Iconic CAD Workflow Example

Iconic CAD Workflow for Wall Modules

1. Author wall family schema. Start with human language for a ChatGPT prompt. This prompt, initially, includes geometry parameters. Then it includes ports (interfaces). Then it includes build procedure information. Then it includes materials information - all materials are delineated. . Materials information includes sourcing via web links. Quality Control points including dimensional tolerance.
2. Run syntactic validator
3. Run semantic validator
4. Compile batch of wall modules
5. Publish module CAD + icon library
6. Arrange icons in graphics tool
7. Export to SVG
8. Normalize SVG
9. Parse icon positions, IDs, rotations, adjacency
10. Run assembly syntax validator
11. Run assembly semantic validator
12. Compile full CAD assembly
13. Run post-processing
14. Export BOM, cut list, and reports

Iconic CAD Workflow Concept Detail.

Authoring a Wall Family Schema

(based on former design at [1] but only for wall)

Design schema: Ok, let's do wall modules, 4'x9' (wide x height) using 2x6 lumber or 2x4 lumber, which is selectable. In fact, and dimension lumber is selectable from 2x2 to 2x12 lumber. Schema allows me to do 16" or 24" on center. These have 7/16" OSB on one side - the outside. Orientation is given so that 'house faces south' - ie, if you generate the module, the exterior is south, and therefore . This schema allows me to choose module width, and module height as well. Sheets of OSB come in 8 foot lengths, but 9 foot and 10 foot lengths can also be used as standards. Module width is 4' nominal, but can be selected to be lower or larger up to 8'. For a height of 9' or less it uses a single sheet of 9' osb.

Fabrication Schema: From which partial OSB heights and widths can be cut. For anything over 10', we use 8' OSB + whatever more we need - because 8' is easiest to source. For materials, if wall modules are 8, 9, or 10' - use OSB in these dimensions but use precut studs, in which case the OSB is 3/8" longer than the resulting module. In the design of 8, 9, or 10 foot modules, the extra OSB should face up so that panels can be stood on a flat bottom. Do not cut this material off, as cutting is not needed. With moduel

Materials Schema: Lumber: anything from 2x2 to 2x12 lumber, with lengths from 4' to 20'. OSB sheets, 7/16" is the standard. Can also use 1/2", 5/8", and 3/4" OSB.

Fastener Schema: For fasteners, we use 3-1/4" ring shank nails as standard for the wood, and 2-3/8" nails for OSB. Fastener schedule is 6" on perimeter and 12" in the field.

Sourcing Schema: For every material used, we have a link to the best source on the web, + as many other links as needed.

Quality Control + Tolerance Schema: Tolerance is +/- 1/8" off the stock edge of OSB, and 1/8" from the desired length and width of module. No dimensional tolerance on the panel thicknesss because dimensional lumber is used.

Optimization Schema:

Create Part Library: 3 Parts

(just using Design Schema, not Fabrication + other schemas)

Layer	Implementation	Input	Output	Role
Schema	YAML	Engineering definition of module	Parameter + interface specification	Defines the semantic contract of the module
Generator	Python (FreeCAD API)	Schema	Parametric geometry function	Converts schema rules into geometry construction
Compiler	Python assembly tool	Module instances + transforms	.FCStd assembly file	Instantiates parts and builds assemblies

Note that to create parts for the part library, 5 files are involved:

Stage	Type	Description
Schema	Software + data format	YAML specification defining module semantics
Geometry Generator	Software	Python program producing CAD geometry
Part Instances	Data artifact	Generated CAD objects or parameterized parts
Assembly Compiler	Software	Program assembling modules into a system
FreeCAD .FCStd	Data artifact	Final CAD assembly file

Acutal Schema

• Wall Schema for Iconic CAD Workflow in YAML
• 3 Instances of Walls in YAML

Process Evolves

Step	Stage	Description	Example	Notes
1	Design Schema (parameter space)	Defines the allowable design space for the module family, including parameter definitions, allowed ranges, enums, relationships, and constraints. No specific design values are included.	Wall Schema for Iconic CAD Workflow - framed_wall_panel_schema.yaml - YAML	Schema asks: what is allowed? Instance asks: what is chosen? Semantic validator asks: does the chosen design make sense? -> validate_semantics.py should run on the instances.
2	Instances	Specifies concrete module designs by assigning values to the parameters defined in the schema. Each instance represents one module to be generated.	3 Instances of Walls - wall_instances.yaml
3	Syntactic Validator	Checks that each instance conforms structurally to the schema: required fields exist, data types are correct, and enum values and ranges are respected.	Wall Syntactic Validator - validate_syntax.py	- $ python validate_syntax.py framed_wall_panel_schema.yaml wall_instances.yaml ->Syntax validation passed: 3 instance(s) validated successfully. Note: sudo apt install python-is-python3 to change command from python3 to python on Linux Mint.
4	Semantic Validator	Verifies that the design is logically and structurally meaningful according to engineering rules (for example, stud spacing fits within panel width, module dimensions are feasible).	Wall Semantic Validator - validate_semantics.py	Chat - [2]. $ python validate_semantics.py wall_instances.yaml -> Semantic validation passed: 3 instance(s) validated successfully.
5	Design Compiler (derive parameters)	Computes derived design values from the instance parameters and schema rules (for example, stud count, stud locations, panel thickness, and sheathing dimensions).	Wall Design Compiler - generate_wall_library.py	Make sure you have native install of FreeCAD for CLI usage - not flatpak or appimage, which is harder to parse. On Linux Mint - sudo add-apt-repository ppa:freecad-maintainers/freecad-stable sudo apt update -> sudo apt install freecad. Must run from command line like this - freecadcmd -c "python code here". -> freecadcmd -c "import sys; sys.argv=['generate_wall_library.py','wall_instances.yaml']; exec(open('generate_wall_library.py').read())"
6	Geometry Generator	Generates the CAD geometry for each validated instance using the derived parameters and design rules, producing CAD models for the module.	Wall Geometry Generator	This step was actually included in the last step because module is simple. In complex designs, we separate the steps.
7	Geometry Validator	Verifies that the generated CAD geometry matches the intended design (correct dimensions, stud placement, panel thickness, and valid solid geometry).	Wall Geometry Validator - validate_wall_geometry.py	freecadcmd -c "import sys; sys.argv=['validate_wall_geometry.py','wall_instances.yaml']; exec(open('validate_wall_geometry.py').read())"
8	CAD Part Library	Stores the compiled CAD modules (for example, .FCStd files) representing validated parametric instances of the module family.	Wall Part Library

Icon Library Principles

• Use separate schema, do not put this into the CAD schema. This helps to make the process formal or modular - and replicable.
• Human-visible annotation is not the source of truth. Structured schema data is the source of truth. So the right architecture is: icon + machine-readable parameters + optional human-readable annotation not icon + freeform text annotation interpreted by AI
• Summary: Schemas are the reality. Visible labels are only for human readability.

Icon Prompt

Do icon in black lines. Use style from OSE Branding 2026 - [3]. Modify so each icon has an exterior Border which is thick line with rounded corners so we have a box around whatever the icon is. Give me a 2x6 24OC icon, 2x6 16OC icon, then 2x6 3'x8.5' 16OC. You can represent 24 OC as wall module with 3 studs, and 16 OC as wall module with 4 studs. To represent 2x6, just use 2x6 as the label. To show 3'x8.5', use that as a text label.

Icons

• SVG format
• 3 examples + Inkscape snapping template - File:Iconic cad icons.zip

Manipulate Icons in Inkscape

• Imported the 64 pixel template
• File:
  • Initial issue - clean snap. Deselect and hold by corner to snap to grid. But, after moving a few, one of the icons is a few pixels off grid. WT?
  • Make sure to enable snapping with bounding boxes in Inkscape (upper right magnet icon)

Prompt for Taking Iconic Drawing - and Converting to FreeCAD

Prompt: Ok now to generate a house from the icons, we need AI to parse the icons for their identity. Each icon already has metadata such as wall_2x6_3x8_5_16oc. We also have a CAD library (3 parts) with corresponding names. If i give AI these files (upload of fcstd files) then AI should be able to convert the icons into full CAD. There are a few conventions, such as the wall module standard faces south (exterior OSB faces south). To represent E and W wall, we rotate 90 degrees clockwise for West walls, and 90 degrees counterclockwise for East walls. Furher, the North wall is a standard module icon rotated 180 degrees. Each CAD has 'ports' defined in the schema - attach a wall to either side (vertical studs). For the north and south wall - these protrude such that the E and W walls are inset between these. How to compile this?

Iconic CAD Compilation Pipeline

SVG assembly
→ parse grouped icons
→ read metadata / IDs
→ identify module family
→ read transform (x, y, rotation)
→ instantiate matching CAD part
→ rotate CAD to match wall orientation
→ compute port-to-port joins
→ apply corner convention
→ place all parts in FreeCAD
→ fuse or keep as assembly
→ export FCStd / STEP / BOM

• Needs assembly_rules.yaml
  • corner rules
  • wall protrusion policy
  • join precedence - N + S overlap E + W corners (E and W are inset between N and S walls)

Post-Process Resulting CAD

Add corners, blocking.