External Tools and Libraries
The following sections describe tools and libraries external to build123d that extend its functionality.
Editors & Viewers
ocp-vscode
A viewer for OCP based Code-CAD (CadQuery, build123d) integrated into VS Code.
See: ocp-vscode (formerly known as cq_vscode)
Watch John Degenstein create three build123d designs in realtime with Visual Studio Code and the ocp-vscode viewer in a timed event from the TooTallToby 2023 Leadership Challenge: build123d May 2023 TooTallToby Leaderboard Challenge
yet-another-cad-viewer
A CAD viewer capable of displaying OCP models (CadQuery/Build123d) in a web browser. Mainly intended for deployment of finished models as a static website. It also works for developing models with hot reloading, though this feature may not be as mature as in ocp-vscode.
PartCAD VS Code extension
A wrapper around ocp-vscode (see above) which requires build123d scripts to be
packaged using PartCAD (see below). While it requires the overhead of maintaining
the package, it provides some convenience features (such as UI controls to export models)
as well as functional features (such as UI controls to pass parameters into build123d scripts
and AI-based generative design tools).
It’s also the most convenient tool to create new packages and parts. More PDM and PLM features are expected to arrive soon.
Part Libraries
bd_warehouse
On-demand generation of parametric parts that seamlessly integrate into build123d projects.
Parts available include:
fastener - Nuts, Screws, Washers and custom holes
flange - Standardized parametric flanges
pipe - Standardized parametric pipes
thread - Parametric helical threads (Iso, Acme, Plastic, etc.)
See: bd_warehouse
Superellipses & Superellipsoids
Superellipses are a more sophisticated alternative to rounded rectangles, with smoothly changing curvature. They are flexible shapes that can be adjusted by changing the “exponent” to get a result that varies between rectangular and elliptical, or from square, through squircle, to circle, and beyond…
Superellipses can be found:
in typefaces such as Melior, Eurostyle, and Computer Modern
as the shape of airliner windows, tables, plates
clipping the outline of iOS app icons
They were named and popularized in the 1950s-1960s by the Danish mathematician and poet Piet Hein, who used them in the winning design for the Sergels Torg roundabout in Stockholm.
Public PartCAD repository
See partcad.org for all the models packaged and published
using PartCAD (see below). This repository contains individual parts,
as well as large assemblies created using those parts. See
the OpenVMP robot
as an example of an assembly
Tools
nething
3D generative AI for CAD modeling. Now everyone is an engineer. Make your ideas real.
See: nething
Listen to the following podcast which discusses nething in detail: The Next Byte Podcast
ocp-freecad-cam
CAM for CadQuery and Build123d by leveraging FreeCAD library. Visualizes in CQ-Editor and ocp-cad-viewer. Spiritual successor of cq-cam
See: ocp-freecad-cam
PartCAD
A package manager for CAD models. Build123d is the most supported Code-CAD framework, but CadQuery and OpenSCAD are also supported. It can be used by build123d designs to import parts from PartCAD repositories, and to publish build123d designs to be consumed by others.