openscad-language

name	openscad-language
description	Write and edit OpenSCAD code for parametric 3D modeling. OpenSCAD language reference including primitives, transforms, boolean operations, modules, functions, and best practices. Use when creating .scad files, editing OpenSCAD code, or doing parametric/programmatic CAD.

OpenSCAD Language Reference

OpenSCAD is a script-based 3D CAD modeler. Models are defined programmatically — there is no interactive GUI modeling. Files use the .scad extension.

Core Concepts

• OpenSCAD is declarative — you describe geometry, not steps
• Everything is either a 2D shape, a 3D solid, a transformation, or a boolean operation
• The final geometry is whatever is in the top-level scope (not inside a module)
• Use $fn to control facet count (smoothness) for curved surfaces

3D Primitives

cube([x, y, z], center = true);
sphere(r = 5);                    // or sphere(d = 10);
cylinder(h = 10, r = 5);          // or r1, r2 for cone
cylinder(h = 10, r1 = 5, r2 = 0); // cone

2D Primitives (for extrusion)

circle(r = 5);
square([10, 20], center = true);
polygon(points = [[0,0], [10,0], [5,10]]);
text("Hello", size = 10);

Extrusions (2D to 3D)

linear_extrude(height = 10) circle(r = 5);     // cylinder
linear_extrude(height = 10, twist = 90) square([10, 2], center = true);
rotate_extrude() translate([10, 0]) circle(r = 3);  // torus

Transformations

translate([x, y, z]) child();
rotate([rx, ry, rz]) child();     // degrees around each axis
scale([sx, sy, sz]) child();
mirror([1, 0, 0]) child();        // mirror across YZ plane
color("red") child();
color([0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.8]) child();  // RGBA