Question 1

How do I install sdf with OpenVDB support?

Accepted Answer

Basic installation is via pip after cloning the repo, but for OpenVDB, you need to clone the OpenVDB repository and build it with CMake (e.g., `cmake -D OPENVDB_BUILD_PYTHON_MODULE=ON -D USE_NUMPY=ON`), then copy the Python module to your site-packages, as outlined in the README.

Question 2

sdf vs OpenSCAD for coding 3D models?

Accepted Answer

sdf uses Python for a more familiar and expressive scripting environment with operators and libraries, while OpenSCAD has its own domain-specific language focused on CSG. sdf offers better Python ecosystem integration but may be slower for very complex models due to Python's overhead.

Question 3

Can sdf generate models suitable for 3D printing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, sdf natively exports to STL format and supports others via meshio, making it suitable for 3D printing. Examples like gearlike.py and knurling.py demonstrate printable models, and you can adjust resolution with parameters like `step` or `samples`.

Question 4

How to increase mesh resolution in sdf?

Accepted Answer

You can specify resolution using the `step` parameter (e.g., `f.save('out.stl', step=0.01)`) or set the number of samples with `samples` (e.g., `samples=2**24`). Higher values improve detail but increase computation time and mesh size, as noted in the Resolution section.

Question 5

Does sdf support texture mapping or UV coordinates?

Accepted Answer

No, sdf focuses on geometry generation from SDFs and does not include built-in support for texture mapping or UV coordinates; it's primarily for creating mesh geometry without surface attributes.

Question 6

How to create a custom SDF function in sdf?

Accepted Answer

Custom SDFs are defined by writing a function that takes a numpy array of points and returns distances, decorated with `@sdf3` for 3D or `@sdf2` for 2D. The README shows an example with `sphere` implementation using `np.linalg.norm`.

SDF Mesh Generation

What is SDF Mesh Generation?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions