Python for 3D Printing: Using Python to enhance the power of OpenSCAD for 3D modeling

by John Clark Craig

Python is quickly becoming the world's most popular programming language, for everything from quick-and-easy hobbyist calculations to running some of the biggest online websites such as Google, YouTube, Dropbox, Reddit, etc.

OpenSCAD is a powerful 3D modeling language for creating 3D printed plastic parts for hobbyists and engineers.

Python for 3D Printing enables the reader to leverage the power, versatility, & simplicity of Python to enhance & super-charge the already powerful capabilities of OpenSCAD for Makers, Engineers, & anyone who wants to create 3D shapes for 3D printing or manufacturing.

Both Python & OpenSCAD are free software tools that run on Windows, Macs, and Linux machines. The symbiotic use of these two tools enables a MUCH SHORTER LEARNING CURVE than when using the expensive software packages, & it puts you in control of your designs instead of your designs controlling you!

The complete source code Python listing for driving OpenSCAD using easier-to-use commands IS INCLUDED WITH THIS BOOK, along with examples of the use of all new commands. You'll see how easy it is to integrate these two tools such that you'll see results instantly on your screen when your Python code runs.

Table of Contents - Python for 3D Printing
Introduction
About Python
About OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD Limitations
Python to the Rescue
How Python was added to OpenSCAD
How to Get Started
Where to Get Python
Where to Get OpenSCAD
How to Learn from this Book
1 - Spheres
2 - Color
3 - Boxes
4 - Cylinders
5 - Tubes
6 - Cones
7 - Triangles
8 - Animation
9 - Polygons
10 - Polyhedrons
11 - Regular polygons
12 - Text
13 - Translate and Rotate
14 - Scale
15 - Resize
16 - Rotate extrude
17 - Spiral
18 - Hull
19 - Minkowski
20 - Mirror
21 - Projection
22 - Slice
23 - Offsets
24 - Difference, Union, & Intersection
25 - Assemblies
26 - Gears
27 - Mason bees
28 - Surface
29 - Platonic solids

OpenSCAD is a program for designing 3D parametric models for 3D printing, by creating industry standard STL files to send to 3D printers. It is unlike most of the expensive software packages you may have used. First, it’s an open source, free program, instead of costing up to thousands of dollars. Another feature is the way it works. Instead of interacting visually with a myriad of menus, sub-menus, buttons, complex settings, and parametrically driven object trees, OpenSCAD lets you drive the 3D modeling using a programming language all its own. Once the few commands are understood, many people prefer it greatly over other programs.

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2019

Reviews

[Lee Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best and easiest 3D tooling approach!

This book explains how to leverage OpenSCAD using a small and efficient Python library, combining the power and ease of the Python language to drive the modeling engine.

I've been working with 3D solids modeling since 1979 when I was an application engineer for the Applicon AGS/880 CAD system powered by Magi Synthavision. The combination of the techniques presented in this book rival the capabilities of systems which cost millions at that time. Couple that with the speed and capacity of modern PC's and the sky is the limit!