Drag and Drop OpenSCAD with BlocksCAD

Previously we looked at how we can build 3d objects programmatically.

While the approach is very powerful ... All of this might be feeling like a lot of hard work.

I get it, even the beginning stuff can seem overly complex.

Fortunately, there is an easy drag and drop block-style coding option!

https://www.blockscad3d.com/ has all the power, but none of the headaches :)

Building with Blocks

BlocksCAD3D is a browser-based OpenSCAD tool, but with the twist that you code using Scratch-like blocks.

These blocks cover everything from 3D and 2D shape primitives, through to all the transformations and logic operations available in the full OpenSCAD, with the bonus you don't have to remember the names or the parameters!

Even better, the underlying engine is still building SCAD code - that code can be copied and pasted into OpenSCAD, or as we will see, uploaded to Thingiverse for downloads and customizer access ...

Want to build a Death Star?

As a fun example, we can build a Death Star :)

We will need ...

• A large, dark grey sphere
• The dish part, up high on a side
• A trench around the middle

How do we do this?

Easy!

The big grey sphere is obvious as a place to start. Drag the sphere from the 3D Shapes tab.

Next, making the dish shape is the difference between the larger sphere and a smaller sphere, which has been put into position.

Our trench is actually a Taurus (donut) shape, again cut out of the master sphere.

Thingiverse

How can we allow other people to play with our model?

That is easy too!

Thingiverse allows you to upload your OpenSCAD code as .SCAD files.

Here is my Death Star

You notice you can click through to the customizer and set the Radius.

That is because I created a Radius variable, and instead of setting the radius parameter in my sphere as, say, 50, I set it to the value of the variable:

radius =50;
sphere(r=radius);

Thingiverse understands that the variable is something we might want to set, and presents it as available in the form.

Now, obviously, the rest of the values should be set relative to that radius. Right now the Death Star will blow up if you change the radius too much!