Lmst

New project almost complete.

Pi-star Hotspot, custom Nextion screen design, Pi Zero 2W, geekworm X306 "UPS", MMDVM dual hat with built in antennas (shorter range, but easier installation for a portable node), 3000mAh 18650 battery. The case design is my own, spun up in #openscad and 3d printed.

I have some internal wiring to do. As it sits the fan runs whether the Hotspot is powered on or not. I'm going to use a 2n2222 to switch the ground side of the fan based on whether the nextion screen is receiving power or not.

I also need to add a power switch to shut the UPS off once the system has been shut down... and power it back up again.

#dmr #HAMradio #pistar #mmdvm #nextion #geekworm #3dprinted

EDIT:
Power switch (push-button, using the header on the X306) has been installed.
Transistor installed with a 680 Ohm bias on the base (to reduce current to the transistor but keep the NPN junctions in the saturation/full on region) installed to switch the negative/ground wire on the fan.

This thing is ready to take on the road with me.

Angled side/front view of the pistar Hotspot.

I made a small tool called SpecSCAD to help write unit tests for #OpenSCAD functions using a #BDD-style syntax (describe, it, expect), inspired by Mocha/Jest. #UnitTesting

It runs @OpenSCAD in headless mode via Bash and outputs simple pass/fail results. No external dependencies beyond OpenSCAD + Bash.

It’s very lightweight, but can help to catch issues early in function-heavy code. Maybe it’s useful to others too — feedback welcome!

screenshot showing a call to run_test.sh on the console and the test framework output to the screen with passed and failed tests.

My work on making #OpenSCAD control #OrcaSlicer is progressing. I'm moving from bash to real software.

I don't have huge needs: parsing JSON & XML un/zipping, and writing files. And I want this to be buildable into a single binary (no VMs or external runtimes).

I initially reached for #golang, but I'm second guessing that. Switching between Go and OpenSCAD is very jarring.

What general purpose, #FunctionalProgramming language is broadly similar to OpenSCAD (and fits my criteria)?

The #openscad playground is amazing. It's openSCAD compiled to wasm and runs in your browser. I wonder if we could make a preview generator out of it 🤔

> It defaults to the Manifold backend so it's **super** fast!

https://ochafik.com/openscad2/

@OpenSCAD I'm trying to track down the change log in the latest development release 2025.06.21 - I'm super excited but don't see a tag, release, news, etc

Thanks to all you do, you've opened the world of modeling and 3dprinting to me!

#openscad

*update* You figured out the snapshots are just that, snapshots not releases! No worries thanks!

Bluesprogattinis

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZrKAPyN4oQ

Blog: https://blog.illestpreacha.com/minacoding2025free

#minacoding2025 #minacoding30 #Free #Imagination #livecoding #3dmodelling #Characterdesign #newmedia #audiovisual

For MinaCoding2025 Prompt 30: Free, Bluesprogattinis coded in #OpenScad & #SonicPi is an exploration of new species in the realm.

#Poem

Bluesprogattini, are more than just creatures
With their geometrical features
Thinking of their futures
Their Cultures
As their movements have been translated
As new thoughts have been Created

#scifi #worldbuilding #minacoding #illestpreacha #animation #creativecoding #sounddesign #digitalsculpting #geometrical

Reminder! Enable "Manifold" in OpenSCAD... for some reason one of my computers did not have it turned on. I was wondering why rendering was so slow.

(And by "slow" I mean a progress bar appeared for a 10 seconds.)

#OpenSCAD #3DPrinting

Yes, travel sized toothpaste and handcreme tubes have a terrible packaging & price to content ratio, but they ARE handy, so... #3Dprint yourself a tube to tube converter and refill them?

I don't have a file to share, the diameters, profile and screw thread parameters can vary too randomly. I guess this would be an ideal case for an #OpenSCAD parameterized file but I've so far only ever consumed those and never created any.

It's easy to build in #blender :blender: with a screw modifier though.

Two handcreme tubes, one travel sized, one refill sized with different screw top opening sizes and profiles as well as a 3d printed cylinder sitting on the table in-between of them.
The adapter fits the two screw tops and funnels from the larger to the smaller opening.

The two tubes connected via the adapter.

IT WORKS. I have a proof of concept of #OpenSCAD modifying OrcaSlicer settings from within source code ✅

First, there is a small module that outputs a specific echo statement when `slicer_output` is `true` (otherwise it doesn't spam the console). Right now it uses `jq` syntax to find the corresponding settings in a OrcaSlicer 3mf "template".

#3dPrinting

1/3

OpenSCAD source code:

/* [Dimensions] */
cube_size= [10, 20];
z_layers= 10;
wall_loops= 3;
floor_layers= 3;

/* [Slicer stuff] */
layer_height= 0.3;
line_width= 0.4;
slicer_output= false;

/* [Hidden] */
epsilon= 0.01;

slicer_setting(".layer_height=", str(layer_height));
slicer_setting(".line_width=", str(line_width));
slicer_setting(".outer_wall_line_width=", str(line_width));
slicer_setting(".top_surface_line_width=", str(line_width));
slicer_setting(".inner_wall_line_width=", str(line_width));

WaveyMountainTop

Blog: https://blog.illestpreacha.com/minacoding2025colorful

#minacoding2025 #minacoding29 #Colorful #Imagination #3dmodelling #Mountains #newmedia #livecoding

For MinaCoding2025 Prompt 29: Colorful, WaveyMountainTop coded in #OpenScad & #HydraVideoSynth is a reimagination of how mountains can look while wavey

#Poem
MountainTops with Mountain Views
Rearranging the perspective
Through hues
Normally not seen
In this kind of scene
What thoughts come out, Which Adjectives?

#scifi #worldbuilding #minacoding #illestpreacha #geometrical #digitalsculpting #modelling

LolliPopBuild

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P66dmg_qv8s

Blog: https://blog.illestpreacha.com/minacoding2025bed

#minacoding2025 #minacoding26 #bed #Imagination #3dmodelling #lollipops #newmedia

For MinaCoding2025 Prompt 26: Coded in Bed, LollipopBuild coded in #OpenScad & #HydraVideoSynth shows the formation of a new Lollipop build

#Poem
Lollipoppers , being mere creatures
Have mutated
To enhance their features
As their movements have been translated
For these mutations that have been Created

#scifi #worldbuilding #minacoding #illestpreacha #animation #geometrical #symmetry #digitalsculpting #modelling

MountainTop

Blog: https://blog.illestpreacha.com/minacoding2025scene

#minacoding2025 #minacoding23 #Scene #Imagination #3dmodelling #Mountains #newmedia

For MinaCoding2025 Prompt 23: Scene, MountainTop coded in #OpenScad is a reimagination of how mountains can look. Recreating a mountain Scene

#Poem
MountainTops with Mountain Views
Rearranging the perspective
Through hues
Normally not seen
In this kind of scene
What thoughts come out, Which Adjectives?

#scifi #worldbuilding #minacoding #illestpreacha #animation #geometrical #symmetry #digitalsculpting #modelling

So, I had a bit of a brainwave for #OpenSCAD.

I often have variables that directly relate to #3dPrinting slicer settings. Think ‘line_width’ and line width in Orca. I manually sync these settings… ugh.

OpenSCAD has an output for “echo” which will not produce a mesh, but give you just echo statements.

3mf files just zip archives and contain all the orca settings as JSON. So, if I output JSONPath as an echo, I could use a script to modify the print setting from within OpenSCAD automatically!

Everything came out remarkably well, considering the design's about 95% parametric. The top didn't print well (support issues) but it was good enough for a test fit.
#3dPrinting #3dDesign #OpenSCAD

the bottom half of a 3D-printed trackball controller with the trackball, microcontroller, scroll wheel and one button installed

The controller with the cover in place. Printing defects are visible in the area of the buttons.

a whole page of this nonsense, via some very bloody-minded OpenSCAD. Yes, I should probably learn something clever like Asymptote, but Metafont syntax makes my sinuses purge, so maybe not.

What I'd really like to do is emulate the proper embroidery stitches used with this pattern. SVG line patterns/offsets could do it, but it would need some doings working out path lengths, and I just want to go to the Aga Khan Museum now ...

#patterns #OpenSCAD

stylized white six petal flowers on a blue background

I think I have my first Release Candidate for my Nerf Blaster Dart.

It fires real well!

I've only tested it on the one blaster I have available. I'll have to test on the other one later - I'm not foolish or drunk enough to try to sneak into my kids' room while they're sleeping to get the other blaster.

Printing a slightly modified one currently to test before cleaning up the code and uploading to Thingiverse.

#3dprinting #openscad

With a fair amount of sleuthing, I can't find anyone on the internet that has successfully 3d-printed a nerf dart. :blobthinkingglare:

So I was playing around with mimicking the shape of a traditional dart. I'm sure that's been tried, but it becomes pretty apparent that it's far too heavy - could try with latticing tho.

But I'm playing with the idea of a little compliant kind of plane projectile - the wings would fold into a cylinder and would spring open after launch.

#3dprinting #openscad

Got something to work, BTW.
#ScribesAndMakers #OpenSCAD

https://mastodon.social/@degroof/114687454932801471

OpenSCAD screenshot with 9 sliders to the left, and a contoured surface based on the slider values to the right

Designing a funnel for my moka pot using #openscad.

It also has a little leveler that is used for leveling the coffee, not tamping it.

#3dprinting

#openScad

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