Why

write a keyboard

Advantages of a programmatic design

• customization
• parametrized design
• it's just a fun thing to do

Attempt 1: Re-using an existing design

• https://github.com/abstracthat/dactyl-manuform
• parametric design
• lisp program
• generates Openscad code
• excellent readme with build instructions

My Version

Tools

• Openscad
• Deno

Tools: Openscad

• https://openscad.org/
• application and functional language

							
cube([2,3,4]);
translate([3,0,0]) {
  cube([2,3,4]);
}
							
						

Deno

							
Deno.writeTextFile("./sandbox.scad", sandbox().render())
							
						

Constructive Solid Geometry

Basic operations:

• Union
• Hull
• Intersection
• Difference

Union

Hull

Intersection

Difference

Approach

• generate Openscad code with Typescript and Deno
• cube is as a hull of points
• rotate and transle points in Typescript
• only post-transformation positions in generated Openscad code
• corner positions can be accessed after transformation

Generating the Openscad code

							
export const hull = (...elements: OpenscadShape[]): OpenscadShape => {
  return new OpenscadShape(
    openScadFunctionCall({
      name: "hull",
      curlyBracesContent: elements.map((e) => e.build()).join("\n"),
    })
  );
};
							
						

							
const curlyBracesContentIndented = options.curlyBracesContent
	? ` {${indent(options.curlyBracesContent)}}`
	: ";";
return `${options.name} (${unnamedParamsString}${separator}${namedParamsString})${curlyBracesContentIndented}`;
							
						

							
hull(){
	cube([0, 0, 0]);
	cube([3, 0, 0]);
}
							
						

Cube

							
this.vertices = [
	this.position.add(v3(-size.x / 2, -size.y / 2, -size.z / 2)),
	this.position.add(v3(size.x / 2, -size.y / 2, -size.z / 2)),
	this.position.add(v3(size.x / 2, size.y / 2, -size.z / 2)),
	this.position.add(v3(-size.x / 2, size.y / 2, -size.z / 2)),
	this.position.add(v3(-size.x / 2, -size.y / 2, size.z / 2)),
	this.position.add(v3(size.x / 2, -size.y / 2, size.z / 2)),
	this.position.add(v3(size.x / 2, size.y / 2, size.z / 2)),
	this.position.add(v3(-size.x / 2, size.y / 2, size.z / 2)),
];
							
						

Translation

							
public translate = (delta: Vector3) => {
	this.vertices = this.vertices.map((p) => p.add(delta));
	this.position = this.position.add(delta);
	return this;
};
							
						

Rotation

							
export const rotatePoint = (options: RotatePointOptions): Vector3 => {
  const initialVector = options.position.sub(options.origin);
  const rotatedVector = { ...initialVector };
  if (options.axis === Axis.Z) {
    rotatedVector.x =
      initialVector.x * Math.cos(-options.angleRadians) -
      initialVector.y * Math.sin(-options.angleRadians);
    rotatedVector.y =
      initialVector.y * Math.cos(-options.angleRadians) +
      initialVector.x * Math.sin(-options.angleRadians);
  } else if (options.axis === Axis.X) {
    rotatedVector.y =
      initialVector.y * Math.cos(-options.angleRadians) -
      initialVector.z * Math.sin(-options.angleRadians);
    rotatedVector.z =
      initialVector.z * Math.cos(-options.angleRadians) +
      initialVector.y * Math.sin(-options.angleRadians);
  } else if (options.axis === Axis.Y) {
    rotatedVector.x =
      initialVector.x * Math.cos(-options.angleRadians) -
      initialVector.z * Math.sin(-options.angleRadians);
    rotatedVector.z =
      initialVector.z * Math.cos(-options.angleRadians) +
      initialVector.x * Math.sin(-options.angleRadians);
  }
  return options.origin.add(rotatedVector);
};
							
						

Curved rows and columns

Curved rows and columns

Attempt 2 Results

• shape inspired by dactyl manuform

Printing

End Result

Typing Demonstration