easy 3D graphics for rendering geometry?

[Kjell Magne Fauske]

On Nov 8, 6:53 am, gsal <salger... at gmail.com> wrote:
> What would be the easiest way to go about offering 3D graphics for the
> purpose of rendering geometry?
>
> Suppose engineers (my co-workes) have to design some enclosure,
> nozzle, bracket, or whatever physical part/component, I would like to
> write a program where they can at least see the resulting geometry and
> navigate it, i.e., zoon-in/out, rotate, pan.  On the side, I could
> have data entry fields with the input parameters and when something is
> changed, the graphics can be updated "immediately" (after the
> necessary calculations have been done).
>
> I know I need to learn something, and I am willing, I just need help
> choosing what to learn.
>
> I don't have any experience on this matter, don't know OpenGL, Mesa,
> VTK, VRS, Maya...and all seem to have a steep learning curve. I don't
> know any of the "other" graphics packages more oriented for game/
> scenery/movie development (Panda, etc.), either.
>
> I do know my trig and build my FEA parts parametrically from points,
> to line, to surfaces, to volumes or from volume boolean algebra.
>
> I would like the choice to be some kind of module/API that works
> equally well on Linux as in Windows.
>
> So:
> What would be the easiest way?
> and would it be worth learning?
> or
> is it better to shoot for something not so easy but worth learning?
>
> thanks in advance for any pointers.
>
> gsal

I recommend taking a look at Blender 3D: http://www.blender.org/
It is primarily a modeling, animation and rendering tool. However, my
favorite feature is the Python API which allows you to access most of
the functionality using Python. You can create simple GUIs and create
3d-objects programatically.

- Kjell Magne Fauske