Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

cadhub.xyz

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 97 posts

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#21

Post by [deleted] »

ravenstine wrote: post #7
rowanG077 wrote: post #6

Honestly openSCAD is pretty cool but you quickly run into limitations because of it's DSL. One major reason I don't like it is that it uses mesh-based modeling and not boundary representation. With the former you can never get a "perfectly" smooth sphere for example. Most CNC shops require the latter. So a few years back I moved to CadQuery[1]. CadQuery uses boundary representation and uses Python as it's host langua…

Oh wow, I've never heard of this and might have to check it out. I love OpenSCAD in contrast to other free CAD programs I've tried, but not being able to directly work with STEP has been a limitation.

[deleted]

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#22

Post by ajuc »

imtringued wrote: post #20
meetups323 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quick check in the network tab shows that each camera move sends the full buffer and camera coords to some aws server where it spends a second rendering then comes back with an image. The JSCAD integration is however all in-browser and is far smoother. They should lead with it, IMO.

That sounds unbelievably stupid. Why render 3D graphics on a server that has no hardware acceleration?

that way you can use open source and don't share your code :)

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#23

Post by criddell »

sk2020 wrote: post #17

Programmatically generating geometry is very cool, but I don’t know of anyone doing real work with it. OpenSCAD is probably the best power-hobbyist software I know of for this purpose. AutoDesk seems to be trying this approach with DyanamoBIM, which I’m excited to experiment with (I just don’t get visual programming though). Personally, I would never consider a web-based software for professional use. An opaque profi…

AutoDesk has supported this kind of automation from almost the very beginning (originally you had to use their Lisp variant AutoLisp but now there's more flexibility).

I agree with you about the web-based criticism though. Working in a browser feels pretty limiting and it's so slow.

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#24

Post by croes »

rowanG077 wrote: post #15
aaaaaaaaaaab wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, you can get a perfectly smooth sphere both with constructive solid geometry and boundary representation. Where you cannot get a perfect sphere is mesh-based modelers.

You are right. I was confusing the two. I have edited my comment.

Isn't OpenSCAD based on CSG and not mesh based?

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#26

Post by jpgleeson »

sk2020 wrote: post #17

Programmatically generating geometry is very cool, but I don’t know of anyone doing real work with it. OpenSCAD is probably the best power-hobbyist software I know of for this purpose. AutoDesk seems to be trying this approach with DyanamoBIM, which I’m excited to experiment with (I just don’t get visual programming though). Personally, I would never consider a web-based software for professional use. An opaque profi…

Grasshopper, which Dynamo is really trying to compete against, is in wide use in the architecture world.

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#27

Post by freeopinion »

rowanG077 wrote: post #18
phrz wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately CadQuery (primarily its GUI) seems like its development has fizzled out, without getting it to the point of functionality on macOS. OpenSCAD, on the other hand, works quite reliably on Mac. Also, it's clunky, but I've had success by using Python to generate OpenSCAD code. The best application of this was an SVG to OpenSCAD path converter.

Doesn't https://github.com/CadQuery/CQ-editor work on MacOS? I don't really see how development has fizzed out. There have been quite a few commits the last couple of months.

I wanted to kick the tires on CadQuery, but I had to install and understand Anaconda first. Any tool that requires me to understand a build system or a language package manager to correctly and safely build the software before I can use it is not ready for prime time.

If this was important for my life, I might put in the effort. If it is for passing curiosity, I probably won't. Especially when it impacts not just this software but opens an entire universe of what exploits can now be run on my PC.

When I have to set up a VM to sandbox an environment for a tool, it stretches my patience. It makes the tool extremely cumbersome.

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#28

Post by freeopinion »

freeopinion wrote: post #27
rowanG077 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't https://github.com/CadQuery/CQ-editor work on MacOS? I don't really see how development has fizzed out. There have been quite a few commits the last couple of months.

I wanted to kick the tires on CadQuery, but I had to install and understand Anaconda first. Any tool that requires me to understand a build system or a language package manager to correctly and safely build the software before I can use it is not ready for prime time. If this was important for my life, I might put in the effort. If it is for passing curiosity, I probably won't. Especially when it impacts not just thi…

Of course, when the tool is actually a library for a particular programming language, considerations of build environment and package manager are more germane. But you still might question if it is worth it.

Re: Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

#29

Post by tjoff »

jetrink wrote: post #12

The tool looks very nice, but the syntax, which looks pretty close to OpenSCAD, is pretty ungainly. It makes me wish lisp-style syntax were more widely accepted. difference() { hull() { ... } translate([1, 0]) circle(r) } I mean, those are just s-expressions in disguise. (difference (hull ...) (translate (circle r) [1, 0])) The distinction between modules and functions also seems unnecessary.

There is a small clojure project that transpiles clojure to openscad, (if I remember correctly...)

https://github.com/farrellm/scad-clj

Demonstrated and talked about in this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk3A41U0iO4

edit: it is a fantastic talk but the part related to this starts at 17:35

Post reply on HN