Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models

Re:Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models by Animats on Tuesday October 19, 2021 @12:23AM (#28914850)

CAD and code absolutely do not, and should not mix.

I tend to agree, having done both programming and mechanical design. Drawing by writing code is pounding a screw.

The major CAD systems have some scripting capability, for when you need to generate a gear or a geodesic dome or something that needs procedural generation. They also have constraint solvers, so you can specify constraints and let the system find a solution that satisfies them. Try the demo version of Fusion 360 for that.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models by sgtnoodle on Tuesday October 19, 2021 @02:25AM (#28915371)

I'm an embedded software engineer and into 3D printing useful/functional things. I've made a lot of cool complicated stuff with OpenSCAD. There's a lot of problems that are solved nicely in code. For example, I made a two stage 80:1 gear box for a force feedback steering wheel project, and I fully parameterized the gearbox geometry based on the tooth count, gear metric, and extrinsic mounting constraints. As a result, I could very easily try out different ratios and metrics across the whole assembly.

It's sometimes more painful to use code for quick "all I need is a funny shaped..." projects. Some projects really benefit from having a for loop, though.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models by jjk166 on Wednesday October 20, 2021 @12:21PM (#28932566)

Parametric CAD like solidworks does that too, but all you need is the relations between features, no boilerplate.

[ Parent | on HN ]