A step-by-step full-color guide to OpenSCAD that makes 3D printing easier than ever Key Features Learn more about 3D printing technology and the software used to design your objects Discover the various FDM slicer programs used to create G-code for 3D printer jobs Use a slicer program to create G-code to run your 3D printer job Book DescriptionWant to bring your 3D designs to life with OpenSCAD, but don’t know where to start? Simplifying 3D Printing with OpenSCAD will teach you the key skills so that you can focus on your ideas, not troubleshooting your 3D printer. With the help of this book, you’ll build a solid foundation in 3D printing technology, the software used for designing your objects, and an analysis of the G-code produced by the 3D printer slicer software. You’ll also get to know your 3D printer and find out how to set up a printing job effortlessly — from configuring the parameters to build well-defined designs. Consider yourself a practical learner? Use real-world examples such as designing and printing a 3D name badge, model rocket, and laptop stand, to dive into the world of 3D printers build your skillset. By the end of this 3D printing book, you'll be ready to start designing and printing your own 3D printed products using OpenSCAD and being your ideas into reality.What you will learn Gain a solid understanding of 3D printers and 3D design requirements to start creating your own objects Prepare a 3D printer for a job starting from leveling the print bed and loading the filament Discover various OpenSCAD commands and use them to create shapes Understand how OpenSCAD compares to other CAD programs Get to grips with combining text and a cube to create an object Explore the common libraries in OpenSCAD Who this book is forThis book is for engineers, hobbyists, teachers, 3D printing enthusiasts, and individuals working in the field of 3D printing. Basic knowledge of setting up and running 3D printers will help you get the most of this book.

Programming with OpenSCAD is a STEM-focused, learn-to-code book for beginners that introduces core computational thinking concepts through the design of 3D-printable objects. Develop coding skills as you build increasingly complex 3D models and print them into fun games, puzzles, and more. OpenSCAD is freely available open source software that enables nondesigners to easily create 3D designs using a text-based programming language. It’s a great language for beginners because the instant 3D visualization gives you immediate feedback on the results of your code. This book channels OpenSCAD’s visual benefits and user-friendliness into a STEAM-focused, project-based tutorial that teaches the basics of coding, 3D printing, and computational thinking while you develop your spatial reasoning by creating 3D designs with OpenSCAD. Presuming no prior experience with either programming or 3D design, each chapter builds a scaffolded understanding of core concepts. You’ll start by defining, drawing and displaying geometric primitives with text-based code, then expand your creative toolbox with transformation operations – like rotating, reflecting, scaling, and combining shapes. As the projects become more sophisticated, so will your programming skills; you’ll use loops for replicating objects, if statements for differentiating your designs, and parameterized, self-contained modules to divide longer scripts into separate files. Along the way, you'll learn 3D printing tips so that you can produce physical mementos of your progress and get physical feedback that lets you correct mistakes in real time. In addition, the book provides hands-on and accessible design exercises at the end of each chapter so that you can practice applying new concepts immediately after they are introduced. You’ll learn: Programming basics like working with variables, loops, conditional statements, and parameterized modules Transformation operations, such as rotate, reflect, and scale, to create complex shapes Extrusion techniques for turning 2D shapes into elaborate 3D designs Computational-thinking concepts, including decomposition, abstraction, and pattern recognition OpenSCAD’s Boolean, Minkowski and hull operations for combining multiple 3D shapes into one 3D design fundamentals, like navigating the xyz-axis, orthogonal vs. perspective views, and constructive solid geometry Organizing bigger designs into separate files to make code more readable and collaborative Accessibly written for a wide audience (advanced middle schoolers, high school students, college students, artists, makers and lifelong-learners alike), this is the perfect guide to becoming proficient at programming in general and 3D modeling in particular.

Turn your design ideas into 3D models using Fusion 360 by honing your design skills and learning the best practices of common production technologies Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook Key FeaturesGet familiar with Fusion 360 CAM Module and its machining potential with hands-on exercisesExplore major production technologies like turning, milling, laser cutting, and additive manufacturingLearn how to setup your program and simulate stock removalBook Description Downloading a piece of 3D software and shaping concepts and ideas is quite easy. However, designing feasible and cost-effective real parts from 3D models can be challenging with traditional production technologies, or even additive manufacturing. This book will give you the know-how and skills to develop your projects from ideas to physical products, and overcome these obstacles. In 'Making Your CAM Journey Easier with Fusion 360', you'll discover how to set up a CAM program, pick the right tool, and optimize production. You'll learn the pros and cons of different production technologies, including turning, milling, laser cutting, and 3D printing, and understand how to choose the best option based on your needs. You'll also explore the important computer-aided manufacturing tools that Fusion 360 offers through the use of examples and best practices. By the end of this book, you'll understand the potential issues and drawbacks of different design components and apply workarounds to avoid design flaws. What you will learnChoose the best approach for different parts and shapesAvoid design flaws from a manufacturing perspectiveDiscover the different machining strategiesUnderstand how different tool geometries can influence machining resultsDiscover how to check the tool simulation for errorsUnderstand possible fixtures for raw material blocksBecome proficient in optimizing parameters for your machineExplore machining theory and formulas to evaluate cutting parametersWho this book is for This book is for 3D enthusiasts or mechanical designers looking to turn their design ideas into 3D models, and their 3D models into final products. Familiarity with any CAD software or Fusion 360 design module is recommended; the book will then teach you the rest.

The future belongs to 3D printing. But printers can only create what you can imagine. Al Williams takes you step-by-step through the process of developing a 3D model used to drive a 3D printer to make your design dreams a reality.

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

"3D Printing Blueprints" is not about how to just make a ball or a cup. It includes fun-to-make and engaging projects. Readers don't need to be 3D printing experts, as there are examples related to stuff people would enjoy making. "3D Printing Blueprints" is for anyone with an interest in the 3D printing revolution and the slightest bit of computer skills. Whether you own a 3D printer or not you can design for them. All it takes is Blender, a free 3D modeling tool. Couple this book with a little creativity and someday you'll be able to hold something you designed on the computer in your hands.

Desktop or DIY 3D printers are devices you can either buy preassembled as a kit, or build from a collection of parts to design and print physical objects including replacement household parts, custom toys, and even art, science, or engineering projects. Maybe you have one, or maybe you're thinking about buying or building one. Practical 3D Printers takes you beyond how to build a 3D printer, to calibrating, customizing, and creating amazing models, including 3D printed text, a warship model, a robot platform, windup toys, and arcade-inspired alien invaders. You'll learn about the different types of personal 3D printers and how they work; from the MakerBot to the RepRap printers like the Huxley and Mendel, as well as the whiteAnt CNC featured in the Apress book Printing in Plastic. You'll discover how easy it is to find and design 3D models using web-based 3D modeling, and even how to create a 3D model from a 2D image. After learning the basics, this book will walk you through building multi-part models with a steampunk warship project, working with meshes to build your own action heroes, and creating an autonomous robot chassis. Finally, you'll find even more bonus projects to build, including wind-up walkers, faceted vases for the home, and a handful of useful upgrades to modify and improve your 3D printer.