7 ms·

This has been easy with OpenSCAD for a long time. I have made lots of cool, complex models this way. I built a repo of the prompts I use to show the llm how to

This has been easy with OpenSCAD for a long time. I have made lots of cool, complex models this way. I built a repo of the prompts I use to show the llm how to do this and it includes many of the models I've created this way... https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling

jvanderbot 4mo ago
Same. Working with an LLM and OpenSCAD has been totally painless.
- richk449 4mo ago
  I’ve been using cadquery and build123 with Claude code and I find it incredibly painful. What is your workflow for llm integration to openscad?
  - pdntspa 4mo ago
    Not OP but I just ask Claude Code to make me an openscad file. If I need changes I ask for them in plain english. If you are specific, it's not the quickest loop but it works. I usually ask it to parameterize the model enough so that I can quickly print small prototypes in my 3d printer. Once I am happy with the mini version I print the full-size model.
  - jacobn 4mo ago
    I just ask it for what I’m looking for (doing very simple “spare part” level at home 3d printing, nothing fancy or elaborate) and it gives me a starting point. Then I sometimes just edit the scad code by hand, and some times I ask the AI to revise, sometimes a mix (many iterations). For very simple geometries it works great, but it very quickly becomes apparent that there’s a bit of a disconnect between “LLM views image” and “LLM emits scad that looks like that image” when it comes to anything non-trivial. Still gives me a starting point I can mess with, which is great since I have zero CAD training or experience. (I’m not the commenter you replied to)
    - IshKebab 4mo ago
      Tbh that sounds harder than just learning CAD, which is really not that difficult if you use a proper parametric editor - I would recommend SOLIDWORKS first. It's got the easiest UX so is ideal for learning. They actually have a vaguely reasonably priced subscription now, but IMO it's still way too much for occasional hobby use so I'd recommend just pirating it (which is easy). Once you have learnt a bit then the only FOSS options that are worth a damn are a) SolveSpace which is quite good and light, has a slightly quirky UI (but not in a bad way) but unfortunately has some critical missing features at the moment - notably bevels/chamfers. Although I did see someone made a sloppy PR to add them so we'll see where that goes. Or b) FreeCAD which is actually good now and fairly close to SOLIDWORKS (at least for the basic stuff you're likely to use) and has a reasonably good UX. Some rough edges still but overall it's very usable. Good enough that I reach for it instead of pirating SOLIDWORKS these days. The basic workflow is pretty simple: 1. Make some planes, referenced from existing geometry. 2. Make sketches on the planes. 3. Extrude/revolve them (either adding or subtracting from the existing geometry). 4. Repeat until you have the right shape. 5. Add a load of chamfers to make it pretty.
      - q3k 4mo ago
        From my experience people who heavily rely on LLMs are allergic to learning anything new (with the exception of learning new and improved ways to generate slop). They just 'want to get stuff done', even if it means staying in a local maximum forever.
      - jvanderbot 4mo ago
        So, steps 1-5 can be done by clicking (tools you recommend), or writing lines of script (OpenSCAD). Once you grok those steps by just doing it yourself, you quickly get to a point where an LLM is quicker at editing the text file that represents the steps to generate the model. Things like "Make the extruded face I labelled blahblah do xyz", and it's quite good. Even better: "Parameterize curve abc and generate this spread" or something. You get it. For LLM-assisted bespoke model generation it's still fine if you specify a process to follow, and can "speak the language" (knowing 1-5). This is no different than purevibe vs LLM-assistance, IMHO. What TFA refers to is a more end-to-end, no iterative process, with no single touchpoint script like OpenSCAD offers, so it's very much _not_ a collaboration and requires no knowledge of how CAD models are made. But this thread is moreso about iterating on an OpenSCAD specification using LLMs.
  - andoando 4mo ago
    Tell it to use the existing libraries. https://openscad.org/libraries.html https://openscad.org/libraries.html, in particular BOSL2 I've one shotted a light saber hilt with threaded parts and it worked flawlessly.
  - jetter 4mo ago
    check this out: https://modelrift.com/blog/openscad-llm-benchmark https://modelrift.com/blog/openscad-llm-benchmark LLMs are getting pretty good at OpenSCAD, especially if they work in agentic mode and can inspect intermediate results.
oasisaimlessly 4mo ago
OpenSCAD has almost zero crossover with B-rep modelling ('true' CAD, what this apparently is), though.
- iamgopal 4mo ago
  how hard it is ? with AI prevalent, how long ? any pointers to start from ?
  - bschwindHN 4mo ago
    If you want something based on B-Rep, look at projects that use opencascade under the hood, as that is one of the only B-Rep CAD kernels available which is free and open source. Some examples would be CADQuery, CascadeStudio, or RepliCAD.
- twelvechairs 4mo ago
  OpenSCAD uses CSG which is generally better. Easy to convert CSG to BREP. Cant generally do the opposite
  - auxiliarymoose 4mo ago
    It's easy to convert because CSG is a small subset of what BREP can do. It's analogous to "all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares" (squares=CSG, rectangles=BREP) CSG by itself isn't suitable for most CAD use-cases.
  - rowanG077 4mo ago
    How can I convert openSCAD models to true STEP files? As in no meshes. I Literally have wanted that for years.
    - tinmith 4mo ago
      You need to use https://github.com/smurfix/buildscad https://github.com/smurfix/buildscad which can convert OpenSCAD to Build123d, then you can export a STEP file. It has a few limitations, but for simple OpenSCAD files it can generate an equivalent representation in OpenCASCADE.
alexgoodhart 4mo ago
What is the inference overhead on this
q3k 4mo ago
I'm sorry, but which ones of these are complex? I'm looking through some [1] [2] [3] of the output PNGs and they look trivial. Like, my first 3d model in Blender trivial. In comparison, here's one of my recent designs: what I would still call a very simple case [4]. And it's not like I'm a trained mechanical engineer working commercially, this is stuff I design in my spare time as a programmer. [1] - https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/output/winegard_gm6000_logic_backplane/winegard_gm6000_logic_backplane.png https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/outp... [2] - https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/output/opi_zero_2w_carrier/opi_zero_2w_carrier_rev_0001_iso_front_right.png https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/outp... [3] - https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/output/cottage_pi6_plus/cottage_pi6_plus_preview.png https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/outp... [4] - https://object.ceph-eu.hswaw.net/q3k-personal/fe3e54e6df604a0e9a5fd4fedd066414df17793cfc02490739a6d98b4191b779.png https://object.ceph-eu.hswaw.net/q3k-personal/fe3e54e6df604a...

jvanderbot 4mo ago

Same. Working with an LLM and OpenSCAD has been totally painless.

richk449 4mo ago
I’ve been using cadquery and build123 with Claude code and I find it incredibly painful. What is your workflow for llm integration to openscad?
- pdntspa 4mo ago
  Not OP but I just ask Claude Code to make me an openscad file. If I need changes I ask for them in plain english. If you are specific, it's not the quickest loop but it works. I usually ask it to parameterize the model enough so that I can quickly print small prototypes in my 3d printer. Once I am happy with the mini version I print the full-size model.
- jacobn 4mo ago
  I just ask it for what I’m looking for (doing very simple “spare part” level at home 3d printing, nothing fancy or elaborate) and it gives me a starting point. Then I sometimes just edit the scad code by hand, and some times I ask the AI to revise, sometimes a mix (many iterations). For very simple geometries it works great, but it very quickly becomes apparent that there’s a bit of a disconnect between “LLM views image” and “LLM emits scad that looks like that image” when it comes to anything non-trivial. Still gives me a starting point I can mess with, which is great since I have zero CAD training or experience. (I’m not the commenter you replied to)
  - IshKebab 4mo ago
    Tbh that sounds harder than just learning CAD, which is really not that difficult if you use a proper parametric editor - I would recommend SOLIDWORKS first. It's got the easiest UX so is ideal for learning. They actually have a vaguely reasonably priced subscription now, but IMO it's still way too much for occasional hobby use so I'd recommend just pirating it (which is easy). Once you have learnt a bit then the only FOSS options that are worth a damn are a) SolveSpace which is quite good and light, has a slightly quirky UI (but not in a bad way) but unfortunately has some critical missing features at the moment - notably bevels/chamfers. Although I did see someone made a sloppy PR to add them so we'll see where that goes. Or b) FreeCAD which is actually good now and fairly close to SOLIDWORKS (at least for the basic stuff you're likely to use) and has a reasonably good UX. Some rough edges still but overall it's very usable. Good enough that I reach for it instead of pirating SOLIDWORKS these days. The basic workflow is pretty simple: 1. Make some planes, referenced from existing geometry. 2. Make sketches on the planes. 3. Extrude/revolve them (either adding or subtracting from the existing geometry). 4. Repeat until you have the right shape. 5. Add a load of chamfers to make it pretty.
    - q3k 4mo ago
      From my experience people who heavily rely on LLMs are allergic to learning anything new (with the exception of learning new and improved ways to generate slop). They just 'want to get stuff done', even if it means staying in a local maximum forever.
    - jvanderbot 4mo ago
      So, steps 1-5 can be done by clicking (tools you recommend), or writing lines of script (OpenSCAD). Once you grok those steps by just doing it yourself, you quickly get to a point where an LLM is quicker at editing the text file that represents the steps to generate the model. Things like "Make the extruded face I labelled blahblah do xyz", and it's quite good. Even better: "Parameterize curve abc and generate this spread" or something. You get it. For LLM-assisted bespoke model generation it's still fine if you specify a process to follow, and can "speak the language" (knowing 1-5). This is no different than purevibe vs LLM-assistance, IMHO. What TFA refers to is a more end-to-end, no iterative process, with no single touchpoint script like OpenSCAD offers, so it's very much _not_ a collaboration and requires no knowledge of how CAD models are made. But this thread is moreso about iterating on an OpenSCAD specification using LLMs.
- andoando 4mo ago
  Tell it to use the existing libraries. https://openscad.org/libraries.html https://openscad.org/libraries.html, in particular BOSL2 I've one shotted a light saber hilt with threaded parts and it worked flawlessly.
- jetter 4mo ago
  check this out: https://modelrift.com/blog/openscad-llm-benchmark https://modelrift.com/blog/openscad-llm-benchmark LLMs are getting pretty good at OpenSCAD, especially if they work in agentic mode and can inspect intermediate results.

oasisaimlessly 4mo ago

OpenSCAD has almost zero crossover with B-rep modelling ('true' CAD, what this apparently is), though.

iamgopal 4mo ago
how hard it is ? with AI prevalent, how long ? any pointers to start from ?
- bschwindHN 4mo ago
  If you want something based on B-Rep, look at projects that use opencascade under the hood, as that is one of the only B-Rep CAD kernels available which is free and open source. Some examples would be CADQuery, CascadeStudio, or RepliCAD.
twelvechairs 4mo ago
OpenSCAD uses CSG which is generally better. Easy to convert CSG to BREP. Cant generally do the opposite
- auxiliarymoose 4mo ago
  It's easy to convert because CSG is a small subset of what BREP can do. It's analogous to "all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares" (squares=CSG, rectangles=BREP) CSG by itself isn't suitable for most CAD use-cases.
- rowanG077 4mo ago
  How can I convert openSCAD models to true STEP files? As in no meshes. I Literally have wanted that for years.
  - tinmith 4mo ago
    You need to use https://github.com/smurfix/buildscad https://github.com/smurfix/buildscad which can convert OpenSCAD to Build123d, then you can export a STEP file. It has a few limitations, but for simple OpenSCAD files it can generate an equivalent representation in OpenCASCADE.

alexgoodhart 4mo ago

What is the inference overhead on this

q3k 4mo ago

I'm sorry, but which ones of these are complex? I'm looking through some [1] [2] [3] of the output PNGs and they look trivial. Like, my first 3d model in Blender trivial. In comparison, here's one of my recent designs: what I would still call a very simple case [4]. And it's not like I'm a trained mechanical engineer working commercially, this is stuff I design in my spare time as a programmer. [1] - https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/output/winegard_gm6000_logic_backplane/winegard_gm6000_logic_backplane.png https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/outp... [2] - https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/output/opi_zero_2w_carrier/opi_zero_2w_carrier_rev_0001_iso_front_right.png https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/outp... [3] - https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/output/cottage_pi6_plus/cottage_pi6_plus_preview.png https://github.com/cjtrowbridge/vibe-modeling/blob/main/outp... [4] - https://object.ceph-eu.hswaw.net/q3k-personal/fe3e54e6df604a0e9a5fd4fedd066414df17793cfc02490739a6d98b4191b779.png https://object.ceph-eu.hswaw.net/q3k-personal/fe3e54e6df604a...