https://openscad.org/

It’s software cad. You write code that makes the 3d model. And then you print the 3d model.

The last “official release” was 2 years ago. But development (and community) is active. You gotta get the nightly builds.

  • doktormerlin@feddit.orgEnglish
    4·
    2 天前

    It’s extremely useful for functional things. Adapters and stuff. You can change some variables and get a model that fits your personal needs

    • Croquette@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      2 天前

      You can do parametric design in other CAD software, but openscad, being a coding software, lends itself particularly well for that.

      In my experience doing parametric design in Fusion360 is a lot more tedious than in OpenSCAD.

      • doktormerlin@feddit.orgEnglish
        9·
        2 天前

        I think the biggest benefit is sharing.

        While you can do parametric design in Fusion, if you share it you can only share it with people using Fusion. Same with other CAD software, you are limiting the userbase.

        OpenSCAD on the other hand is a slim FOS tool that anyone can download, it’s not limited.

        • Jocarnail@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          1 天前

          I agree but with a caveat: openscad still requires people to understand code. It is still. A whole new skillset that not everyone is going to want to learn.

          • doktormerlin@feddit.orgEnglish
            1·
            16 小时前

            You can still share the STL though :)

            And for the OpenSCAD files I saw so far, the most important variables are usually well documented with comments at the top of the file, which makes it easier for most people how to adapt the files to their needs without knowledge of coding.

        • Croquette@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          3·
          2 天前

          That’s a great point. OpenSCAD is lightweight and FOSS so it is a lot easier to share than Fusion360 for example

          • mholiv@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            1 天前

            OpenSCAD is only lightweight till you start working with Minkowski transformations and hulls. Then you just want a faster CPU.

              • mholiv@lemmy.worldEnglish
                2·
                19 小时前

                Two reasons.

                1. In conjunction with hulls to make nice organic shapes. Cubes and Prisms are nice but I like my designs to look organic. Nice round edges make for nicer 3d prints too.
                2. Concave Fillets
                • Croquette@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
                  1·
                  14 小时前

                  Yeah my own creation are usually really blocky because I am lazy and I just need something fonctional haha

        • GreyBeard@lemmy.oneEnglish
          2·
          2 天前

          OpenSCAD lends itself to be treated as a function/stand alone program for generating models as well. Some of the 3D modeling websites even have OpenSCAD integration that runs it in your browser to generate the model based on the flagged configurable parameters. That’s powerful for basic functions like the mentioned adapters, because you can have a page that just spits out adapters of any size and shape.

          Theoretically, a more standard CAD program like FreeCAD can use OpenSCAD for a standard parts library like threads, screws, bolts, sprints and allow for custom creation of those outside the standard. FreeCAD has some OpenSCAD support, but I’m not sure if it uses it in that way.