openscad_skill

Overview

This skill creates, validates, previews, and exports OpenSCAD 3D models for 3D printing and publishing. It generates multi-angle preview images, extracts customizable parameters, validates syntax, and produces STL files ready for platforms like MakerWorld. The tools are command-line scripts that wrap OpenSCAD for consistent, repeatable workflow steps.

How this skill works

The skill runs OpenSCAD commands to render PNG previews from configured camera positions and to export STL meshes, optionally passing -D parameters to override defaults. A parameter extractor reads top-of-file comments to list numeric ranges and options. A validator checks syntax and warns about potential issues but always recommends visual inspection via multi-angle previews to catch geometry errors that static checks miss.

When to use it

• Preparing a model for 3D printing and needing validated STL output.
• Publishing a customizable model on MakerWorld or other marketplaces.
• Iterating on designs where visual confirmation from multiple angles is required.
• Extracting and documenting user-facing parameters for UI or model.json metadata.
• Automating batch exports with different parameter sets for variations.

Best practices

• Always run multi-angle previews and visually inspect each PNG before delivering a model.
• Keep customizable parameters at the top of the .scad file and use the documented comment formats for ranges and options.
• Use -D parameter overrides when exporting STLs to produce variant sizes or feature sets.
• Validate syntax first, then perform visual checks — syntax validation does not catch inverted geometry or boolean artifacts.
• Include at least one isometric preview and one front/top view for publication thumbnails and QA.

Example use cases

• Exporting a default and a large variant STL for a box model to upload to a printing service.
• Generating six preview images (front, back, left, right, top, iso) to inspect a new module after edits.
• Extracting parameters from a shared .scad file to auto-generate UI controls for a web customizer.
• Batch-producing STLs with different wall_thickness and rounded options for strength testing.
• Preparing model.json metadata and previews to publish a parameterized design on MakerWorld.