Published January 20, 2024 © CC BY-NC

Design any part with ChatGPT for 3D printing.

Create any 3D model fast by prompting in ChatGPT without using a CAD system. Create parts in STEP or STL format for manufacturing.

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Design any part with ChatGPT for 3D printing.

Things used in this project

Hardware components

SMA socket

Software apps and online services

3D-Designer

Story

Intro

Create and design any 3D part without using a mechanical CAD system, simply by describing it in detail in ChatGPT-4. Use the custom GPT "3D-Designer". It will require a ChatGPT Pro licence. The GPT will code a Python program that will create and interactively visualize a 3D part for STEP or STL download. Download the script and execute it locally in a Python shell. You will need to install the PythonOCC-Core library first.

On the GPT prompt be as precise and explicit as possible. Give all dimensions in millimeter. Ask for the visualisation and export to STEP or STL file format.

It is best practise to start simple. Visualize your result first. Improve and enhance your model iteratively. Sometimes the Python code will crash. Feed back the traceback of the most recent call to the GPT prompt for correction.

There is no single best way to generate 3D parts. Think of creating parts from geometrical primitives like cubes, spheres, prisms, cones or toruses. Subsequently "machine" the parts by cutting or fusing several parts together.

Slice the generated STL-file and print your part for the final result.

Here are some examples of created and printed parts:

U-shaped Bracket

U-shaped bracket generated by 3D-Designer

This is a simple example of an u-shaped bracket. Try it out. The best strategy is to make a cube first and then cut it out with a smaller cube. Finally machine the hole. You can give exact positions in the prompt in cartesian coordinates like (x, y, z). Also give explicit directions like x, y, z or in vector notation (x, y, z).

Example prompt:

Create a U-shaped bracket "ubracket" :
- create a outer cube 40 x 30 x 20 mm
- create a inner cube 30 x 30 x 20 mm
- shift the inner cube 5 mm up and right
- subtract the inner cube from the outer cube
- drill a hole of radius 3 mm at position (0,20,10) with length 10 mm in x direction (1,0,0)
- visualize the bracket
- export ubracket to a STEP file "ubracket.stp"
- create the executable script "ubracket.py" for download

Download and execute the generated script "ubracket.py" in a local shell or command line. We use Object Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python. This makes any modifications much easier. You can also modify the geometrical data in the script in order to generate variants of your design. Be reminded that ChatGPT is non-deterministic. So you will produce a slightly different script. Find one example script and generated STEP file attached. You can also use more generic positions and orientations like "middle", "top" and so on, but results might be surprising. It's a lot of fun experimenting with different prompts.

Demo Cube

Demo Cube generated by 3D-Designer

This is a more complex example. The round and square bores are easy. The triangle bore is generated from a prism or an extruded wire frame. Side length is 40 mm.

Try this prompt:

Create a "DemoCube" with 40 mm side length.
- make a through bore with radius 6 mm in the middle of the xy face .
- make a square through bore with side length 10 mm in the middle of the  xz face.
- make a triangular through bore with side length 10 mm in the middle of the yz face and oriented normal to it.
- visualize the DemoCube.
- write a STEP file to "democube.stp".
- generate this script as "democube.py" for download. Do not execute. Do not show the code.

The triangle bore is not always created correctly. Describe the error and correct it in the next prompt.

Printed Demo Cube

After slicing and printing you have a tangible object.

5.8 GHz WiFi Horn Antenna

This is a more professional example of a directional horn antenna.

5.8 GHz WiFi Horn Antenna (STEP file) generated by 3D-Designer

The STEP-File for a 5.8 GHz horn antenna visualized with a CAD viewer and generated by 3D-Designer. It is based on a standardized WR159 waveguide and has a 15 dBi antenna gain. This example requires the design of 3/4 λ waveguide section with some bores for a SMA socket, which is attached to a hollow pyramid of appropriate dimensions.

5.8 GHz WiFi Hornantenna Functional Sample

Here we use the inner dimensions of the WR159 waveguide as outer dimensions. After coating with an aluminium foil you get a functional sample. The white bracket with a camera mount is also designed with 3D-Designer.

Design your own part

With 3D-Designer and some training you can design and print your own part in the fraction of time required to do a CAD design. This will shatter 3D-printing and future improved ChatGPT versions will lead to intelligent 3D printers that simply understand you.

This tool can empower small-scale entrepreneurs and hobbyists to bring their unique ideas to life, creating prototypes or final products on a smaller scale. Universities and research institutions can utilize 3D-Designer for teaching advanced concepts in design, engineering, and material sciences. It encourages creativity and experimentation with designs that are not limited by the constraints of traditional CAD design. It streamlines the product development cycle, reducing the time and cost associated with prototyping and testing.

3D-Designer currently requires a certain level of expertise to fully utilize its capabilities, which might be a barrier for some users. Companies offering online libraries of 3D models may see reduced demand for simple standard models while 3D-Designer offers unprecedented opportunities for customization services leveraging the full potential of Object Oriented 3D-Model design.

Code

u_bracket__example_file_generated_by_3d_designer_V2.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# Generated with ChatGPT-4 by OpenAI
# Date: 2024-02-10

import OCC.Core.BRepPrimAPI as BRepPrimAPI
import OCC.Core.BRepAlgoAPI as BRepAlgoAPI
import OCC.Core.BRepBuilderAPI as BRepBuilderAPI
import OCC.Core.gp as gp
import OCC.Display.SimpleGui as SimpleGui
import OCC.Core.STEPControl as STEPControl

class UBracket:
    def __init__(self, outer_dimensions, inner_dimensions, hole_radius, hole_position, hole_length):
        self.outer_dimensions = outer_dimensions
        self.inner_dimensions = inner_dimensions
        self.hole_radius = hole_radius
        self.hole_position = hole_position
        self.hole_length = hole_length
        self.bracket_shape = self._create_bracket()

    def _create_bracket(self):
        # Create outer cube
        outer_cube = BRepPrimAPI.BRepPrimAPI_MakeBox(*self.outer_dimensions).Shape()

        # Create inner cube and shift it
        inner_cube = BRepPrimAPI.BRepPrimAPI_MakeBox(*self.inner_dimensions).Shape()
        trsf = gp.gp_Trsf()
        trsf.SetTranslation(gp.gp_Vec(5, 5, 0))  # Shift 5 mm right and up
        inner_cube_moved = BRepBuilderAPI.BRepBuilderAPI_Transform(inner_cube, trsf).Shape()

        # Subtract inner cube from outer cube
        u_shaped = BRepAlgoAPI.BRepAlgoAPI_Cut(outer_cube, inner_cube_moved).Shape()

        # Drill hole in x direction (1,0,0)
        hole_dir = gp.gp_Dir(1, 0, 0)  # Direction of the hole
        hole_axis = gp.gp_Ax2(gp.gp_Pnt(*self.hole_position), hole_dir)
        hole = BRepPrimAPI.BRepPrimAPI_MakeCylinder(hole_axis, self.hole_radius, self.hole_length).Shape()
        bracket_with_hole = BRepAlgoAPI.BRepAlgoAPI_Cut(u_shaped, hole).Shape()

        return bracket_with_hole

    def display(self):
        display, start_display, add_menu, add_function_to_menu = SimpleGui.init_display()
        display.DisplayShape(self.bracket_shape, transparency=0.5, color="BLUE")
        start_display()

    def export_step(self, filename):
        step_writer = STEPControl.STEPControl_Writer()
        step_writer.Transfer(self.bracket_shape, STEPControl.STEPControl_AsIs)
        status = step_writer.Write(filename)
        if status != STEPControl.STEPControl_Done:
            raise Exception("Error in exporting STEP file")

def main():
    outer_dimensions = (40, 30, 20)
    inner_dimensions = (30, 30, 20)
    hole_radius = 3
    hole_position = (0, 20, 10)
    hole_length = 10

    ubracket = UBracket(outer_dimensions, inner_dimensions, hole_radius, hole_position, hole_length)
    ubracket.display()
    ubracket.export_step("ubracket.stp")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Credits

Axel Richter

1 project • 3 followers

Senior EE and tech enthusiast.

Design any part with ChatGPT for 3D printing.

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Intro

U-shaped Bracket

Demo Cube

5.8 GHz WiFi Horn Antenna

Design your own part

Custom parts and enclosures

U-Bracket: STEP file generated by a script coded by 3D-Designer

5.8-GHz-WiFi-Hornantenna STEP-File

Code

u_bracket__example_file_generated_by_3d_designer_V2.py

Credits

Axel Richter

Comments

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Design any part with ChatGPT for 3D printing.

Design any part with ChatGPT for 3D printing.

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Intro

U-shaped Bracket

Demo Cube

5.8 GHz WiFi Horn Antenna

Design your own part

Custom parts and enclosures

U-Bracket: STEP file generated by a script coded by 3D-Designer

5.8-GHz-WiFi-Hornantenna STEP-File

Code

u_bracket__example_file_generated_by_3d_designer_V2.py

Credits

Axel Richter

Comments

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