How to 3D Model a Horseshoe Magnet Using SelfCAD AI Features

Traditionally, you could build a magnet manually by creating shapes, positioning them, combining them, and refining the edges. With SelfCAD AI Modeling, you can instead describe the design and let AI help generate the initial geometry.

SelfCAD's AI Modeling workflows are designed to support different types of 3D designs, including functional products and organic forms. The generated model can then be reviewed and refined using SelfCAD's conventional modeling tools.

Steps of Designing the Magnet Using SelfCAD AI Modeling

In this guide, we'll create a U-shaped horseshoe magnet with rounded edges, and two opposing magnetic poles. The process will also demonstrate an important principle of AI modeling: the more clearly you describe the shape and construction of an object, the more useful your prompt becomes.

Open the SelfCAD Editor

Start by opening the SelfCAD Editor and creating a new project:

For this project, we'll use the AI Modeling feature to establish the main geometry of the magnet before making any additional refinements.

Open AI Modeling

Inside the SelfCAD Editor, select AI Modeling:

The AI Modeling interface allows you to communicate your design requirements through a text prompt. Depending on the type of object you're creating, SelfCAD provides different AI creation approaches.

For a horseshoe magnet, we're interested in creating a functional object with a clearly defined structure, rather than an organic sculpture.

Choose the Appropriate Creation Mode

Select Functional Assembly for the magnet:

A horseshoe magnet is made up of clearly defined components: the curved magnetic body and the two pole ends. Functional Assembly is intended for designs where the object can be understood as a collection of functional components and relationships. This is also useful from an educational perspective because it encourages you to think about the object in terms of what each part does and how the parts relate to one another.

Prepare a Reference Image

You can improve the AI's understanding of the design by attaching a reference image of a horseshoe magnet like:

A reference image provides additional visual information alongside your written description. However, the image shouldn't replace the prompt(The reference image here is not compulsory. The AI assistant can work with a prompt only).

Write the AI Modeling Prompt

Now describe the magnet you want SelfCAD to create. A detailed prompt is especially useful because it gives the AI information about the object's purpose, dimensions, components, shape, openings, connections, and orientation:

You can use the following prompt, as an example:

Create a realistic 3D model of a classic U-shaped horseshoe magnet based on the attached reference image.

Create a smooth, rounded U-shaped magnet with a thick curved body and two straight parallel arms extending from the curved section. The magnet should have a consistent rectangular cross-section with rounded edges and smooth transitions.

Make the main magnet approximately 100 mm long, 70 mm wide, and 20 mm thick. The body should form a broad horseshoe shape with a smooth U-shaped opening between the two arms.

Create two equal-length parallel arms ending in slightly enlarged rectangular magnetic pole pieces. Leave a clear open gap between the two poles so they face each other across the opening. Add a clearly visible N marking to one pole and an S marking to the opposite pole. Position the letters on the outward-facing surfaces of the pole pieces.

Use smooth, rounded geometry throughout the magnet. The main U-shaped body should appear as one continuous curved solid rather than several cubes or disconnected blocks. Avoid sharp corners, excessive faceting, random geometry, and disconnected parts. Maintain realistic proportions and clean transitions between the curved body and pole pieces.

Position the magnet horizontally with the U-shaped opening facing forward and the two poles parallel to each other. Center the model in the scene:

This kind of structured description helps communicate the design intent more clearly.

Generate the Model

Once you've entered the prompt and attached the reference image(not a must), click Generate:

SelfCAD AI will process the instructions and create the proposed 3D model:

This is where AI-assisted modeling differs from traditional manual modeling. Instead of immediately creating primitives and manipulating them yourself, you first communicate the intended design and allow AI to establish the geometry.

The AI assistant will generate a design concept and draft of the elements:

Go ahead and click prepare parts: 

You can now see the tool is preparing elements:

Click Generate Elements: 

The tool will indicate that it is Creating the elements:

Once the elements are ready, click Assemble Model: 

The model has been generated and is as follows:

Add the Magnet to the Scene

Once you're satisfied with the generated result, add the model to the SelfCAD scene. At this stage, the AI-generated magnet becomes part of your regular SelfCAD workspace, where you can continue editing it using the standard modeling tools.

This transition is important because AI Modeling doesn't have to be the end of the workflow. Instead, it can provide the initial geometry, while SelfCAD's conventional tools give you additional control over the final design. For example, you can use Rotate Tool to rotate it:

The model is now ready:

Label the North and South poles using the SelfCAD’s Text Generator tool:

You can even use the Color Picker to give the colors a follows:

Understanding the AI Modeling Workflow

The horseshoe magnet demonstrates a simple and repeatable approach to AI-assisted 3D modeling:

Describe → Reference → Generate → Inspect → Modify → Refine.

The important lesson is that AI modeling isn't simply about pressing Generate. The designer remains involved throughout the process by providing instructions, evaluating the geometry, and deciding how the model should evolve.

Conclusion

Designing a horseshoe magnet with SelfCAD AI Modeling is a practical example of how AI can simplify the early stages of 3D design. Rather than manually constructing the curved body, arms, and pole pieces from scratch, you can describe the object, provide a reference image, and let AI generate an initial model.

The real power comes from the ability to iterate. If the first result is too angular, the opening is too narrow, the poles aren't aligned, or the proportions need adjustment, you can provide more specific instructions and refine the design.

Once the AI-generated model is ready, you can bring it into the SelfCAD scene and continue working with conventional 3D modeling tools.

In this way, SelfCAD AI Modeling becomes more than a model generator - it becomes part of an interactive 3D design workflow, helping you move from an idea and reference image to a refined 3D model.

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