![]() Over the last years there have been a movement towards creating and sharing Open Source Hardware (OSH). Thus, making it more appropriate to design open source hardware for scientific equipment. The main benefits are being able to export to standard parametric models using Python language with its libraries and the ability to use and integrate the models in its graphical interface. Our findings show that although Python for FreeCAD is more arduous to learn, its advantages counterbalance the initial difficulties. We have created a parametric open source hardware design to compare these tools. In this work we analyze OpenSCAD and compare it with FreeCAD Python scripts. This is an important deficiency because it is key to share the design in the most accessible formats with no information loss. However, OpenSCAD lacks the ability to export to standard parametric formats thus, the parametric dimensional information of the model is lost. ![]() OpenSCAD is the most widely used scripting tool for parametric modeling of open source labware. Parametric design using a solid modeling programming language allows customization and provides a source file for the design. In addition, parametric modeling is encouraged in order to facilitate customization for other experiments. You can manually install extensions, however, it is much simpler to just use the Addon Manager.Open source hardware for scientific equipment needs to provide source files and enough documentation to allow the study, replication and modification of the design. Macros from both repositories can be installed via the Addon Manager directly from FreeCAD. The second one is the Macros recipes page from which you can pick some useful macros to add to your FreeCAD installation. The first one is the official peer-reviewed macro repository on GitHub. ![]() See How to install macros for a more detailed description. Next time you start FreeCAD, the macro will appear under the "Installed Macros" item of the Macro menu. You can then save your macro the same way as you save a FreeCAD document. Simply create a new macro, edit it, and paste your code. You can also directly copy/paste python code into a macro, without recording GUI action. See Customize Toolbars for a more detailed description. This, added to the power of python scripting within FreeCAD, makes it possible to easily add your own tools to the interface. This way you can make your macro become a real tool, just like any standard FreeCAD tool. Once your macro is created, all this can be done via the Tools → Customize menu. FreeCAD provides much better ways to use your macro, such as assigning a keyboard shortcut to it or putting an entry in the menu. Of course it is not practical to load a macro in the editor in order to use it. You macro is always saved to disk, so any change you make, or any new macro you create, will always be available next time you start FreeCAD. To execute your macro, simply press the execute button on the toolbar while your macro is in the editor. In the edit macros dialog, you can see the python code that has been recorded, and, if you want, make alterations to it. Press the record button, give a name, let's say "cylinder 10x10", then, in the Part Workbench, create a cylinder with radius = 10 and height = 10. button, which links to the Addon Manager. New macros can be installed using the Addons. If you edit a macro, it will be opened in an editor window where you can make changes to its code. There you can manage your macros, delete, edit, duplicate, install or create new ones from scratch. Macro dialog, listing the macros available in the system You can now access the macro dialog with the edit button. When you are done, click the stop recording button, and your actions will be saved. It is very simple to use: Press the record button, you will be asked to give a name to your macro, then perform some actions. On it you have 4 buttons: Record, stop recording, edit and play the current macro. The main tool for making macros is the macros toolbar. Those commands are what can be recorded in a macro. You will see that in FreeCAD, every action you do, such as pressing a button, outputs a Python command. In particular, you should start with these pages:Įnable the console output in the menu Edit → Preferences → General → Macro → Show scripts commands in python console. See the Power users hub to learn more about the Python programming language, and about writing macros. A collection of macros written by experienced users is found in the macros recipes page. py extension, FreeCAD macros should have the. Since macros are in reality a list of Python commands, you can also edit them, and create very complex scripts. You simply record actions as you do them, then save those actions under a name, and replay them whenever you want. Macros are a convenient way to reproduce complex actions in FreeCAD.
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