From 3D printable replacement parts and mounting solutions used around the house, to a custom laser-cuttable case for my ProMacroPad project I’ve used FreeCAD, OpenSCAD and CadQuery. FreeCAD is a traditional GUI-based CAD program that I used to design a replacement knob for the dishwasher in our apartment.
OpenSCAD and CadQuery instead use a code-based approach to designing parts. I used CadQuery to design a keyhole mounting system in Python to hang things on the wall with command strips rather than needing a screw or a nail to hang them. The code-based approach allowed this keyhole design to be packaged as a reusable library. In this case I reused the keyhole feature on different mounting plates and placed and sized them accurately using measurements taken from the objects to be hung up.
I used OpenSCAD to design the case for my ProMacroPad, though having later found cadquery I probably wouldn’t reach for OpenSCAD again. It’s easier to use my existing Python knowledge than to use OpenSCAD’s own language.
