Parametric 3D models: easy, instant editing by anyone, no knowledge required

Shape Diver is an online service accessible by browser that allows users to upload, with public or private visibility, their own 3D "parametric" models, or interactive models that can be modified by anyone in real time by altering the parameters provided by the designer, to make changes to the model, which can be the textures, dimensions and position in space.

The parametric models are a great way to involve a customer in the purchase of a product, whether it is the 3D model itself or a physical product, even if he is not an expert in design, he is able to modify at will the model he prefers among those proposed, within the limits of the proposed modifiable parameters, thus obtaining something personalized, appreciating it more than a mass-produced model.

Making parametric design available has two key advantages:

• customer participation makes them give much more value to the product they want to buy, and the design is done in a very simple way that can be understood and used by anyone

• the parametric model is displayed and modified in real time in a CAD system, so any parameter changes that are applied can always be instantly exported to a set of files ready to be used for production.
  

ShapeDiver gives you the ability to embed the visualization and editing of your model into your site, so customers won't have to switch platforms for product editing and order submission. The ShapeDiver viewer is a JavaScript application that creates a WebGL context around a 3D model and opens an API to interact with model parameters and the 3D scene. 

The 3D models that can be loaded on ShapeDiver must be in .gh or .ghx format, which can be obtained by creating the model with Rhinoceros software and assigning the parameters that can be modified with the Grasshopper plug-in.

The plug-in requires no prior knowledge of programming or coding and allows you to create generative algorithms without having to write code, this is because the changes are displayed through a node diagram that describes each of the mathematical and geometric relationships of a three-dimensional model.

Since shapes can be created from data, one of the main advantages of Grasshopper is the ability to change geometry almost indefinitely simply by changing parameter values.

Once you've created the design and exported the file, you can upload it to ShapeDiver, and regardless of the visibility you give it in the platform (public or private), you can embed it in your site to give customers the ability to customize their next purchase.

Published by: ChristinaChan
Date: 24-05-2022