Go to OpenSCAD.org and you’ll see this image:
If you’re running a computer with Microsoft Windows click on the green rectangle. If you are using an Apple computer click on the words “Other OSs and Versions”. You’ll begin downloading the OpenSCAD software. When the download completes, double click on the file to start the installation (but you know all that).
If you’re customizing a keyguard, download keyguard_v##.scad from the Printables “Files” page and put it someplace you can find easily. While you’re there download the file “openings_and_additions.txt”. Put the two files in the same folder.
Run OpenSCAD and you’ll see something like this:
Click on the “Open” button and navigate to file you downloaded. Open the file.
If you have an older computer – as I do – you’ll see a warning like this:
You can run OpenSCAD without OpenGL 2.0 but it’s a bit of a pain. You’ll see below what the differences look like.
Click the “Close” button and you’ll have access to a window that looks like this:
Now you need to make the customizer visible. Click on the “View” menu. If “Hide Customizer” is checked, click that line – which un-selects that menu item and “un-hides” the Customizer pane. You don’t really need to have the code (Editor pane) displayed so click on “View” and select “Hide editor”. Your window should now look something like this:
If you’re customizing a different Volksswitch design, the Customizer pane will look different.
Note that the box called “Automatic Preview” is checked. That means that every time you change a characteristic of the keyguard it will update the display to show you the result. This is where it get’s painful if you don’t have OpenGL 2.0 on your computer. If you have OpenGL 2.0 or above, you’ll see your design displayed exactly as you’ve specified:
If you don’t you’ll see this or something like it:
Your changes are all there – they’re just hidden. You can see the fully rendered image but first you have to click on the “Design” menu and select “Render”. This step can take a while depending on how powerful your computer is. If you’ve made additions to the outside edge of your keyguard, the render process will be even longer. There’s a progress bar in the lower right of the window that will give you a sense of how close you are to finishing.
In any case, you’ll have to go through the “Render” step before you can generate an STL file to print.
If you like what you’re seeing and are ready to print your keyguard, generate and save an STL file by clicking on the “File” menu and select “Export” and then “Export as STL…”
That should get you started with OpenSCAD.
What’s really special is the way that OpenSCAD allows you to view your design easily from any angle to give you a better picture of how your print will look. Try clicking and dragging the image with the left and right mouse buttons, and try zooming in and out with the mouse wheel.
One more thing… In the Design menu, make sure that Automatic Reload and Preview is checked. It will come in handy when you start using the .info files to take your designs to the next level.