We love and hate OpenSCAD. As programmers, we like describing objects we wish to 3D print or in any other case mannequin. As programmers, we hate all of the unusual issues about OpenSCAD that make it not like a traditional programming language. Possibly µCAD (or Microcad) is the reply. This new entry within the discipline helps you to construct issues programmatically and is written in Rust.
In truth, the one approach to get it proper now’s to construct it from supply utilizing cargo. Assuming you have already got Rust, that’s not arduous. Merely enter: cargo set up microcad. Should you don’t have already got Rust, nicely, then that’s an issue. Nonetheless, we did attempt to construct it, and regardless of having the native library libmanifold out there, Rust couldn’t discover it. You may need higher luck.
You may get a really feel for the language by going by one of many tutorials, just like the one for constructing a LEGO-like form. Right here’s a little bit of code from that tutorial:
use std::geo2d::*;
use std::ops::*;
const SPACING = 8mm;
op grid(columns: Integer, rows: Integer) {
@enter
.translate(x = [1..columns] * SPACING, y = [1..rows] * SPACING)
.align()
}
sketch Base(
columns: Integer,
rows: Integer,
width: Size,
peak: Size
) struts;
There are correct capabilities, help for 2D sketches and 3D objects, and even a VSCode extension.
Will you strive it? If we are able to get it to construct, we’ll. In the meantime, there’s all the time OpenSCAD. Even TinkerCAD can do some parametric modeling.
