Programming with OpenSCAD - A Beginner’s Guide to Coding 3D-Printable Objects

About the Authors
Contents in Detail
Acknowledgments
Introduction
	What Is OpenSCAD?
	Who This Book Is For
	Why Learn to Code with OpenSCAD?
	3D Printing and OpenSCAD
	What’s in This Book
	Terminology and Conventions Used in This Book
	A Brief Introduction to 3D Design with OpenSCAD
		Understanding 3D Points
		Using the OpenSCAD 3D-View Toolbar
	Final Tips for Getting the Most Out of This Book
Chapter 1: 3D Drawing with OpenSCAD
	Why Use OpenSCAD?
	Getting Started with OpenSCAD
	Drawing Basic 3D Shapes
		Drawing Cuboids with cube
		Drawing Spheres with sphere
		Drawing Cylinders and Cones with cylinder
	Importing 3D Models with import
	Modifying Basic Shapes
		Moving Shapes
		Smoothing Curves with $fn
	Combining 3D Shapes with Boolean Operations
		Subtracting Shapes with difference
		Carving Out Overlapping Shapes with intersection
		Grouping Shapes with union
	Getting Ready for 3D Printing
	Summary
	Calibration Pyramid
	Smiley-Face Pendant
	Hole-and-Pins Test
Chapter 2: More Ways to Transform Shapes
	OpenSCAD Shape Transformations
		Rotating Shapes with rotate
		Reflecting Shapes with mirror
		Scaling Shapes with resize
	More Ways to Combine 3D Shapes
		Combining Shapes with hull
		Combining Shapes with minkowski
	Combining Transformations
	Summary
	Game Die
	Desktop Organizer
Chapter 3: 2D Shapes
	Drawing Basic 2D Shapes
		Drawing Circles with circle
		Drawing Rectangles with square
		Drawing Polygons with polygon
		Drawing Words with text
	Applying Transformation and Boolean Operations on 2D Shapes
	Extruding Shapes Vertically with linear_extrude
	Extruding Shapes Along a Circle with rotate_extrude
	Growing and Shrinking a Shape with offset
	Importing 2D Shapes with import
	Summary
	Storytelling Dice
	Project Box for Storytelling Dice
	Trophy
Chapter 4: Using Loops and Variables
	Leaving Notes with Comments
		Writing Single-Line Comments with //
		Writing Multiline Comments with /* */
	Repeating Code with a for Loop
	Debugging for Loops with echo
	Using Variables and Arithmetic
		Naming Variables
		Applying Mathematical Operations on Variables
		Using Math and Variables Inside for Loops
		Using Arithmetic to Create Unique Patterns
	Using Nested Loops to Draw 2D and 3D Grids
		Generating the Windows in a Skyscraper with Nested Loops
		Triple Nesting to Create a 3D Grid of Shapes
	Summary
	Detail Test
	Towers of Hanoi Puzzle
	Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Chapter 5: Modules
	Simplifying Code with Modules
	Splitting Your Design into Multiple Files
	Adding Parameters to Your Modules
	Building a LEGO Brick
	Sharing and Collaborating
	Summary
	Skyscraper
	LEGO Library
Chapter 6: Dynamic Designs with if Statements
	Using if Statements
	Defining Complex Conditions
		Choosing Boolean Operators
		Using Logical Operators to Combine Boolean Expressions
		Following an Expanded Order of Operations
		Making Two-Way Choices with if…else Statements
		Using Extended if Statements
		Using Nested if Statements
	Useful Applications of if Statements
		Setting Up a Design Mode and Print Mode
		Using Random Numbers as a Design Element
	Summary
	Random Forest
	Clock
	City of Random Skyscrapers
Chapter 7: Designing Big Projects
	The Design Cycle
	Leaning Tower of Pisa Model
		Step 1: Investigate—Define Multiple Views
		Step 2: Plan—Apply Computational Thinking
		Step 3: Create—Use a Walking Skeleton Approach
		Step 4: Evaluate—Decide Which Design Process Steps to Repeat
	Walking Skeleton: Building the Leaning Tower of Pisa
		Iteration 1: Connecting the Tower’s Basic Building Blocks
		Iteration 2: Finding Repetition in the Middle Section
		Iteration 3: Adding More Details to the Middle Section
		Iteration 4: Adding Details to the Top Section
		Iteration 5: Adding Details to the Bottom Section
		Final Evaluation of the Design Cycle
	Design Organization Overview
	Summary
Afterword
	Learn More About OpenSCAD
	The Open Source Ethos
		Motivation and Ecosystem
		Online Citizenship
	OpenSCAD and the Maker Movement
		Making and Creative Problem-Solving
		2D Fabrication
		Physical Computing
		Makerspaces
	Final Ideas for More Practice
		Customizable Measuring Spoons
		Customizable Vacuum Tool
		Customizable Flowerpots
		Drawer Box
		Lab Clamps
		Chess Set
		Pegboard Wizard
Appendix A: OpenSCAD Language Reference
	Syntax
	Operators
	2D Shapes
	3D Shapes
	Boolean Operations
	Shape Transformations
	Loops, Decisions, and List Comprehensions
	Other Shape Operations
	Modifier Characters
	Special Variables
	Mathematical Functions
	Other Functions
Appendix B: OpenSCAD Visual Reference
	3D Primitives
	2D Shapes
	Combining Shapes
	Transformations
	Loops
Index