OpenSCAD and 3D printing reference

Reference material

Documentation and Tutorials

http://www.openscad.org/ (free)
 http://www.openscad.org/documentation.html
 http://www.openscad.org/cheatsheet/

Tips
http://hackaday.com/2013/12/11/3d-printering-making-a-thing-with-openscad/
http://blog.cubehero.com/2013/11/19/know-only-10-things-to-be-dangerous-in-openscad/

Tutorials
http://www.tridimake.com/2014/09/how-to-use-openscad-tricks-and-tips-to.html
http://www.makerbot.com/tutorials/openscad-tutorials
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCAD_User_Manual
http://reprap.org/wiki/OpenSCAD
https://i.materialise.com/blog/openscad-tutorial
http://www.makerbot.com/blog/2011/01/19/openscad-basics-the-setup/
http://www.instructables.com/id/OpenSCAD-The-Instructable/ (About the OpenSCAD syntax and grammer.)

The OpenSCAD console supports a subset of HTML markup language. See here for details.
http://doc.qt.io/qt-4.8/richtext-html-subset.html

Helper Tools

https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ (free)
  OpenSCAD highlighter for Notepad++: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:280319
If you don't want to use NotePad++ Using an external Editor with OpenSCAD

Shapeways 3-D printing service
  http://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/shops/using-netfabb-to-prevent-your-3d-models-from-being-rejected
  http://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/how_to_use_meshlab_and_netfabb
  Shapeways forums

 Independent 3D printing services https://www.hubs.com/

http://www.netfabb.com/basic.php (free)
 http://www.netfabb.com/documentation.php

http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/ (free)
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MeshLab
 http://www.cyi.ac.cy/system/files/MeshLab%20Documentation1.pdf

 http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/25-free-3d-modelling-applications-you-should-not-miss/

Cookbook type pages

OpenSCAD forums
 http://forum.openscad.org/
 http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/openscad/page:1

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCAD_User_Manual/FAQ#Why_is_my_imported_STL_file_only_showing_up_with_F5_but_not_F6.3F
http://forum.openscad.org/Rendering-fails-difference-between-F5-and-F6-td15041.html

http://forum.openscad.org/printing-a-punch-out-to-avoid-needing-support-td14303.html

http://forum.openscad.org/Working-around-CGAL-color-limitations-mesh-post-processing-td13698.html

http://forum.openscad.org/Big-text-with-WRITE-SCAD-td14157.html
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCAD_User_Manual/Text#Alignment

http://forum.openscad.org/Blockscad-td13790.html
 https://blockscad.einsteinsworkshop.com/

http://forum.openscad.org/Need-some-help-with-quot-if-else-quot-statement-td14080.html

Worlds Best Spool Hub: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1230609
Customizable stereographic picture projector: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1216198
hole cover: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1114576
Model Rocket Transition Adapter: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1058773
Flashforge Creator Improved Tube Inserts: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1194922
ISO Metric Nuts and Bolts: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:311919
Customizeable Drink Coaster http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:593491
Customizable ExcelFil Filament Spool Plug http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:211889
Buckle Box, Printable In One Piece http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:82620

OpenSCAD Presentation http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:325400

The Headless SourceMan http://www.thingiverse.com/TheHeadlessSourceMan/designs/page:1 (Lots of nifty designs)
  o-ringer (create your own o-rings) http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:225603
  OpenSCAD highlighter for Notepad++: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:280319

http://forum.openscad.org/A-mental-model-of-OpenSCAD-under-the-covers-td14180.html
 https://github.com/doug-moen/openscad2

The relationship between Makerbot/Thingiverse and OpenSCAD

Bre Pettis (founder of Makerbot): The "father" of OpenSCAD is Marius Kintel, a Scandinavian who lived in Austria and is now in Toronto. He is one of the smartest people in the world and a wonderful person. When he took over the OpenSCAD project he rewrote every single line to optimize it and we customized Thingiverse on top of it. In fact we are great friends: he worked with me on building my first 3D printer. Now as MakerBot we are supporting OpenSCAD development: for programmers and web developers it is the ultimate 3D modelling tool – open solid CAD modelling – and adding customizers on top of it it makes it so that you can program a Christmas tree and give amateur end users the tools to change it and personalize it through sliders. The relationship between us and OpenSCAD is a friendship that is going to last a long time.
http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/04/18/3d-printing-bre-pettis-interview-makerbot

http://3dprintingindustry.com/ magazine.

3D Printers (that I am researching)

I'm looking at

http://www.flashforge-usa.com/ All Flashforge printers use standard filament, with no proprietary DRM lockin. Both the Dreamer and Finder use small non-standard spools, but a full size (i.e., cheapest) spool of filament can be mounted outside of the printer.
  Flashforge Finder $699. Single extruder, PLA only. Has self-leveling bed.
  Flashforge Dreamer ~1,000 new. Dual extruder, ABS and PLA. Dreamer is $770 on the Flashforge refurbished store.

http://creative3d.co.uk/flashforge-finder-3d-printer Has suggestion on how to use an external filament spool holder
 Simple Filament Spool Stand V3.2 http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:296971

Many people (including Flashforge) suggest using the Slimplify3D slicing program ($149) instead of the free slicing program thas is bundled with the printer. Currently, Simplify3D supports the Dreamer. Don't know about the Finder (which is new.) Many users report fewer failed prints when using Simplify3D.

But I am leaning towards the FlashForge Dreamer. And may hold off on Slimplifi3D (see review (below) of the free FlashForge Flashprint. Which is v. 3.2.08 (You don't need the URL on the video to get the most recent version (which is 3.7.1, as of this writing) In Flashprint, Open Help/Check for Updates. It there is an update you will be prompted to download it.)

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/flashforge

Maker's Muse:
  Flashforge Dreamer 3D Printer Review
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8tN-c-_654
  Playing around with Flashprint V 3.4.1 Latest Version MUST GET. (Slicer for the Dreamer)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9puwccXcVE
  Why do 3D Printers still kinda suck? (But read the comments below the video. Hmm.)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ4hQUe_Tjk

The Sounds of 3D Printing Failure
frode eriksen 7 months ago
i got the ext ruder jam sound :( .... scratching my head figuring out how to clean it... need to disassemble it im guessing.. but how to get it clean inside? the nozzle hole is so small .?
·
Maker's Muse: The Sounds of 3D Printing Failure
Maker's Muse 7 months ago
+frode eriksen I use a 0.3mm drill bit, they're tiny and delicate but do the job. You can easily find them on ebay! You will have to disassemble the head by the sounds of it to clean the extruder gear :)?

From comments under the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2NTHnd5FZQ video.

Which leads to
  (Flashforge USA) Flashforge Dreamer 3D Printer: Taking Apart the Extruder
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BiU9qBgzEU

  How To Unclog 3D Printer W/O Disassembly (Taulman)
    Nozzle Clearing

Thomas James: Flashforge Dreamer - Active Cooling Upgrade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbLpbcsBpDA