Print layout

Plate layout helpers for printed parts.

collect_by_process

function in machinewright.lib.layout

def collect_by_process(
    design: ResolvedDesign,
    process: Process
) -> list[cadquery.Shape]

Recursively walks assy, returning world-located shapes for every leaf part whose attached material has the given process. Leaves with no material metadata are skipped, not an error.

layout_for_printing

function in machinewright.lib.layout

def layout_for_printing(
    design: ResolvedDesign,
    process: Process = Process.PRINTED,
    spacing: float = 5.0,
    bed_size: tuple[float, float] | None = None,
    optimize_orientation: bool = True
) -> cadquery.Workplane

Collects every part in assy matching process.

If optimize_orientation is True (default), each part is tried in all 6 axis-aligned orientations (see _candidate_orientations), keeping whichever has the least overhanging (unsupported) area, tie-broken by the shortest bounding-box height — this both avoids overhangs like a counterbore shoulder facing down, and corrects a part that’s sitting on its side because of how it was placed in the assembly rather than lying on its flattest face.

Each part is then dropped so its bounding box sits flush on Z=0, and shelf-packed into rows: sorted by footprint (bounding-box X*Y) descending, placed left-to-right with spacing between parts, wrapping to a new row when the next part would exceed the target bed width, with rows stacked along Y separated by spacing. If bed_size isn’t given, a target width is auto-computed from the total footprint area to aim for a roughly square layout instead of one long row — pass bed_size explicitly to match a real printer’s bed instead.

Returns a single combined Workplane — the same shape the existing export commands already expect. Raises ValueError if no parts match.