As sculpting and engraving professions transition to digital technologies, the U.S. Mint has turned to FreeForm®, a three-dimensional modeling technology, to design some of its recent coins, announced Technologies, Inc®, a provider of touch-enabled modeling solutions and devices, in an Aug. 12 statement.

The FreeForm system is tailored for creating curved, organic and non-geometric shapes. Instead of using a computer mouse, users hold a stylus-like haptic, or tactile, device and literally sculpt by touch – actually “feeling” the coin’s surface as they are designing on-screen – just as they would if they were working with wax or clay.

Mint designers have used the FreeForm technology to create part of the designs for the following coins:

• Bald Eagle half dollar commemorative obverse
• James Monroe presidential dollar obverse
• Louisa Adams First Spouse gold coin reverse
• Arizona state quarter reverse
• 2006 $5 commemorative of the San Francisco Mint reverse.

Founded in 1993, SensAble Technologies has 32 granted patents and more than 6,000 systems installed worldwide. Its haptic technology is being used in applications ranging from designing toys and footwear to surgical simulation and stroke rehabilitation to dental restorations, as well as a range of research and robotic applications.

For more information, visit www.sensable.com.