Z-Butt OpenSCAD

A port of Zappycobra's Z-Butt system to OpenSCAD.

STL models are available for download in the releases section.

Images

Compatibility

• MX, Alps, Topre or Kailh Low-Profile stems for switches and stabilizers
• Key sizes of 1u, 1.25u, 1.5u, 1.75u, 2u, 2.25u, 2.75u, 3u, 4u, 6u, 6.25u, and 7u
• ISO enter and big-ass enter

Usage

scad/z-butt.scad is a library. It won't generate any geometry by itself. Instead it should be included in other OpenSCAD files where it's functions can be called.

Modules

• (mx/al/tp/lp)_master_base Base for casting a silicone mould of an existing keycap.
• (mx/al/tp/lp)_sculpt_base Base for sculpting a custom-shaped keycap
• (mx/al/tp/lp)_stem_cavity Stem cavity base (may need to be inverted for printing).
• (mx/al/tp/lp)_sprues_only Sprues with a frame for placing inverted on top of an existing blank key when casting a cavity mold.
• container A container for casting silicone molds

Prefixes and Arguments

• mx module prefix is for Cherry MX stems
• al module prefix is for Alps stems
• tp module prefix is for Topre stems
• lp module prefix is for Kailh Low-Profile stems
• xu: number of key units in X (1 unit is 19.05mm or 0.75 inches).
• yu: Number of key units in Y
• name: Name of specially-shaped key, eg. iso-enter, big-ass-enter
• yn: Number of compartments in a container

Examples

An Alps-stem master base, 2u in the X-axis:

include <z-butt.scad>

al_master_base(xu=2);

An MX-stem ISO enter cavity base:

include <z-butt.scad>

mx_stem_cavity(name="iso-enter");

Parameters

• Measurements can be altered by changing values in the “User Parameters” section of the z-butt.scad library. Of particular note:
  • sprue_max_distance: make sprue placement denser or sparser
  • container_inset tune the gap to the internal walls of the container
• MX stems for stabilizers have been included on larger spacebars, though these are tentative and it is advised to check them before printing. Stem placement can be edited in the functions switches_xu and stabilizers_xu.

Building

For building on Linux, OpenSCAD and GNU Make should be installed.

From the root of the repository, run

make

Or to use, for example, four cores in parallel:

make -j 4