Flexible and Generic Framework for Complex Nuclear Medicine Scanners Using FreeCAD/GDML Workbench

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First item of current Open Access computer design journal - Computer Aided Design.

Flexible and Generic Framework for Complex Nuclear Medicine Scanners Using FreeCAD/GDML Workbench
Anh Le, Amirreza Hashemi, Mark P. Ottensmeyer and Hamid Sabet | 1-18 | doi: 10.14733/cadaps.2026.1-18 | PDF (969K)

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Dear @KeithSloan

Thank you for your post! I believe many Geant4 users would benefit from a brief summary, so I wanted to check if the following is an accurate representation of your contribution as described in yiyr paper. Please feel free to correct or clarify anything I may have misunderstood.

From my understanding, the work enables:

  • Loading and visualizing GDML files directly in FreeCAD via the GDML Workbench addon
  • Editing and extending GDML-based Geant4 geometries using FreeCAD graphical user interface
  • Provides scripts/macros to automate the creation of repetitive or complex arrangements (e.g., detector arrays)

Would you agree this summarizes the core features?

Thanks again!

Alvaro

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In addition to the items you list.

Users can make use of FreeCAD Array tools see Arrays of Objects

Which are particularly useful in the case of Medical Scanners.

Anh Le also created a series of youtube videos on using the workbench
Youtube videos created by Anh Le

The workbench also facilitates the extrusion and revolution of sketches.
Timing Tests

Tests comparing the performance of geant simulations with extuded sketches vs their tessellated versions have shown the extrusions to be 2-5 times faster than their tessellations.

There are also various facilities for Tessellating Objects e.g. FreeCAD created objects or imported STEP files

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