Yes, make it a module called shaft and use shaft().

On Wed, 9 Feb 2022 at 12:50, Terry Pinnell terrypingm@gmail.com wrote:

Thanks nop head. Although I understand the greater fexibility of modules, I naively had in mind something much simpler. While still editing my code, say that subtraction on my two cylinders is done. I’d like to bracket that code, place my cursor at the start and type something like ‘Define shaftxyz:’ So that any future use of the string ‘shaftxyz’ (apart from this specific statement) would effectively replace that code. No decisions about future use, no decision whether parameters needed and if so what to call them. Just like my abbreviation ‘=tp’ to type my full name and address.

--
Terry

On Wed, Feb 09, 2022 at 12:53:01PM +0000, nop head wrote:

Indeed.
Terry might need a bit more help to figure out the actual syntax:

module pipe (length, inner_diameter, wall_thickness)
{
rotate ([0,90,0])
difference () {
cylinder (d= inner_diameter + 2 * wall_thickness, h= length, center=true);
cylinder (d= inner_diameter + 0 * wall_thickness, h= length+2, center=true);
}
}

pipe (80, 10, 1);
rotate (90) pipe (60, 6, 1);

(For the record, I think of a shaft being solid. so I called it "pipe").

Roger. 

--
** R.E.Wolff@BitWizard.nl ** https://www.BitWizard.nl/ ** +31-15-2049110 **
**    Delftechpark 11 2628 XJ  Delft, The Netherlands.  KVK: 27239233    **
f equals m times a. When your f is steady, and your m is going down
your a is going up.  -- Chris Hadfield about flying up the space shuttle.

But of course without actually entering the code! just the abbreviation
'shaftxyz'

On Wed, 9 Feb 2022 at 13:52, terrypingm@gmail.com terrypingm@gmail.com
wrote:

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On Wed, Feb 09, 2022 at 01:52:04PM +0000, terrypingm@gmail.com wrote:

You're still asking for a subset of what modules do.
module mypipe () pipe (80, 10, 1);

In computer languages, it is best to make things general enough and
then let users decide if they want to use all features or not.

Roger.

--
** R.E.Wolff@BitWizard.nl ** https://www.BitWizard.nl/ ** +31-15-2049110 **
**    Delftechpark 11 2628 XJ  Delft, The Netherlands.  KVK: 27239233    **
f equals m times a. When your f is steady, and your m is going down
your a is going up.  -- Chris Hadfield about flying up the space shuttle.

On Wed, Feb 09, 2022 at 01:56:16PM +0000, Terry Pinnell wrote:

That's what a library does.

include <poly.scad>

Roger. 

--
** R.E.Wolff@BitWizard.nl ** https://www.BitWizard.nl/ ** +31-15-2049110 **
**    Delftechpark 11 2628 XJ  Delft, The Netherlands.  KVK: 27239233    **
f equals m times a. When your f is steady, and your m is going down
your a is going up.  -- Chris Hadfield about flying up the space shuttle.

Agreed, Roger, 'pipe'!

See also my reply to nop head which passed in the ether before I saw yours.
I certainly do intend to make more use of modules. But for my pretty modest
designs I'd still like something simpler as explained.

I might try a second best solution of using my Macro Exoress Pro
application.

On Wed, 9 Feb 2022 at 13:54, Rogier Wolff R.E.Wolff@bitwizard.nl wrote:

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Thanks for both follow ups. On iPad but I'll get back to PC shortly and
experiment further with modules and includes.

On Wed, 9 Feb 2022 at 14:00, Rogier Wolff R.E.Wolff@bitwizard.nl wrote:

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LargePrefPlaceholder-XKUz1MEJBwkOM

Hmmmm... at the risk of being less than helpful, all the "pipes" in my
house are hollow...

On Wed, Feb 9, 2022 at 7:55 AM Rogier Wolff R.E.Wolff@bitwizard.nl wrote: