Edit : changed "for(i = [0:70])" which doesn't crash, to "for(i = [0:100])" which crashes on 2 systems.

Here is a simple testcase that reproduces the crashes i have using OpenSCAD. I have made a model with many non touching more or less simple objects.

OpenSCAD version 2013.01 on Windows 7 64 bit. The script will compile and display fine in 0 seconds but compile and render will crash with 1.8 GB memory usage.

//--- snip ---

// shapeways can print with 0.2 mm resolution
// our model needs at least that resolution
$fs = 0.1;

module ring(ring_radius,wire_radius) {
rotate_extrude()
translate([ring_radius,0,0])
circle(wire_radius);
}

function odd(i) = i%2;

for(i = [0:100]) {
translate([15*i,0,0])
if (odd(i)) {
rotate([90,0,0])
ring(10,1);
}
else
{
ring(10,1);
}
}