Reworking color usage to support a "realistic" render mode, and a "design" render mode.

scad/conf/colors.scad

@@ -8,26 +8,22 @@
 // Reusable color definitions
 //
 
-// Named colors
+// OpenSCAD v2011.12 and later support named colors
-white                           = [1, 1, 1];
+// http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCAD_User_Manual/The_OpenSCAD_Language#color
-black                           = [0, 0, 0];
+//
-red                             = [1, 0, 0];
+// The available color names are taken from the World Wide Web consortium's SVG color list.
-dark_red                        = [0.7, 0, 0];
+// http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-color/#svg-color
-green                           = [0, 1, 0];
+
-yellow                          = [1, 1, 0];
+// Some additional named colors
-fuchsia                         = [1, 0, 1];
-orange                          = [1, 0.7, 0];
 grey20                          = [0.2, 0.2, 0.2];
 grey50                          = [0.5, 0.5, 0.5];
 grey70                          = [0.7, 0.7, 0.7];
 grey80                          = [0.8, 0.8, 0.8];
 grey90                          = [0.9, 0.9, 0.9];
+brass                           = [0.8, 0.8, 0.4];
 
-// Material colors
+// use_realistic_colors is defined in config.scad
-MDF_brown                       = [0.4, 0.4, 0.2, 1    ];
+function plastic_part_color(color) = use_realistic_colors ? printed_plastic_color : color;
-acrylic_clear                   = [1,   1,   1,   0.5  ];
-glass_clear                     = [1,   1,   1,   0.25 ];
-dibond_grey                     = [0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 1    ];
 
 // Object colors
 rod_color                        = grey80;
@@ -36,58 +32,61 @@ tubing_color                     = [0.8, 0.8, 0.8, 0.75 ];
 nut_color                        = grey70;
 soft_washer_color                = grey20;
 hard_washer_color                = grey80;
-star_washer_color                = [0.8, 0.8, 0.4];
+star_washer_color                = brass;
 screw_cap_color                  = grey20;
 screw_grub_color                 = grey20;
 screw_hex_color                  = grey80;
-screw_pan_color                  = [0.8, 0.8, 0.4];
+screw_pan_color                  = brass;
-screw_cs_color                   = [0.8, 0.8, 0.4];
+screw_cs_color                   = brass;
 spring_color                     = grey20;
 pillar_color                     = grey90;
-pillar_liner_color               = yellow;
+pillar_liner_color               = "yellow";
 bearing_color                    = grey70;
 psu_color                        = grey80;
 fan_color                        = grey20;
-microswitch_color                = black;
+microswitch_color                = "black";
-microswitch_button_color         = orange;
+microswitch_button_color         = "orange";
-microswitch_contact_color        = yellow;
+microswitch_contact_color        = "yellow";
-sanguinololu_color               = red;
+sanguinololu_color               = "red";
-stepper_body_color               = black;
+stepper_body_color               = "black";
 stepper_cap_color                = grey50;
-small_ziptie_color               = white;
+small_ziptie_color               = "white";
-
+bed_color                        = "firebrick";
-// Assembly colors
-clamp_color                      = green;
-bed_color                        = dark_red;
-clip_color                       = red;
-d_shell_color                    = green;
-d_shell_lid_color                = red;
-d_motor_bracket_color            = green;
-d_motor_bracket_lid_color        = red;
 d_pillar_color                   = grey90;
 d_plug_shell_color               = grey80;
 d_plug_insulator_color           = grey20;
-fixing_block_color               = green;
+extruder_insulator_color         = "goldenrod"
-ribbon_clamp_color               = red;
+extruder_nozzle_color            = "yellow";
-fan_guard_color                  = green;
+cable_strip_color                = use_realistic_colors ? cable_strip_real_color : "fuchsia";
-pcb_spacer_color                 = green;
+belt_color                       = use_realistic_colors ? belt_real_color : "yellow";
-pulley_color                     = red;
+bulldog_color                    = use_realistic_colors ? bulldog_real_color : "yellow";
-ribbon_clamp_color               = red;
+
-wades_big_gear_color             = green;
+// Assembly colors
-wades_small_gear_color           = red;
+clamp_color                      = plastic_part_color("lime");
-wades_idler_block_color          = green;
+clip_color                       = plastic_part_color("red");
-wades_gear_spacer_color          = red;
+d_shell_color                    = plastic_part_color("lime");
-filament_viz_color               = [0.6, 0.5, 0.2];
+d_shell_lid_color                = plastic_part_color("red");
-extruder_nozzle_color            = yellow;
+d_motor_bracket_color            = plastic_part_color("lime");
-x_carriage_color                 = red;
+d_motor_bracket_lid_color        = plastic_part_color("red");
-x_belt_clamp_color               = green;
+fixing_block_color               = plastic_part_color("lime");
-x_end_bracket_color              = green;
+ribbon_clamp_color               = plastic_part_color("red");
-y_bearing_mount_color            = red;
+fan_guard_color                  = plastic_part_color("lime");
-y_belt_anchor_color              = green;
+pcb_spacer_color                 = plastic_part_color("lime");
-y_belt_clip_color                = red;
+pulley_color                     = plastic_part_color("red");
-y_idler_bracket_color            = green;
+ribbon_clamp_color               = plastic_part_color("red");
-y_motor_bracket_color            = green;
+wades_block_color                = plastic_part_color("yellow");
-z_coupling_color                 = red;
+wades_big_gear_color             = plastic_part_color("lime");
-z_limit_switch_bracket_color     = green;
+wades_small_gear_color           = plastic_part_color("red");
-z_motor_bracket_color            = green;
+wades_idler_block_color          = plastic_part_color("lime");
-cable_strip_color                = fuchsia;
+wades_gear_spacer_color          = plastic_part_color("red");
+x_carriage_color                 = plastic_part_color("red");
+x_belt_clamp_color               = plastic_part_color("lime");
+x_end_bracket_color              = plastic_part_color("lime");
+y_bearing_mount_color            = plastic_part_color("red");
+y_belt_anchor_color              = plastic_part_color("lime");
+y_belt_clip_color                = plastic_part_color("red");
+y_idler_bracket_color            = plastic_part_color("lime");
+y_motor_bracket_color            = plastic_part_color("lime");
+z_coupling_color                 = plastic_part_color("red");
+z_limit_switch_bracket_color     = plastic_part_color("lime");
+z_motor_bracket_color            = plastic_part_color("lime");

scad/conf/config.scad

@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@
 // Configuration file
 //
 
-include <colors.scad>
-
 bom = 2;                        // 0 no bom, 1 assemblies and stls, 2 vitamins as well
 exploded = false;               // true for exploded view
+use_realistic_colors = true;    // true for "real" colors, false for "distinct" colors (useful during design)
 eta = 0.01;                     // small fudge factor to stop CSG barfing on coincident faces.
 $fa = 5;
 $fs = 0.5;
@@ -56,6 +55,7 @@ min_wall = 2 * filament_width + eta;
 
 pcb_thickness = 1.6;
 
+include <colors.scad>
 include <utils.scad>
 include <vitamins.scad>
 

scad/conf/huxley_config.scad

@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@
 // Configuration file
 //
 echo("Huxley:");
+
+// Real-world colors for various parts & vitamins
+printed_plastic_color = "blue";
+cable_strip_real_color = "fuchsia";
+belt_real_color = "yellow";
+bulldog_real_color ="black";
+
 Z_bearings = LM6UU;
 Y_bearings = LM6UU;
 X_bearings = LM6UU;

scad/conf/mendel_config.scad

@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@
 // Configuration file
 //
 echo("Mendel:");
+
+// Real-world colors for various parts & vitamins
+printed_plastic_color = "blue";
+cable_strip_real_color = "fuchsia";
+belt_real_color = "yellow";
+bulldog_real_color ="black";
+
 Z_bearings = LM8UU;
 Y_bearings = LM8UU;
 X_bearings = LM8UU;

scad/conf/sturdy_config.scad

@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@
 // Configuration file
 //
 echo("Sturdy:");
+
+// Real-world colors for various parts & vitamins
+printed_plastic_color = "blue";
+cable_strip_real_color = "fuchsia";
+belt_real_color = "yellow";
+bulldog_real_color ="black";
+
 Z_bearings = LM10UU;
 Y_bearings = LM10UU;
 X_bearings = LM10UU;

scad/main.scad

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ module x_axis_assembly(show_extruder) {
         rotate([180, 0, 180])
             x_carriage_assembly(show_extruder);
 
+    color(belt_color)
     translate([0, -gantry_setback - belt_width(X_belt) / 2, Z + Z0])
         rotate([90, 0, 0]) render()
             union() {
@@ -228,6 +229,7 @@ module y_axis_assembly(show_bed) {
         y_rails();
 
         translate([Y_belt_line - X_origin, Y_motor_end, y_motor_height()]) rotate([90,0,-90]) {
+            color(belt_color)
             render() difference() {
                 twisted_belt(Y_belt,
                              Y_motor_end - Y_idler_end,

scad/vitamins/belts.scad

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ module belt(type, x1, y1, r1, x2, y2, r2, gap = 0) {
     length = pi * (r1 + r2) + 2 * sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy) - gap;
     vitamin(str("BT", belt_pitch(type),width, round(length), ": Belt T", belt_pitch(type)," x ", width, " x ", round(length)));
 
+    color(belt_color)
     linear_extrude(height = width, center = true, convexity = 6) {
         difference() {
             hull() {                                                    // outside of belt
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ module twisted_belt(type, x1, y1, r1, x2, y2, r2, gap = 0) {
 
     angle = atan2(dy, dx) - atan2((r2 - r1), dx);
 
+    color(belt_color)
     union() {
         difference() {
             belt(type, x1, y1, r1, x2, y2, r2, gap);

scad/vitamins/bulldog.scad

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ module bulldog(type, open = 4) {
 
     vitamin(str("BD00", bulldog_length(type), ": ", bulldog_length(type), "mm bulldog clip"));
 
+    color(bulldog_color)
     render() translate([depth / 2 - thickness - eta, 0, 0])
         union() {
             difference() {

scad/vitamins/sheet.scad

@@ -8,21 +8,26 @@
 // Flat sheets
 //
 
-// The "Soft" parameter determines if the sheet material will hold threads.
+// If you'd like to add a new material type, or a different color of an existing material type
-// If not, nuts will be used to retain screws.
+// simply add a new line here (or in your machine config file).
-
+//
-// The "Color" parameter is a quad-array: [R, G, B, Alpha]
+// The "Soft" parameter determines if the sheet material needs machine screws or wood screws
-
+// if "soft", wood screws will be used, with a pilot hole.
+// If "not soft", either tapped holes or a clearance hole and nuts will be used to retain screws.
+//
+// The "Color" parameter is a quad-array: [R, G, B, Alpha], or can be a named color
+// see http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCAD_User_Manual/The_OpenSCAD_Language#color
+//
 //         [ Code, Description, Thickness, Color, Soft]
-
+//
-MDF6     = [ "MD", "MDF sheet",     6, MDF_brown, true];    // ~1/4"
+MDF6     = [ "MD", "MDF sheet",     6, [0.4, 0.4, 0.2, 1    ], true];    // ~1/4"
-MDF10    = [ "MD", "MDF sheet",    10, MDF_brown, true];    // ~3/8"
+MDF10    = [ "MD", "MDF sheet",    10, [0.4, 0.4, 0.2, 1    ], true];    // ~3/8"
-MDF12    = [ "MD", "MDF sheet",    12, MDF_brown, true];    // ~1/2"
+MDF12    = [ "MD", "MDF sheet",    12, [0.4, 0.4, 0.2, 1    ], true];    // ~1/2"
-PMMA6    = [ "AC", "Acrylic sheet", 6, acrylic_clear, false];   // ~1/4"
+PMMA6    = [ "AC", "Acrylic sheet", 6, [1,   1,   1,   0.5  ], false];   // ~1/4"
-PMMA8    = [ "AC", "Acrylic sheet", 8, acrylic_clear, false];   // ~5/16"
+PMMA8    = [ "AC", "Acrylic sheet", 8, [1,   1,   1,   0.5  ], false];   // ~5/16"
-PMMA10   = [ "AC", "Acrylic sheet",10, acrylic_clear, false];   // ~3/8"
+PMMA10   = [ "AC", "Acrylic sheet",10, [1,   1,   1,   0.5  ], false];   // ~3/8"
-glass2   = [ "GL", "Glass sheet",   2, glass_clear, false];
+glass2   = [ "GL", "Glass sheet",   2, [1,   1,   1,   0.25 ], false];
-DiBond   = [ "DB", "Dibond sheet",  3, dibond_grey, false];
+DiBond   = [ "DB", "Dibond sheet",  3, [0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 1    ], false];
 
 function sheet_thickness(type) = type[2];
 function sheet_is_soft(type) = type[4];

scad/wade.scad

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ module wades_block_stl() {
     insulator_depth = insulator_depth(hot_end);
 
 
+    color(wades_block_color)
     difference(){
         union(){
             cube([81, 52, thickness]);                            // motor plate
@@ -250,7 +251,7 @@ module wade_idler_assembly() {
 module wades_assembly() {
     assembly("wades_assembly");
 
-    render() wades_block_stl();
+    color(wades_block_color) render() wades_block_stl();
 
     // idler screws, washers and springs
     for(i = [0,1])
@@ -330,7 +331,7 @@ module wades_assembly() {
 
     translate([75, 5 - nozzle_length / 4, 15])
         rotate([-90, 0, 0]) {
-            color(filament_viz_color) cylinder(h = nozzle_length / 2 + 10, r = insulator_diameter(hot_end) / 2, center = true);
+            color(extruder_insulator_color) cylinder(h = nozzle_length / 2 + 10, r = insulator_diameter(hot_end) / 2, center = true);
             translate([0, 0, -nozzle_length /2 - 5])
                 color(extruder_nozzle_color) cylinder(h = nozzle_length / 2, r = 3, center = true);
         }

scad/x-carriage.scad

@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ module belt_loop() {
     d = x_carriage_offset() - pulley_inner_radius - belt_thickness(X_belt);
     height = d + 2 * belt_thickness(X_belt);
     length = lug_width + 12.5;
+
+    color(belt_color)
     translate([d / 2, 0, 0])
         linear_extrude(height = belt_width(X_belt), convexity = 5, center = true)
             difference() {