Object Model

In PythonSCAD, every 3D or 2D solid is a Python object of type openscad.PyOpenSCAD. These objects support method chaining, metadata storage, iteration over children, and operator overloading.

Method Chaining

All transformation and operation functions are available as methods on solid objects, enabling a fluent coding style:

Python

from openscad import *

cube(10).translate([5, 0, 0]).rotate([0, 0, 45]).color("red").show()

The following methods are available on every solid object:

Transforms: translate, rotate, scale, mirror, multmatrix, divmatrix, resize, color, offset, right, left, front, back, up, down, rotx, roty, rotz, pull, wrap, align

Booleans: union, difference, intersection

Extrusions: linear_extrude, rotate_extrude, path_extrude

Inspection: mesh, faces, edges, inside, bbox, children

Mesh ops: explode, oversample, debug, repair, fillet, separate

Display: show, export, render, projection, highlight, background, only

Other: clone, hasattr, getattr, setattr, dict, _repr_mimebundle_

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clone

Create a deep copy of a solid object, including its metadata dictionary.

Syntax:

Python

copy = obj.clone()

Examples:

Python

from openscad import *

a = cube(10)
a["name"] = "original"
b = a.clone()
b["name"] = "copy"

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dict

Return the metadata dictionary stored on the solid.

Syntax:

Python

d = obj.dict()

Returns: A Python dictionary containing all custom attributes stored on the object.

Examples:

Python

from openscad import *

c = cube(10)
c["material"] = "PLA"
c["color"] = "red"
print(c.dict())  # {'material': 'PLA', 'color': 'red'}

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Attribute Access

Solids support both dot notation and subscript notation for storing and retrieving custom data:

Python

from openscad import *

c = cube(10)

# Subscript notation
c["name"] = "Fancy cube"
print(c["name"])

# Dot notation (same effect)
c.top_middle = [5, 5, 10]
print(c.top_middle)

hasattr / getattr / setattr

These methods check for, retrieve, and set attributes on solids:

Python

from openscad import *

c = cube(10)
c.setattr("weight", 42)
print(c.hasattr("weight"))  # True
print(c.getattr("weight"))  # 42

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Iteration

Solids are iterable. Iterating over a compound solid (e.g. a union) yields ChildRef objects for each child node:

Python

from openscad import *

u = union(cube(10), sphere(10))
for ch in u:
    ch.show()

    # Replace a child
    ch.value = cylinder(r=1, h=20)

ChildRef

Each iteration yields a ChildRef object with:

• .value -- get or set the child solid
• Attribute access is forwarded to the underlying child solid

len and indexing

Python

from openscad import *

u = union(cube(5), sphere(3), cylinder(r=2, h=10))
print(len(u))   # 3
print(u[0])     # first child

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Jupyter Support

Solids implement _repr_mimebundle_ for rendering in Jupyter notebooks. When a solid is the last expression in a cell, it is automatically rendered as an image.

Python

from openscad import *

cube(10).color("blue")  # automatically displayed in Jupyter

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memberfunction

Register a user-defined method that becomes available on all solid objects.

Syntax:

Python

memberfunction(name, func, docstring="")

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
name	string	Method name
func	callable	Function that receives the solid as its first argument
docstring	string	Optional documentation string

Examples:

Python

from openscad import *

def double_size(obj):
    return obj.scale([2, 2, 2])

memberfunction("double", double_size)

cube(5).double().show()

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String Representation

Solids have __repr__ and __str__ methods that return an ASCII tree dump of the CSG node structure:

Python

from openscad import *

c = cube(10) | sphere(5)
print(c)