Simplifying 3D Printing with OpenSCAD: Design, build, and test OpenSCAD programs to bring your ideas to life using 3D printers

Key Features

• Learn 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
• Understand how to use a slicer program to create G-code to run your 3D printer job

Book Description

OpenSCAD is an open-source 3D design platform that helps you bring your designs to life. This book will show you how to make the best use of OpenSCAD to design and build objects using 3D printers.

This OpenSCAD book starts by taking you through the 3D printing technology, the software used for designing your objects, and an analysis of the G-code produced by the 3D printer slicer software. Complete with step-by-step explanations of essential concepts and real-world examples such as designing and printing a 3D name badge, model rocket, and laptop stand, the book helps you learn about 3D printers and how to set up a printing job. You'll design your objects using the OpenSCAD program that provides a robust and free 3D compiler at your fingertips. As you set up a 3D printer for a print job, you'll gain a solid understanding of how to configure the parameters to build well-defined designs.

By the end of this 3D printing book, you'll be ready to start designing and printing your own 3D printed products using OpenSCAD.

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 for

This 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 is assumed.

Colin Dow has been 3D printing since 2013 starting with the laser cut wooden frame version of the Ultimaker 3D printer. He has gone through a dozen or so 3D printers over the years from MakerBots, PrintrBots, early Prusa i3s, delta printers, and liquid resin printers. Colin has been working with OpenSCAD since 2014 using it with 3D printers to design and manufacture model rocketry parts for his model rocketry business. Through his aerospace workshops he has introduced many students to 3D printing including in-class demonstrations of 3D printing. Over the last few years Colin has been designing and building automated drones for his drone startup using 3D printers and OpenSCAD.

Table of Contents

1. Getting Started with 3D Printing
2. What Are Slicer Programs?
3. Printing Our First Object
4. Getting Started with OpenSCAD
5. Using Advanced Operations of OpenSCAD
6. Exploring Common OpenSCAD Libraries
7. Creating a 3D-Printed Name Badge
8. Designing and Printing a Laptop Stand
9. Designing and Printing a Model Rocket
10. The Future of 3D Printers and Design