Tangible

Tangible is a Python library to convert data into tangible 3D models. It generates code for different backends like OpenSCAD or ImplicitCAD. It is inspired by projects like OpenSCAD and d3.js.

Implementation

The difference from Projects like SolidPython is that Tangible is a modular system with an intermediate representation of objects that is capable of generating code for different backends, not just OpenSCAD. Additionally, its main focus is not general CAD, but printable 3D visualization of data.

The workflow to get a real object from data is as follows:

Python code => Intermediate representation (AST) => Programmatic CAD code
=> STL file => Slicer => G code => 3D printer => Tangible object

Of these, Tangible does the first three steps. The fourth step is handled by a programmatic CAD tool like OpenSCAD or ImplicitCAD and the last four steps are handled by the specific 3D printer software.

Currently supported Python version is 2.7 and 3.4+.

This library was my student research project thesis at HSR. You can find the thesis paper here: https://files.dbrgn.ch/sa-thesis.pdf

Contributions are very welcome! Please open an issue or a pull request.

Installation

You can install Tangible directly via PyPI:

pip install tangible

If you want the current development version:

pip install -e git+https://github.com/dbrgn/tangible#egg=tangible-dev

Documentation

Documentation can be found on ReadTheDocs: http://tangible.readthedocs.org/

If you want to know more about the architecture of the library, please refer to my thesis PDF.

Coding Guidelines

PEP8 via flake8 with max-line-width set to 99 and E126-E128,E266,E731 ignored.

All Python files must start with an UTF8 encoding declaration and some future-imports:

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from __future__ import print_function, division, absolute_import, unicode_literals

Docstrings convention: Sphinx style.

Testing

Prepare:

pip install -r requirements-dev.txt --use-mirrors
pip install -e .

Run tests:

pytest

Violations of the PEP8 coding guidelines above will be counted as test fails.

Versioning

Tangible implements Semantic Versioning 2.0.

License

LGPLv3 or later http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html