Posted by RickLutowski on Mar 24, 2023; 6:12am
URL: https://forum.jogamp.org/Java-3D-CAD-program-volunteer-opportunities-tp4042337.html

Seeking volunteer(s) to assist with enhancing a Java CAD program I have been developing since 2017.

CM (Compartmentalized Model) Creator can model compartmented structures such as buildings, ships, space stations, and the like. Unlike AutoCAD-type software, which are parts modelers intended for use in full-scale production, CM Creator is a 'total platform' modeler intended for creating 3D-printed scale models (prototypes) rather than the real thing. When transparent materials are used for the 3D printing, the scale models produced would be at least partly transparent, potentially allowing the internal structure (compartments) to be visible in addition to the exterior as in all current scale models. The ability to create transparent scale models of subdivided structures could open new markets for 3D printing. (Note: 3D printers cannot print totally enclosed hollow objects, but CM Creator is designed to provide a way around this,)

While CM Creator currently can create 3D digital models of complex compartment structures, code to prepare the 3D models for input to 3D printer pre-processors still needs to be written.

More to the point of this forum, CM Creator currently displays its 3D digital models in wireframe only. Rather than write hidden line code to enhance the display of the digital models, it would be much better to use Java3D.  Java3D would not only provide hidden line, but also the ability to do virtual reality walkthroughs of the subdivided structures. This Java3D code need not be written from scratch because I wrote such code 20 years ago when Java3D was new. However, this code was designed to operate as an applet that would give browsers such as Netscape and Explorer virtual reality capability for things like on-line shopping (example: the Walmart website would be a Java3D model of a Walmart store, and the user would shop for products similar to being in an actual Walmart.)  Sun management then decided to not support Java3D and, worse, support for plugins like applets were discontinued in browsers, and applets were deprecated. Thus, the existing Java3D display code for subdivided structures needs to be refactored and enhanced for use in CM Creator.

This is just the top of the iceberg of things that can be done with CM Creator's 3D digital models -- and I can't do it all myself.

If you are interested in contributing to an application with real world utility that has a strong need for Java3D, please contact me.  If you want to look at CM Creator before deciding, it is available on github at
https://github.com/rlutowski/CMCreator  The latest version is v0.6.