CADAM Benchmarks
A showcase of what CADAM builds from a single plain-language
description. Each benchmark starts from the prompt shown and comes out as fully parametric
OpenSCAD — adjustable dimensions and colours, ready to export as .STL, .SCAD, or .DXF.
The .scad source for each model is included here, so they double as a record of how well
CADAM turns plain language into real, printable, fully parametric CAD.
Complex machines & assemblies
| Model | What it shows | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| V8 engine | complete V8 — banks, heads, valve covers, manifold, headers, crank, pistons, oil pan | 22 dims · 8 colors |
| 9-cylinder radial aircraft engine | nine finned cylinders in a radial star + prop hub | 15 dims · 6 colors |
| Turbofan jet engine | full engine — fan, bypass cowl, core stages, exhaust plug | 2 dims · 10 colors |
| Axial turbine blisk | ring of twisted aerofoil blades on a keyed hub | 14 dims · 1 color |
Parametric fundamentals
| Model | What it shows | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted hexagonal vase | generative twist-loft, hollow shell with solid floor | 6 dims · 1 color |
| Knurled control knob | diamond knurling, D-bore + set screw, pointer | 15 dims · 2 colors |
| Hex bolt & nut | real ISO threads (BOSL2 screw/nut) |
3 dims · 2 colors |
| Honeycomb bracket | generative hex lattice, filleted L-bracket | 13 dims · 1 color |
| NACA 2412 wing | true airfoil from the NACA equations, tapered loft | 9 dims · 1 color |
| Threaded jar & lid | two mating threaded parts | 9 dims · 2 colors |
| Bevel gear drive | meshing bevel gear pair at 90° | 9 dims · 3 colors |
| Centrifugal impeller | 7 swept backward-curved blades | 10 dims · 1 color |
| Planetary gear stage | full epicyclic assembly, herringbone teeth | 10 dims · 4 colors |
Regenerating the GIFs
render.sh turns any .scad into a clean orbiting GIF (and, with --sheet, a
4-view contact sheet). It mirrors CADAM's own preview: BOSL2 on the library path,
color() parts preserved, a clean orbit around the vertical axis.
Prerequisites (macOS shown; any OpenSCAD ≥ 2021.01 with BOSL2 support works):
# OpenSCAD CLI + ImageMagick
brew install --cask openscad@snapshot
brew install imagemagick
# BOSL2 (and BOSL) on the OpenSCAD library path — these are bundled in the repo
mkdir -p /tmp/oscad-libs/BOSL2 /tmp/oscad-libs/BOSL
unzip -o ../public/libraries/BOSL2.zip -d /tmp/oscad-libs/BOSL2
unzip -o ../public/libraries/BOSL.zip -d /tmp/oscad-libs/BOSL
Then:
./render.sh 03-hex-bolt-and-nut.scad # -> 03-hex-bolt-and-nut.gif
./render.sh --sheet 09-herringbone-planetary-gearbox.scad # -> *.sheet.png (inspection)
Knobs (env vars): FRAMES (default 36), SIZE (520), ELEV (62°), FPS (24),
COLORSCHEME (Tomorrow), OPENSCADPATH (/tmp/oscad-libs), OPENSCAD_BIN.