openscad

name	openscad
description	Create and render OpenSCAD 3D models. Generate preview images from multiple angles, extract customizable parameters, validate syntax, and export STL files for 3D printing platforms like Printables.

OpenSCAD

Create, validate, visually verify, and export OpenSCAD 3D models.

Requirements

The openscad executable is available on PATH (or discoverable in common locations like /Applications/OpenSCAD.app on macOS).

Scripts

This skill ships helper scripts under scripts/. Run the commands below from this skill directory.

Preview generation

# Generate a single preview image
"./scripts/preview.sh" model.scad output.png \
  [--camera=x,y,z,rotx,roty,rotz,distance] [--size=800x600]

# Generate multi-angle previews (front, back, left, right, top, iso)
"./scripts/multi-preview.sh" model.scad output_dir/

STL export

"./scripts/export-stl.sh" model.scad output.stl [-D 'param=value']

Parameter extraction

"./scripts/extract-params.sh" model.scad

Validation

"./scripts/validate.sh" model.scad

Render with params from JSON

"./scripts/render-with-params.sh" model.scad params.json output.stl
"./scripts/render-with-params.sh" model.scad params.json output.png

Visual validation

Always validate models visually after creating or modifying them:

1. Generate multi-angle previews.
2. View each generated image with the agent's image viewer (in this environment: the read tool).
3. Check geometry from multiple perspectives (front/back/left/right/top/iso).
4. Iterate until the renders match the intent.

Syntax validation alone will not catch common geometry problems (misaligned booleans, missing/floating geometry, inverted geometry, z-fighting, wrong proportions).

Workflow

1) Create a parametric model

Put customizable parameters at the top and keep the model code below.

// Customizable parameters
wall_thickness = 2;        // [1:0.5:5] Wall thickness in mm
width = 50;                // [20:100] Width in mm
height = 30;               // [10:80] Height in mm
rounded = true;            // Add rounded corners

module main_shape() {
    if (rounded) {
        minkowski() {
            cube([width - 4, width - 4, height - 2]);
            sphere(r = 2);
        }
    } else {
        cube([width, width, height]);
    }
}

difference() {
    main_shape();
    translate([wall_thickness, wall_thickness, wall_thickness])
        scale([1 - 2*wall_thickness/width, 1 - 2*wall_thickness/width, 1])
        main_shape();
}

Parameter comment formats:

• // [min:max] numeric range
• // [min:step:max] numeric range with step
• // [opt1, opt2, opt3] dropdown options
• // Description free-form description

2) Validate

"./scripts/validate.sh" model.scad

3) Render previews (then inspect them)

"./scripts/multi-preview.sh" model.scad ./previews/

Use read to open each PNG in ./previews/ and confirm the model is correct.

4) Export STL

"./scripts/export-stl.sh" model.scad output.stl

# With parameter overrides:
"./scripts/export-stl.sh" model.scad output.stl -D 'width=60' -D 'height=40'

Camera positions

Common camera angles:

• Isometric: --camera=0,0,0,45,0,45,200
• Front: --camera=0,0,0,90,0,0,200
• Top: --camera=0,0,0,0,0,0,200
• Right: --camera=0,0,0,90,0,90,200

Format: x,y,z,rotx,roty,rotz,distance

Printables publishing checklist

Typically you need:

1. STL file(s) exported via export-stl.sh
2. Preview images (at least one strong hero/isometric view plus extra angles)
3. A model description covering customizable parameters, print settings, and assembly/use notes
4. License/category/tags filled in for discoverability

Examples

Sample models live under examples/.