Formas' Cartesian turns a photo or sketch into exact, editable 3D solids
Cartesian – AI 3D Modeling for Design
Cartesian by Formas is an AI 3D modeling tool for architecture and product design: describe it, sketch it, or drag in a photo, plan, or scan, and it builds exact solids with clean topology rather than polygon-mesh approximations. Every part stays independently editable, elements carry BIM-ready names and relationships, and models export natively to Rhino and SketchUp, with AutoCAD and IFC planned. The preview waitlist opens 18 September 2026.
Real solids, not pictures. Measure it, cut it, print it, machine it.
- atonse
I'm so excited about this sort of stuff. ForgeCAD [1] for me was the first mind-blowing application of this a few months ago, where I'm able to just have claude (or codex) write JS that creates 3D Models that I can then print in my 3D printer.
- Built a ring for my compost bin that can properly hold down the plastic bag. This was originally a multi week project because I was also learning Fusion 360 in small 2 hour chunks over many weekends, then with ForgeCAD I had a good prototype in 60 mins with multiple iterations.
- I also built a cover for my overheating Logitech Circle doorbell, snapped a photo, gave it to claude, and claude found all the dimensions on Logitech's website, and then we iterated with 3-4 prints until we had it just right.
This is a whole new set of workflows that are unleashed with agents, even for hobbyists.
- idid
I love to see more of these tools build on rhino's kernel. Arguably the best modelling (parametric, manual, or SDK) ergonomics when it comes to, from my experience, early stage aec workflows. A similar tool launched recently [0] that i found interesting. I'm also biased as it's my first and only true love when it comes to "coding things" for the built environment.
My take was that designing buildings was always the cheap part, and not core to what moves the needle in AEC (architecture, engineering, construction)
[0] https://illoca.com/ , not affiliated
- maouida
From my experience trying to build parametric CAD modeling using FluidCAD [1] using its MCP, the biggest breakthrough is ASTRA. It seems to work well actually with any CAD if it has ways to verify its output. No otjer models was able to match its accuracy even Fable.
- Gravityloss
These all seem backwards.
I like to think in shapes. I like to draw and sketch, as that has the lowest barriers between the mental concepts and physical ones.
I do not like to use cad software. It is painful to express ideas with it. Also same for all kinds of drawing software. It's just very cumbersome.
I hate explaining spatial or shape concepts to people with words. I hate having them explained to me in words.
A photographer doesn't explain his work, he shows photos he has taken.
Adrian Newey used to work with pen and paper while others had been using CAD for a long time, and won F1 championships.
Can we now make the computers less clunky and less about typing or hunting with the mouse. We want low friction to express ideas.
This seems the opposite. You're not expressing your idea, you're asking for the computer's idea.
- throwitaway222
I've been using Astra to just create things in Blender. It's great.
Kill the scroll jacking. It's a sign you're on Windows.