legacy-python

3D Print Filament Sample Generator

Samples	Samples Box (by Zahg)

Important

This was the original code written in Python

We've all encountered dozens of 3D print filament samples, but most require you to either request new ones from the creator or use a specialized commercial CAD tool to adjust the parameters and change the text.

This generator, however, is built on OpenSCAD, a completely free 'programmable' CAD tool. Now, OpenSCAD can be intimidating for most users since it involves programming your CAD model. While that's usually not how I work either, for this type of sample creation, it's the perfect approach.

So, why is this useful? Simple: the included gen_samples.py script reads from a samples.csv file where you can list the samples you want. No coding skills needed!

How To

• make sure you have OpenSCAD and Python available on your machine (see below for OS-specific prerequisite install instructions)
• make sure you have the 'Liberation Sans' Font available, it comes with LibreOffice or you can get it from here: https://www.1001freefonts.com/de/liberation-sans.font
• edit samples.csv and put in the filaments you like to generate samples for
• if you are not on Windows or your OpenSCAD install is not in the C:\Program Files standard path, edit gen_samples.py and at the top put in the path to the executable for the variable OPENSCAD, or just uncomment the openscad entry if it is accessible anywhere on your machine because it is part of your PATH variable
• run gen_samples.py, if your Python install is in your PATH or .py files are linked you should even be able to just double-click it, if not get a command line shell and run python gen_samples.py (on Linux you might have to use python3 instead)

Using VS Code

Another convenient method that works across systems is using VS Code. If you've cloned this repo and opened it in VS Code, ensure you have the Python extension installed. From there, you can easily edit the .csv file, open the gen_samples.py script, and run it directly using the play button in the top right corner. Of course, you'll still need to have Python and OpenSCAD installed, but VS Code should automatically detect Python if it's already set up on your system.

Using the stl-Models

The output will be generated under the stl-Folder. If you pull the models into your Slicer make sure to select 0.2mm line thickness(1), the actual Filament profile(2) you want to print with. The print time (3) will vary according to your print speed settings for that filament, but should be in the ballpark of 20-30min.

There should be approx 5g of filament being used (1) (depending on density of course) Also make sure after slicing that the 'thickness staircase'(2) is visible (especially the single layer all the way to the right), there is no non-solid infill areas (3) and the letters look proper:

You can then proceed with printing! Have fun!

Prerequisite Installation

Windows

The by far easiest method nowadays is to use winget, just get a Powershell or a cmd-prompt and run:

winget install OpenSCAD.OpenSCAD
winget install Python.Python.3.11

This should work on all recently supported versions of Windows 10 and 11.

Alternatively go to the OpenSCAD and Python webpages and download the latest version from there.

Linux

Any reasonably recent distribution will have a Python3 version available in the PATH as python3, for very recent ones python is also at version 3 already. You can check with python --version.

For OpenSCAD I recommend checking if your standard package manager has it available (like apt, dnf, pacman etc.). Usually the distros software centers also now search Flatpak or AppImage repositories, so I recommend you just search for OpenSCAD there and fetch it this way.

MacOS

If you are running homebrew you should be able to get both Python 3 and OpenSCAD via brew, otherwise go to the webpages of OpenSCAD and Python and get the newest Mac distribution from there.

Ackknowledgements

I derived this OpenSCAD model from blazerat over at printables: https://www.printables.com/de/model/356074-filament-sample-card/files

I really loved the temperature idea, but I like the form factor and Box better offered by Seemomster https://www.printables.com/de/model/228249-filament-samples-42-materials and originally Zahg (https://www.printables.com/de/model/16322-filament-sample-with-box/files)

So I basically turned the samples by blazerat into the form factor of Zahgs samples and box, with added info, while maintaining the 5-step thickness staircase.

Your Support

If you like what you see, you can leave me a like and a comment here:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/16866#profileId-24328