# Revisiting CAD Model Generation by Learning Raster Sketch

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.00928 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.00928/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 28 of its 53 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 2 Mar 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 28 of 28)

- [Attention Is All You Need](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.03762/) (2017)
- [Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.11239/) (2020)
- [U-Net: Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1505.04597/) (2015)
- [Neural Discrete Representation Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1711.00937/) (2017)
- [Unsupervised Representation Learning with Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1511.06434/) (2015)
- [Image Super-Resolution via Iterative Refinement](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.07636/) (2021)
- [3D U-Net: Learning Dense Volumetric Segmentation from Sparse Annotation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1606.06650/) (2016)
- [Pseudo Numerical Methods for Diffusion Models on Manifolds](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.09778/) (2022)
- [Score-based Generative Modeling in Latent Space](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.05931/) (2021)
- [DeepCAD: A Deep Generative Network for Computer-Aided Design Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.09492/) (2021)
- [LayoutDiffusion: Controllable Diffusion Model for Layout-to-image Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.17189/) (2023)
- [BSP-Net: Generating Compact Meshes via Binary Space Partitioning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1911.06971/) (2019)
- [CSGNet: Neural Shape Parser for Constructive Solid Geometry](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1712.08290/) (2017)
- [BrepGen: A B-rep Generative Diffusion Model with Structured Latent Geometry](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.15563/) (2024)
- [ParSeNet: A Parametric Surface Fitting Network for 3D Point Clouds](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.12181/) (2020)
- [Hierarchical Neural Coding for Controllable CAD Model Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.00149/) (2023)
- [Computer-Aided Design as Language](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.02769/) (2021)
- [SolidGen: An Autoregressive Model for Direct B-rep Synthesis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.13944/) (2022)
- [UCSG-Net -- Unsupervised Discovering of Constructive Solid Geometry Tree](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.09102/) (2020)
- [HouseDiffusion: Vector Floorplan Generation via a Diffusion Model with Discrete and Continuous Denoising](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.13287/) (2022)
- [PIE-NET: Parametric Inference of Point Cloud Edges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.04883/) (2020)
- [Vitruvion: A Generative Model of Parametric CAD Sketches](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.14124/) (2021)
- [CAPRI-Net: Learning Compact CAD Shapes with Adaptive Primitive Assembly](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.05652/) (2021)
- [CC3D: Layout-Conditioned Generation of Compositional 3D Scenes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.12074/) (2023)
- [CSG-Stump: A Learning Friendly CSG-Like Representation for Interpretable Shape Parsing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.11305/) (2021)
- [Engineering Sketch Generation for Computer-Aided Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.09621/) (2021)
- [SECAD-Net: Self-Supervised CAD Reconstruction by Learning Sketch-Extrude Operations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.10613/) (2023)
- [Neural Face Identification in a 2D Wireframe Projection of a Manifold Object](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.04229/) (2022)

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [BrepGPT: Autoregressive B-rep Generation with Voronoi Half-Patch](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.22171/) (2025)
- [ReCAD: Reinforcement Learning Enhanced Parametric CAD Model Generation with Vision-Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.06328/) (2025)
- [GeoCAD: Local Geometry-Controllable CAD Generation with Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.10337/) (2025)
- [TLC-Plan: A Two-Level Codebook Based Network for End-to-End Vector Floorplan Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.07100/) (2026)
- [Computer-Aided Design Generation by Cascaded Discrete Diffusion Model](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.05031/) (2026)
- [Text-to-CAD Retrieval: a Strong Baseline](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.05572/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The integration of deep generative networks into generating Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models has garnered increasing attention over recent years. Traditional methods often rely on discrete sequences of parametric line/curve segments to represent sketches. Differently, we introduce RECAD, a novel framework that generates Raster sketches and 3D Extrusions for CAD models. Representing sketches as raster images offers several advantages over discrete sequences: 1) it breaks the limitations on the types and numbers of lines/curves, providing enhanced geometric representation capabilities; 2) it enables interpolation within a continuous latent space; and 3) it allows for more intuitive user control over the output. Technically, RECAD employs two diffusion networks: the first network generates extrusion boxes conditioned on the number and types of extrusions, while the second network produces sketch images conditioned on these extrusion boxes. By combining these two networks, RECAD effectively generates sketch-and-extrude CAD models, offering a more robust and intuitive approach to CAD model generation. Experimental results indicate that RECAD achieves strong performance in unconditional generation, while also demonstrating effectiveness in conditional generation and output editing.