Versions, dependencies and complications
Please note that the most recent successful usage of PyCAM on MacOS was reported around 2012. Thus you should stick with PyCAM v0.5.1 and be prepared to tackle weird dependency problems, if you really need to run PyCAM on MacOS.
You should use Linux instead, if you want to use a more recent release of PyCAM.
Install requirements via MacPorts
First you need to install MacPorts.
Afterwards you need to install the following packages:
- py25-gtk
- py25-gtkglext
- py25-opengl (at least v3.0.1b2)
Simply run the following to install all dependencies:
sudo port install py25-gtk py25-gtkglext py25-opengl
Run PyCAM
- extract the PyCAM archive
- run /opt/local/bin/python2.5 pycam from within PyCAM's directory
- the above line refers to MacPorts' Python interpreter (instead of MacOS' native Python) - otherwise it will not find OpenGL and the other required modules
Problems? Solutions!
Below you will find a list of potential problems reported by PyCAM users.
If these workarounds do not help: please ask a question in the Help forum and provide the following relevant information about your setup.
Get the list of installed python-related packages:
port installed | grep py
Get Python's output for every interesting import statement:
foo@bar:~$ /opt/local/bin/python2.5
Python 2.5.5 (r255:77872, Nov 28 2010, 19:00:19)
[GCC 4.4.5] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits” or "license" for more information.
>>> import gtk.gtkgl
>>> import OpenGL.GL as GL
>>> import OpenGL.GLU as GLU
>>> import OpenGL.GLUT as GLUT
(the above output of a successful test was taken on Linux - your installed versions may differ slightly)
OpenGL (python-gtkglext1) missing
Some users reported the following warning from PyCAM, even though they installed all required packages:
Please install 'python-gtkglext1'
Since none of the PyCAM developers is a Mac OS user, it is not easy for us to track down this issue. Currently it looks like a problem of Python 2.5 and ctypes on Mac OS X. Please try the following steps to fix it:
- install the libffi package:
port install libffi - rebuild Python:
port -v upgrade --force python25
(suggested on stackoverflow)
Alternatively you could try to update Python to v2.6 and install the corresponding packages for GTK, OpenGL and so on.
Please report back, if one of the above suggestions fixes the problem for you - thanks!
OpenGL is too old
According to a forum post from lilalinux you need at least OpenGL v3.0.1b2. Otherwise you will probably get a blank 3D visualization window.