Bringing creativity to more places with portable haptic design 

If you’ve ever tried to design something in 3D software, you know it requires some mental gymnastics. 

You’re making an object that will exist in real life. People will pick it up, pull it, hold it. A plastic action figure for kids to play. A prosthetic leg that’s comfortable and light enough for running. A smartphone with a grippy case that won’t slip out of your hands. Things with weight, volume and texture. 

With digital workflows, designers don’t often get to experience any of this while creating the product. Most 3D design today is done by sliding a mouse over a flat surface. A far cry from the touch involved in craftmanship or sculpting. 

Digital sculpting with haptic devices 

A few decades ago this scenario started changing. Innovation paved the way for new 3D modeling methods. At the forefront of that transformation is tactile 3D design – a solution where you design in the digital world but get feedback from a stylus as if you were physically sculpting. Two elements are fundamental to this approach – software for organic design and haptic devices that allow you to feel what you are making. It quickly became the technology of choice for physical products that require both artistic freedom and engineering precision. Today, toy manufacturers use Geomagic Freeform and a haptic device to sculpt hundreds of new figurines a year. Clinicians use them to shape custom orthotic and prosthetic devices. Artists to bring their wildest ideas to life. 

This was a sea change in 3D design. And now we’re going to see a new one as the technology just got more accessible. 

Haply Robotics has created a compact 3D mouse, the MinVerse. Available at a lower price-point, the device can easily be packed up and transported so that users design anywhere. The 3D mouse integrates seamlessly with Geomagic Freeform, ensuring fast feedback and a natural sculpting feel. 

Haptic 3D design on the move 

Where you really notice a difference is the portability. MinVerse is a device you simply pack up, put it in your backpack and walk around with. You can take it to different work spaces – classrooms, studios, coffee shops, labs, or mobile design setups – and design without sacrificing fidelity, responsiveness, or creative control. 

Another advantage is flexibility. MinVerse’s handle is detachable, allowing users to add the one that they prefer for the case that they are working on. Designers will be able to do different things within their design framework. 

Most importantly, the lower price point makes it a viable solution to more users. Under growing pressure to produce more with the same staff, O&P clinics have turned to scalable digital workflows. Artists have been looking for a tool that would be within the budget of a freelancer hired on project-basis. MinVerse is a key enabler in both situations. At a more accessible price, it provides the dexterity, fidelity and the fine level of control and manipulation that you need in sculpting and design.

Lowering the barrier to entry 

The accessibility of this solution means it’s no longer just for big players. Enthusiasts can try their hand at 3D design. Budding artists can learn the technology seasoned professionals are using. With the cost of 3D printing going down, more people can sculpt and make their own toys at home. 

The integration of Geomagic Freeform with the MinVerse has kicked off a new stage in organic 3D design. It’s one where traditional barriers disappear. Educational institutions can introduce their students to the most advanced tech in 3D design. Anyone can feel what it’s like to sculpt digitally; all they need is curiosity and a creative streak. With a software and hardware combination that is easy to learn and easy on the pocket, you can design anywhere, at any time. 

If you’d like to learn more about how Geomagic Freeform and Haply’s MinVerse work together, read the release notes.