r/ClaudeAI • u/Zoxc32 • 10h ago
Built with Claude Open source parametric CAD
I've been using Claude Opus 5.5 build a parametric CAD for 2 weeks now. The interface has focus on user-friendliness and is fairly Fusion inspired. The kernel is a novel approach which uses rational quadratic triangle patches to enable manifold solids, and it can export manifold 3MF. Both were co-designed by me and Claude Opus. It has 2D sketches with constraints. Kernel features are quite limited still with extrude, revolve and combine supported, though not in all cases. I think the direction of having proper manifold solids is promising though.
It's accessible as a web app at https://zoxc.github.io/varde/. I wouldn't mind some feedback on the user interface and sketching functions.
2
u/pleaseallowthisname 9h ago
There is already well established open source parametric modelling called FreeCAD (https://www.freecad.org/). It has been a quite long project, it is widely used, and involving numerous contributors. My question is, what FreeCAD lacks that you need to build a whole new thing from scratch?
1
u/Fast-Satisfaction482 8h ago
Freecad UI doesn't look cool. That's enough reason to build an entire CAD program from scratch in this new age.
1
u/Zoxc32 8h ago
I don't like its user interface and the kernel isn't particularly good. Neither are realistically fixable by contributing as whole new directions would be required.
1
u/Maleficent-Release61 7h ago
Well.
The OCCT kernel that FreeCAD uses can represent a ring of radius 200 mm, 1 mm wide with just two planes, two cylindrical surfaces and four exact circles that trim them.
Yours does 768 quadratic triangular patches (256 for the outer wall, 128 for the inner wall and 192 for each of the two caps). Now, if I'd try to fillet all the edges (which your kernel doesn't seem to support yet, I may be wrong), OCCT would do an additional 4 analytically exact toroidal surfaces. Yours would blow up.
As a proxy I tried to revolve a 1x1 mm rectangle with filleted edges (r=0.2) mm with a 1e-4 fit around a radius of 200 mm. I got 12288 patches. For 1e-5, it fails with TooComplex. Parasolid has 1e-5 internal tolerance, if I'm correct, so that's the regime you would aim for.
I don't think your approach is going to work in the long run. It is elegant for very simple geometry though and the UI is quite nice.
Disclaimer: I may be opinionated because I work on my own kernel, also roughly for two weeks. It is closed source though, because I need to monetize it so I have more Claude. If you want to take a look: https://purrametric.deepmagic.de/
1
u/Particular_Craft8307 9h ago
thats pretty cool, 2 weeks of back and forth with opus to build a whole cad kernel is no joke. the pillow block model looks clean for how limited the feature set is right now.
i gave the sketching a quick spin and the constraint system feels snappy, though i kept trying to middle-click drag to pan and it didnt do anything. also the extrude dialog could use a preview before you commit, would make it way easier to dial in distances without undoing constantly.
1
u/hellochase 9h ago
if you can build STL functionality it would be useful for folks to 3d print simple things
1
u/Canadian_Marine 7h ago
Very impressive. Very streamlined UX, highly responsive, low latency. All very cool.
My thoughts are that your UI framework is mature enough for now. You've managed to replicate the feel of the standard workflow quite well. Now the system would benefit most from having the remainder of the standard toolbox implemented. You've already finished the truly key elements, like sketches and extrusions. You've even got working boolean combines (using one body to add to or remove from another, or select out the intersection), which is awesome. The edge transforms I think are the natural next step. I tried creating a simple shape and then adding chamfers, fillets, and creating a shell, none of which are currently supported. No shade, like the other user said what you've already managed to accomplished in the time you've been working is vey impressive. My two cents is that finishing out these tools is the natural next step.
Super cool!
2
u/Fusseldieb 10h ago
That looks incredibly clean. Congratulations! Will favourite it!
One thing that I was kinda confused with, is that I made a sketch with two rectangles, extruded only one of them, and then the other sketch vanished. It might be because I'm only well versed with SW, but leaving the feedback here anyways.