.SCAD format to .STL

[sparkdaddychad]

Anybody know of an open source tool to convert a .SCAD file to a .STL file?

[AndrewK]

I'm not sure if this helps. Do you have OpenSCAD?
I got thist at: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCA...ort_and_Export
STL Export

To export your design, select "Export as STL..." from the "Design" menu, then enter a filename in the ensuing dialog box. Don't forget to add the ".stl" extension.Trouble shooting:After compile and render GCAL (F6), you may see that your design is simple: no. That's bad news.See line 8 in the following output from OpenSCAD 2010.02:Parsing design (AST generation)...
Compiling design (CSG Tree generation)...
Compilation finished.
Rendering Polygon Mesh using CGAL...
Number of vertices currently in CGAL cache: 732
Number of objects currently in CGAL cache: 12
Top level object is a 3D object:
Simple: no <*****************
Valid: yes
Vertices: 22
Halfedges: 70
Edges: 35
Halffacets: 32
Facets: 16
Volumes: 2
Total rendering time: 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
Rendering finished.


When you try to export this to .STL you will get a message like:Object isn't a valid 2-manifold! Modify your design..


"Manifold" means that it is "water tight" and that there are no holes in the geometry. In a valid 2-manifold each edge must connect exactly two facets. That means that the program must be able to connect a face with an object. E.g. if you use a cube of height 10 to carve out something from a wider cube of height 10, it is not clear to which cube the top or the bottom belongs. So make the small extracting cube a bit "longer" (or "shorter"):difference() {
// original
cube (size = [2,2,2]);
// object that carves out
# translate ([0.5,0.5,-0.5]) {
cube (size = [1,1,3]);
}
}

Correct use of difference

Here is a more tricky little example taken from the OpenSCAD Forum (retrieved 15:13, 22 March 2010 (UTC)):module example1() {
cube([20, 20, 20]);
translate([-20, -20, 0]) cube([20, 20, 20]);
cube([50, 50, 5], center = true);
}
module example2() {
cube([20.1, 20.1, 20]);
translate([-20, -20, 0]) cube([20.1, 20.1, 20]);
cube([50, 50, 5], center = true);
}


Example1 would render like this:

A not valid 2-manifold cube (simple = no)

The example1 module is not a valid 2-manifold because both cubes are sharing one edge. They touch each other but do not intersect.Example2 is a valid 2-manifold because there is an intersection. Now the construct meets the 2-manifold constraint stipulating that each edge must connect exactly two facets.Pieces you are subtracting must extend past the original part. (OpenSCAD Tip: Manifold Space and Time, retrieved 18:40, 22 March 2010 (UTC)).For reference, another situation that causes the design to be non-exportable is when two faces that are each the result of a subtraction touch. Then the error message comes up.difference () {
cube ([20,10,10]);
translate ([10,0,0]) cube (10);
}
difference () {
cube ([20,10,10]);
cube (10);
}


simply touching surfaces is correctly handled.translate ([10,0,0]) cube (10);
cube (10);

[sparkdaddychad]

Cool, thanks!! Openscad did the trick for me. I had to plug in some variables for the .SCAD drawing which then rendered the models that I was after.

[andrew]

@sparkdaddychad

http://www.Libre3D.com converts SCAD (Solid CAD) files to STL when uploaded. Then anyone can download the SCAD or STL

Libre3D.com is for Open Source and Free 3D models