:

An accessible 3D modeling workflow designed for the blind and visually impaired (BVI), developed by the Stanford SHAPE Lab.

A structural engineering utility used to assemble and calculate the properties of built-up structural shapes. A breakdown of both systems is detailed below. 1. shapeCAD: Accessible 3D Modeling (Stanford Research)

Developed as an academic research project by Stanford University’s SHAPE Lab, shapeCAD is designed to break down visual barriers in 3D design.

The Problem: Traditional computer-aided design (CAD) software relies heavily on screens, menus, and visual feedback, making it nearly impossible for blind or visually impaired individuals to engage in the 3D printing and maker movements.

How It Works: shapeCAD combines a declarative, code-based 3D modeling language (OpenSCAD) with a physical 2.5D tactile shape display.

Haptic Feedback: The tactile display features a grid of motorized, actuated pins (often a 12×24 pin array). As the user changes the code, the pins raise and lower in real-time, allowing users to physically feel the shape, explore curves, check for errors, and alter the model using touch instead of sight. 2. ShapeCAD: Structural Engineering Software

In civil and structural engineering, ShapeCAD is a highly graphical desktop utility used to analyze cross-sections of structural materials.

Primary Function: It allows engineers to combine standard shapes to calculate section properties—such as the moment of inertia, center of gravity, section modulus, and radius of gyration.

Custom Assemblies: Users can pull standard shapes (like I-beams, channels, or angles) from a built-in database and fuse them with custom plates, square bars, or round bars to model unique, heavy-duty structural columns and beams.

Are you looking into ShapeCAD for accessibility and haptic 3D printing, orLet me know so I can provide deeper technical details or links! shapeCAD – Stanford SHAPE Lab

Miele, Sean Follmer. We investigate an accessible 3D modelling workflow (shapeCAD) where 3D models are generated through OpenSCAD, Stanford SHAPE Lab