dmreiland / crystalscad

Produce OpenSCAD code in Ruby

CrystalSCAD

CrystalSCAD is a framework for programming 2d and 3d OpenSCAD models in Ruby.

Installation:

Dependencies:

• Ruby 1.9.3
• rubygems

Install via gem:

# gem install crystalscad

if you have multiple ruby versions, you likely need to use gem1.9.3 instead of gem.

Install via git:

• clone repository
• # rake build
• # gem install pkg/crystalscad-.gem

Getting started

CrystalSCAD comes with a generator that generates project stubs automatically for you. Run this command from a terminal in the directory that you want to create a project:

# crystalgen new [my_project_name]

Change [my_project_name] to the name of your project

A project named "my_project" will create those files and directories:

• my_project/my_project.rb - the controller
• my_project/lib/assemblies - for putting together assemblies of individual parts
• my_project/lib/electronics - put electronics here
• my_project/lib/hardware - put hardware parts in here
• my_project/lib/printed - put parts that you want to print in here
• my_project/lib/lasercut - put sheets that need to be cut (by laser or other) in here
• my_project/lib/assemblies/my_project_assembly.rb - dummy assembly
• my_project/lib/printed/testcube.rb - dummy printed part
• my_project/my_project.observr - observer file

Open up the controller (here my_project/my_project.rb ) in the text editor of your choice. It contains the information on how to start the observer.

Coding

Nearly all OpenSCAD functions are implemented. You can use the same parameters as in OpenSCAD, although CrystalSCAD provides some convenient variable names like f.e. Diameter (d) for cylinders.

Some examples:

CSG Modeling:

res = cylinder(d:10,h:10)

union

res += cube(x:5,y:20,z:20)

difference

res -= cylinder(d:5,h:10)

intersection

res *= cylinder(d:10,h:10)

Chain transformations:
res = cube([1,2,3]).rotate(x:90).translate(x:20,y:2,z:1).mirror(z:1)

Hull:
res = hull(cylinder(d:10,h:10).cube([20,10,10].translate(x:10)))

Center cubes in X/Y direction only:
cube([10,10,10]).center_xy # note: does only work on cubes and must be put before any transformations

Also implemented: center_x, center_y, center_z

Long slots:

produces a hull of two cylinders, 14mm apart

long_slot(d:4.4,h:10,l:14)

A few tips:

• Be visual. Put your desired situation on the screen, then model your object around it
• On bigger project, do output multiple files automatically. Use .save(filename) to save openscad code of your desired objects
• When porting OpenScad code, beware of dividing integers. Example: cylinder(r=11/2,h=10); needs to be ported to cylinder(r:11.0/2,h:10) or cylinder(d:11,h:10)

License:

GPLv3