use use tx = "3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709384460955058223172"; pts = [for(p = px_spiral(1, floor(sqrt(len(tx))) + 1)) p * 8]; linear_extrude(2) for(i = [0:len(tx) - 1]) { translate(pts[i]) difference() { square(7, center = true); for(p = vx_ascii(tx[i], center = true)) { translate(p) square(.8); } } } linear_extrude(1) { for(i = [0:len(tx) - 1]) { translate(pts[i]) square(7, center = true); } polyline_join([for(i = [0:len(tx) - 1]) pts[i]]) circle(1); } function _px_spiral_forward(pt, leng, dir, clockwise) = let( DIRS = clockwise ? [ [1, 0], [0, -1], [-1, 0], [0, 1] ] : [ [1, 0], [0, 1], [-1, 0], [0, -1] ] ) pt + DIRS[dir] * leng; function _px_spiral_go_turn(from, leng, max_leng, clockwise, dir) = let( range = [1:leng], pts = [for(i = range) _px_spiral_forward(from, i, dir % 4, clockwise)], ps = pts[len(pts) - 1], pts2 = [for(i = range) _px_spiral_forward(ps, i, (dir + 1) % 4, clockwise)], pd = pts2[len(pts2) - 1] ) concat(pts, pts2, _px_spiral(pd, leng + 1, max_leng, clockwise, dir + 2)); function _px_spiral(from, leng, max_leng, clockwise, dir) = leng > max_leng ? [] : _px_spiral_go_turn(from, leng, max_leng, clockwise, dir); function px_spiral(init_leng, max_leng, clockwise = false) = let(org = [0, 0]) [org, each _px_spiral(org, init_leng, max_leng, clockwise, 0)];