Pterosphera V2

Strategy

I'm having trouble choosing between OpenSCAD and Go for this. OpenSCAD produces "crisper" models that are a lot smaller on disk, but is a weaker language. The particular library I've picked in golang leverages a stronger language, but produces "mushy" models that are huge.

I'm pausing on my work on the Go strategy, and revisiting how I'm generating the curve of switches to see if I can get a solution there...

Build Log

Mon Mar 21

Work has been busy, and the kids on break, so I've not had much time to look at this.

I did manage to get some simple walls built for the basic thumb cluster. I'm still pressing forward.

Mon Mar 7

I continue to build out the case around the thumb cluster. Adding in bezels will make welding this together a bit easier.

For those of you who stumble across this and have the (mis)fortune of having to dig into the inner-workings of this, I've added a mechanism for plotting various points. The main body of the case is built largely with a strategy around hull() and polyhedron - as the math around these points make things a lot easier. The module plotPoints allows you to plot a matrix of vertices - it renders a small sphere at the point, and a small number indicating the index. This makes working out your polyhedrons quite a bit easier...

Sat Mar 5

Got started on the thumb cluster without the trackball. Working on getting it positioned right, and the walls generated in around it, and welding it to the main body of the case.

I've managed to work in tenting of the body and to get a lot of the edge generation working, but there's still an artifact or two to work out. This includes calculating the ideal height of the case based on the lowest point in the dish.

Fri Mar 4

Finished working out the easier sides of the case (back and outer edge). The next part is going to be a bit tougher, as it's about time to start working out how the thumb clusters work, including with the trackball socket.

Sat Feb 26

Taking a couple steps back to be able to take a bunch forward. I'm pulling back to double-down on my strategy of building all the vertices for the dish before rendering. I'm using matrixes to simulate custom types, so that I can better calculate the points for the edges for building the case around the model. I'm pretty happy with where it's landed so far.

Wed Feb 23

Last night I struggled a bit getting the traditional DM bevel on the top part of this. I saw on Reddit a Dactyl-style board that had a bevel that inset the keys a bit. Inspired by this, I've created a top bevel that may be easier to work with for the back of the case - especially when it comes time to generate the holes for the cables.

Tue Feb 22

I've got the column generation down, including joining the columns together. In order to do this, I had to use a combined strategy of generating the individual points and faces (and wrapping with hull()), to generate the objects. This is because a simple polyhedron doesn't perform well when you try to use difference() on it. With hull(), you only have to define two opposing faces - further simplifying it.

Now that I'm using this strategy of individual points, it will make rendering the MX holes into the plate much easier, and I have points to work off of for generating the body of the case!

Printing Notes

Trackball Socket

When printing stand-alone:

• Print with the socket opening face-down - the sensor mount will be upward/on the top. Use a brim, and use tree supports.

Switch Sockets

These are designed for MX style switches, with:

• Cutouts for opening the switch in-board, so we can solder in place, and take off the top part of the switch. This likely won't be used, ever, but it doesn't hurt to have.
• Notches in (under) the top plate so that the clips on the switches will grab the plate, making it so that they are more secure, and require a tool to remove.
• Screw hole sockets (for heat-insert), for the Amoeba 1u PCB (Amoeba-royale v2.0 - https://github.com/JKing-B16/keyboard-pcbs/tree/master/amoeba-royale)

When printing stand-alone:

• Print with the top-plate down on the glass bed, with a brim. Use tree supports.