September 15th, 2024

Powerful, Open-Source, Programmatic CAD

ImplicitCAD is an open-source programmatic CAD tool that simplifies creating complex 3D objects for 3D printing, allowing users to generate parameterized designs through code in a user-friendly web interface.

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Powerful, Open-Source, Programmatic CAD

ImplicitCAD is an open-source programmatic CAD tool designed to simplify the process of creating complex 3D objects, particularly in the context of 3D printing. It allows users to write code to generate designs, making it easier to create parameterized objects that can be modified based on specific variables. This approach is particularly useful for designing objects that need to fit together precisely, such as keys or mechanical parts. ImplicitCAD aims to eliminate tedious design tasks by leveraging mathematical and programming concepts, enabling users to focus on more complex design challenges. The platform offers a user-friendly experience, allowing users to start designing directly in their web browser without extensive installation procedures.

- ImplicitCAD is an open-source tool for programmatic CAD design.

- It simplifies the creation of complex 3D objects for 3D printing.

- Users can create parameterized designs using code.

- The platform aims to reduce tedious design tasks through programming.

- It offers a straightforward web-based interface for immediate use.

AI: What people are saying
The comments on ImplicitCAD reveal a mix of opinions and concerns regarding the software's capabilities and development status.
  • Users express frustration with the lack of advanced features like edge rounding and chamfering, which are difficult to achieve in similar tools like OpenSCAD.
  • There are concerns about the software's limited API reference and potential restrictions to basic primitives.
  • The original author of ImplicitCAD has distanced themselves from the project, indicating it may not have been the best approach to CAD modeling.
  • Alternatives to ImplicitCAD, such as Libfive and Build123D, are suggested as better options for users seeking more robust CAD solutions.
  • Some users are exploring other software like Blender for jewelry design, questioning the need for traditional CAD tools.
Link Icon 10 comments
By @mdaniel - 5 months
relevant top comment from the author in the prior submission: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9249268

> Author here. Sorry, I abandoned this two or three years ago. Please look at this in the context of a project done several years ago and never completed.

> Honestly, I no longer believe ImplicitCAD was the right approach to the problem, or that there's even as much of a problem as I originally thought. In particular, the system ImplicitCAD uses to represent objects, a variant of f-rep (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_representation) has issues.

By @tempodox - 5 months
Or you can download OpenSCAD.

https://openscad.org

By @Zopieux - 5 months
Every time this is posted I look at the "API reference" which sadly is severely lacking. Perhaps the software is actually limited to just a few primitives.
By @peppertree - 5 months
Libfive is the closest successor. Blender also starts to support implicit modeling. https://libfive.com/
By @mytwoscents - 5 months
https://build123d.readthedocs.io/ is IMO a much better choice than openscad and implicitcad. Describing your objects in Python is just how things should be (at least for me ;)
By @w4rh4wk5 - 5 months
Is there support for rounding / chamfering edges?

I no longer use OpenSCAD because its annoyingly complicated to do for non-trivial shapes.

By @johnnyApplePRNG - 5 months
So i have recently begun learning jewelry design using blender since there are a lot of videos on it out there but i have this sneaking suspicion i should be learning CAD instead... Thoughts?
By @bmicraft - 5 months
Okay so this is a from-the-ground-up rewrite of OpenSCAD with a couple of bonus features?
By @DidYaWipe - 5 months
"Bet your expecting"

After that I'm not expecting much.

By @dvh - 5 months
Not in Ubuntu repository