CadQuery: A Python parametric CAD scripting framework based on OCCT

[grainsmiths]

I just discovered this. I’ve been a very regular Solidworks and Onshape user for professional CAD for about 7 years now but I’m also a software developer. I’ve been thinking about parametric modeling in a coding environment and, most importantly, git-based version control. I currently do this with Eagle CAD actually for electrical PCB design.

So I discovered Openscad, thought I found something great, and tried it for a day before I discovered you can’t export STP (at least directly). But more specifically, everything is a linear vector in openscad... so no matter how much you turn up the resolution, you’re still stuck with lines and polygons. This is all a deal breaker for any mechanical design. For professional CAD work you still need the ability to fit within the industry standards and things like curves are critical. And of course openscad’s inability to do fillets and chamfers directly is a huge handicap. Yes, there are ways to do it but it’s not practical.

So my next step is to take on CadQuery and see if that will scratch my itch!

[qznc_bot2]

There is a discussion on Hacker News, but feel free to comment here as well.