![]() These variables are builtin to the primitive objects, but we'll define our own in the next section. We're setting a few variables here: "h" is the height of the cylinder, "r" is the radius, "$fn" dictates how many polygons we should use for the curved outside of the bolt. This defines the head of the bolt as a cylinder. It allows us to create notes in our code.Ĭompile it with F5, and you should now have a model like this: ![]() Like many languages, this denotes a comment and does not actually impact the creation of the model. ![]() You can omit the information preceded by the "//" sign if you like. The rest of the bolt needs to be displaced the height of the head. Enter the following code into the empty editor area:.If you want, you can save our previous cube. We're going to make a smooth bolt with a hole for pinning two other parts together. Let's look in more detail on how you can use OpenSCAD to make a specific part. If you want you can work out some of these details now, or continue on to work on something a little more practical. You may want to perform some post-processing in another tool, like Blender or RepetierHost on the STL file before printing, but this will be based on the particular quirks of your printer or filament you're working with. This is typically the process you will follow every time to create something you can print from your code. Save the STL, and you now have an object you can slice and print. You should not get any errors if you do, double check what you typed. Press F6 to render the object for export. You should see a small cube (2 mm on each side) appear in the render area. On the left there's the editor where we'll enter our code, the large canvas to the right will show the render when we create an object, and the bottom will give us information about our last render, including errors in our code. Design and View contain a number of rendering options, and finally there are Help links to the OpenSCAD site that gives build information for the version of the software you are using. Edit contains many typical editing functions, along with Preferences. Export is where you will go to create your final STL file to send to your printer. Under File you'll see your normal Save / New / Open items, along with the Export menu. You'll see the menu at the top of the screen. Set up? Let's create our first simple object ![]() ![]() If you are a programmer, I suggest using your text editor of choice and any associated tools you are most comfortable with (git for version control and diff for comparing files, for example). For this tutorial, I'll be working with just the OpenSCAD IDE. Although you can use these for creating your models, I typically only use them for rendering. You can download the main package from, or use ScorchCAD on Android (although ScorchCAD does not necessarily support the complete builtin instruction set). The first step is getting an OpenSCAD development environment. Leveraging these in conjunction with OpenSCAD and it's libraries provides a great environment for parts design. It also easily works with many mature development tools for working with source code. This is all done using a C-like syntax which should be familiar to anyone with some programming experience.īut when it comes to 3D printing, how does this help? Since it's programmatic, it allows for very controlled, specific modifications to be made to parts. It uses scad files to define primitives (cubes, spheres, cylinders, etc.) and transformations to those objects as text. Most use a CAD-style interface, where you interact with an object in three dimensions by rotating it and using various tools and brushes to achieve the desired effect with your mouse. There are a variety of 3D modeling packages out there, and many of them can easily produce the STL or OBJ files typically necessary for slicing and then printing. Solution home Designing with Free Software OpenSCAD tutorials Using OpenSCAD for 3D Printing ![]()
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