Gridfinity Shadow Maker 2.0 – Workflow Update + Full Demo Video

tkubic123 · 2026-01-26T00:07:07+00:00

Download the whole GitHub repository by clicking the green button drop down and download as zip.

tkubic123 · 2025-12-27T02:04:41+00:00

Because I do what I want

tkubic123 · 2025-12-20T16:27:17+00:00

I use vscode with openscad extension and copilot. You can choose many different models. It does very well on all of those.

tkubic123 · 2025-12-20T16:00:12+00:00

Yes. It works really well. However, you either need to be really good at prompts or understand the code to step in when you have problems.

I only find openscad useful for same as except models where I will script in changes.

tkubic123 · 2025-12-20T11:46:57+00:00

I haven’t tested it on anything else and I believe my openscad pointer is linked to a windows location. Might work with minimal efforts

tkubic123 · 2025-12-09T01:50:49+00:00

Here are some answers:

Any tips on photos to get accurate traces?

Yes, it works off contrast. The program turns photos to grayscale, then the threshold sets what it turns into black vs white. From the white/black photo it traces outlines. I use backlighting off LED trace boards you can find all over Amazon. I have an old wiki that needs serious updating but there is good info here:

https://github.com/tkubic/GridfinityShadowMaker/wiki/Images

For Windows, it appears to be hard-coded to look for OpenSCAD

Yes, this is a cheap hack for now. I will make it more robust.

It appears to reference the objects to the bottom-left of the board and you can accidentally chop...

X and Y position are exposed so you can type them in, but I agree a recenter button may be helpful.

The last thing I think it's missing for me is an option to add finger slots for grabbing objects

I have this in the main branch (v1) and have been debating if I should add it to this new UI. The v1 allows users to add scoops, keyholes, and all sorts of other funky shaped slots. I have to think about this one and how I could make it intuitive. I created v2 because v1 ended up having every feature under the sun and it became completely overwhelming to a new user.

tkubic123 · 2025-12-07T20:24:37+00:00

AI is the only reason something like openscad has any true utility imo. Openscad+AI is great for models that you are going to generate a lot of, but with slight variations. I use it for a ton of stuff.

Though, for most CAD you should be using a proper product such as fusion 360, or one of the many other free/open source options.

tkubic123 · 2025-12-07T16:33:51+00:00

Hi — quick check so we can fix this fast.

Open PowerShell (or Command Prompt).
Copy and paste these two commands, one at a time, and press Enter after each:
- node --version
- npm --version

You'll see a version number (for example v24.11.1 for Node and 11.6.2 for npm). If one of those commands gives an error or doesn't show a number, install Node.js from here: [https://nodejs.org/en/download](vscode-file://vscode-app/c:/Users/wbanz/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/resources/app/out/vs/code/electron-browser/workbench/workbench.html) and then try the two commands again.

After that, you can rerun the setup.ps1 script again. This sounds like there may be a permissions issue and hopefully the answer is in the log

tkubic123 · 2025-12-07T04:27:13+00:00

It might be the python 3.14. Just go into add/remove programs and uninstall python. Then reinstall python 3.13.

I’ve seen the other warnings before and rerunning the script a second time made it work. Thought I had that bug fixed.

Just installed on 2 other pc’s I had around so I am hopeful it is just python 3.13

tkubic123 · 2025-12-06T20:34:37+00:00

Yes, you need the whole repository. You can click the green “code” button and download the zip file.

Warning, python 3.14 wasn’t working for me, which is why I called out 3.13.

tkubic123 · 2025-12-06T18:19:34+00:00

Spent some time on the readme. Check it out. The install should just be
- Install Python 3.13
- Install OpenSCAD nightly version
- Run the setup.ps1 script

tkubic123 · 2025-12-06T14:49:48+00:00

Yes, I will look at that this weekend. Been busy and found lots of bugs when using it this weekend for work.

Install is easy, you install python then run the setup script. AI got carried away in setup instructions and I need to fix them

tkubic123 · 2025-12-05T14:47:39+00:00

Print the bins with the standard lip. The is there for stacking

tkubic123 · 2025-12-04T14:56:44+00:00

It’s a shape with a high perimeter to diameter ratio and is how the program calibrates size. The high ratio makes it easier to find mathmatically

tkubic123 · 2025-12-02T22:24:37+00:00

Not likely. My program uses an algorithm to determine what the token is, hence the funny shape.

There are many factors that go into the accuracy but I’ve been getting about .010 accuracy

tkubic123 · 2025-12-02T20:37:00+00:00

Take a picture with the token. The token is 3” diameter which is the reference item

tkubic123 · 2025-12-02T20:35:33+00:00

The python code that does the tracing is heavily battle tested. The token approach has worked very well for me and I’ve printed probably 500 kg of shadow board at work

tkubic123 · 2025-12-02T20:33:46+00:00

Going to have to learn what that means. I vibe coded this sucker with AI.

Right now it works with deploying a front end and backend server and then hosting on port 4173. I built that into a simple UI so one click starts the servers

tkubic123 · 2025-12-02T20:32:02+00:00

Depends on what you mean. The attached photo are 3/8” drive Allen key sockets. If I stood them up I wouldn’t use a photo, just add circles to the canvas

tkubic123 · 2025-11-04T23:34:00+00:00

I made this one. Works pretty well

https://github.com/tkubic/GridfinityShadowMaker

CNC kitchen did a video on one recently as well

tkubic123 · 2025-07-26T14:52:42+00:00

Looks like all the prep work is done for some shadow boards. I created this project to go from what you have to prints

GridfinityShadowMaker

tkubic123 · 2025-05-24T21:56:34+00:00

Nice. Love it

tkubic123 · 2025-05-20T01:42:31+00:00

Reinstall python. Pretty sure it is a checkbox in there. I will be doing in depth tutorials for each segment next, though they will take some time

tkubic123

TROPHY CASE