Python for OpenSCAD

Book excerpt: 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, and many others. OpenSCAD is a powerful 3D modeling language for, among other things, creating 3D printed plastic parts for hobbyists and engineers. This book enables the reader to leverage the power, versatility, and simplicity of Python to enhance and super-charge the already powerful capabilities of OpenSCAD for Makers, Engineers, and anyone who wants to create 3D shapes for 3D printing or manufacturing. Both Python and 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, and 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-remember and easier-to-use commands is included in this book, along with creative examples of the use of all new commands. You'll also 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 of Python for OpenSCAD Introduction About PythonAbout OpenSCADOpenSCAD LimitationsPython to the RescueHow Python was added to OpenSCADHow to Get StartedWhere to Get PythonWhere to Get OpenSCADHow 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 Appendix A. openscad.py