What does HackerNews think of cadquery?

A python parametric CAD scripting framework based on OCCT

Language: Python

#2 in 3D
#19 in Python
Build123d: Open-Source Python Toolbox for 2D and 3D CAD Modeling | Jun 2023
> Build123d could be considered as an evolution of CadQuery[1] where the somewhat restrictive Fluent API (method chaining) is replaced with stateful context managers - e.g. with blocks - thus enabling the full python toolbox: for loops, references to objects, object sorting and filtering, etc.

[1] https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

Show HN: DSLCad – a programming language and interpreter for building 3D models | Feb 2023
I'll have to check this out. Really great to see more of "cad as code". My current favorite is cadquery. It's pretty neat in that it simply is python.

https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

FreeCAD Day 2023: Report and continued discussion | Feb 2023
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>Python for CAD

You might be interested in CadQuery:

https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
Show HN: MarkovJunior, PPL based on pattern matching and constraint propagation | Jun 2022
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That thesis is really fun, but it will take me a couple weeks to digest. Before it even starts I see Pat Hanrahan, who is one of the nicest most creative people I have met in CS (), I know this going to be good.

A fantasy of mine is to have a bag of arbitrary constraints and behaviors of agents that exercise the system. One could sketch a building, model the behavior of people that will use it and let the system run, doing backwards and forwards inference to evolve a structure that makes those agents satisfied across lots of criteria. The designer if they are still called that, can select designs they like and the system can use that as a seed or test oracle. Virtual cows, cow paths and evolvable structures wrt those cow paths.

What do you think of "Growing Neural Cellular Automata" [1]

Are you by chance following CadQuery? [2]

[1] https://distill.pub/2020/growing-ca/

[2] https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
SolveSpace – parametric 2d/3D CAD | May 2022
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I would also suggest having a look at CadQuery, SolidPython, and PyMesh:

https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

https://github.com/SolidCode/SolidPython

https://github.com/PyMesh/PyMesh
GhostSCAD: Marrying OpenSCAD and Golang | Apr 2022
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https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery :

> CadQuery is often compared to OpenSCAD. Like OpenSCAD, CadQuery is an open-source, script based, parametric model generator. However, CadQuery stands out in many ways and has several key advantages:

> The scripts use a standard programming language, Python, and thus can benefit from the associated infrastructure. This includes many standard libraries and IDEs.

> CadQuery's CAD kernel Open CASCADE Technology (OCCT) is much more powerful than the CGAL used by OpenSCAD. Features supported natively by OCCT include NURBS, splines, surface sewing, STL repair, STEP import/export, and other complex operations, in addition to the standard CSG operations supported by CGAL

> Ability to import/export STEP and the ability to begin with a STEP model, created in a CAD package, and then add parametric features. This is possible in OpenSCAD using STL, but STL is a lossy format.

> CadQuery scripts require less code to create most objects, because it is possible to locate features based on the position of other features, workplanes, vertices, etc.

> CadQuery scripts can build STL, STEP, and AMF faster than OpenSCAD.

What are some of the advantages of OpenSCAD tooling?
FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler | Feb 2022
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> For programmatic non-parametric modeling, there's OpenSCAD.

There is also CadQuery, which claims to have fundamental technical advantages over OpenSCAD: https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

I've tried CadQuery and had a rough time of it. I haven't used OpenSCAD at all though, so I can't compare.
Getting the best out of OpenSCAD | Oct 2021
I was under the impression that CadQuery sort of obsoletes OpenSCAD. CadQuery uses an more capable geometry kernel: https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models | Oct 2021
I've been using CadQuery [1] a lot of late to develop custom parts for 3D printing, and while it's nice to be able to write plain Python and the abstractions are somewhat more intuitive than OpenSCAD, it's still kind of brittle and complex parts are hard work.

There are things CAD-as-code excels at, but once you leave the happy path of simple primitives with a few holes and a bit of chamfer, I found things can get really ugly real quick. Organic shapes are very hard to construct, and simply generating polylines or the like either fails because OpenSCAD takes literal hours to render or because CadQuery throws some weird error halfway through and I just can't get it to work.

I'd love to see a free or at least affordable (for hobbyists) CAD solution that isn't code-only, cloud-only, totally crippled in terms of functionality, or extremely arcane. I believe Fusion 360 went cloud-only (or almost) last year or so, and between Fusion 360 and FreeCAD (which I tried to learn, but couldn't figure out) there seems to be a big opportunity for an affordable, user-friendly, open CAD tool for the 3D printer owning masses (there are dozens of us!)

1: https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

Code CAD – Use code to create CAD models | Oct 2021
Honestly openSCAD is pretty cool but you quickly run into limitations because of it's DSL. One major reason I don't like it is that it uses mesh-based modeling and not boundary representation. With the former you can never get a "perfectly" smooth sphere for example. Most CNC shops require the latter. So a few years back I moved to CadQuery[1]. CadQuery uses boundary representation and uses Python as it's host language. This essentially makes it superior in almost every way to openSCAD.

[1] https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

Show HN: Procedural log cabins using code CAD | Aug 2021
Interesting piece of this is CadQuery, a python library for doing parametric cad like openSCAD.

https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

Blender CAD Tools is a collection of Blender addons for solid modeling | Jul 2021
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I use CadQuery(1). It uses OpenCascade and BREP under the hood. So far, its been pretty decent to work with.

edit: I also use Fusion360 for non-scripted stuff. The parametric modeling is nice!

1: https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
Cascade Studio: A Full Live-Scripted CAD Kernel and IDE in the Browser | Jan 2021
should probably mention, if you're looking for a local solution, there are at least 2 OpenCascade wrappers for python:

CadQuery ( https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery )

PythonOCC ( https://github.com/tpaviot/pythonocc-core )

OpenSCAD - The Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller | Sep 2020
CadQuery is another good options to do parametric CAD from Python without using a DSL:

https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery

FreeCAD: A free and open source multiplatform 3D parametric modeler | Sep 2020
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Or CadQuery as an alternative to OpenSCAD.

I haven't used it but it's been popping up in other threads since the licensing changes for Fusion360.

https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
AngelCAD: Script-based 3D solid modeller | Aug 2020
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This bit me when I was building a custom keyboard. I really love OpenSCAD but these mesh-based tools can produce files usable by CNC machines.

I eventually found CadQuery (https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery) which can create non-mesh STEP files. It’s a lot rougher then OpenSCAD but usable.
OpenJSCAD | Mar 2020
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Have you tried cadquery [1]? It can do what you want and I think it's superiour to OpenSCAD in every way. It uses OpenCascade under the hood.

[1] https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
FreeCAD on Raspberry Pi 4 | Feb 2020
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Try out cadquery.

https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery
KeyV2: A Parametric Mechanical Keycap Library | Jan 2020
Sucks that it's openscad that doesn't support real CAD files like step. It only can output mesh data. If you haven't seen it yet I find cadquery[1] superior in every way.

[1] https://github.com/CadQuery/cadquery