An Open-Source CAD Framework Based on Point-Cloud Modeling and Script-Based Rendering: Development and Application

Script-based computer-aided design tools offer accessible and customizable environments, but their broader adoption is limited by the cognitive and computational difficulty of describing curved, irregular, or free-form geometries through code. This study addresses this challenge by contributing a unified, open-source framework that enables concept-to-model transformation through 2D point-based representations. Unlike previous ad hoc methods, this framework systematically integrates an interactive point-cloud modeling layer with modular systems for curve construction, point generation, transformation, sequencing, and formatting, together with script-based rendering functions. This framework allows users to generate geometrically valid models without navigating the heavy geometric calculations, strict syntax requirements, and debugging demands typical of script-based workflows. Structured case studies demonstrate the underlying workflow across mechanical, artistic, and handcrafted forms, contributing empirical evidence of its applicability to diverse tasks ranging from mechanical component modeling to cultural heritage digitization and reverse engineering. Comparative analysis demonstrates that the framework reduces user-facing code volume by over 97% compared to traditional scripting and provides a lightweight, noise-free alternative to traditional hardware-based reverse engineering by allowing users to define clean geometry from the outset. The findings confirm that the framework generates fabrication-ready outputs—including volumetric models and vector representations—suitable for various manufacturing contexts. All systems and rendering functions are made publicly available, enabling the entire pipeline to be performed using free tools. By establishing a practical and reproducible basis for point-based modeling, this study contributes to the advancement of computational design practice and supports the wider adoption of script-based design workflows.