New software helps build 3D objects with smooth material transitions

OpenVCAD is a new open-source software tool developed at the University of Colorado Boulder that revolutionizes multi-material 3D design by enabling engineers to create objects with smooth material gradients through code-driven precision. Unlike traditional CAD tools that define only an object’s outer boundaries and assume a single interior material, OpenVCAD allows users to assign complex mathematical functions to represent spatially varying materials within a 3D object. This capability simplifies the design of gradient objects—such as shoe soles transitioning from firm to soft—by letting users update designs through small code changes rather than redrawing entire models. Created in the Matter Assembly Computation Lab under Assistant Professor Robert MacCurdy and developed by PhD student Charles Wade, OpenVCAD supports multi-material printing with up to five materials simultaneously and has demonstrated versatility across various 3D printers. Its applications extend beyond academia to fields like medical modeling, soft robotics, and structural engineering, where it can help create lifelike anatomical models, flexible robotic actuators, and