Integrating 3D-Sketches into the design process

Designers often put their conceptual sketches next to the computer monitor while remodelling their solution by means of CAD functions. During this process the designer frequently has to change his perspective from the monitor to the paper and vice versa. The translation of sketched objects into CAD representations and back again as well as the iterative change of media is exhausting and time consuming. To avoid the disadvantages described a 3D-Sketching tool has been developed at the institute for product development at the Technische Universiät. The 3D-Sketches can be imported into the CAD-System. In this paper a methodical approach for the iterative and integrative use of 3D-Sketches and CAD-Systems is described.