Split Keyboard Case Builder

This tool makes building 3D printed custom split keyboard cases (and plates) easy, if you can use Inkscape, you can build a keyboard case.

Requirements

You must have Inkscape and OpenSCAD installed, that's it!

Editing the Template

All the work is done in template.svg using Inkscape.

We need to create and export four SVG files from the template, kb_plate_locking.svg makes up the top half of the key plate that the switches can lock into, kb_plate_open.svg makes the bottom half of the plate, kb_case_wall.svg is the walls of the case, kb_case_bottom is the inside bottom of the case, and kb_case_bottom_outer is the counter-sunk portion of the case bottom. These four SVG files will be converted by OpenSCAD to two STL files, case and plate. You'll need some 8mm or 10mm standoffs and 2mm screws to attach the plate to the case.

Key Layout - Clone the "keycode with clearance" to layout your keys, the black boxes should be touching but not overlapping.
kb_plate_locking.svg - Clone the layout, draw an outline around all the keys with the pen tool, this is the plate part of the case where the switches mount (use the "Corners" path effect to round out the edges if desired, make sure to do "path" > "object to path" after). Add counter-sunk screw holes between the keyholes, the "screw hole" bit in the template is for 2mm machine screws, adjust it as needed.
kb_plate_open.svg - Clone the plate locking part you just made, you can now ungroup all the "keycode with clearance" parts (ctrl+a to select all, ctrl+shift+g to ungroup), delete everything except "keyhole locking" from the plate locking part, and everything but the "keyhole open" from the plate open part. Switch the counter-sunk screw holes with non counter-sunk.
kb_case_wall.svg - Clone the plate bottom outline and screw holes, use the "offset" path effect with a value of 1mm, this gives the plate a little bit of room to fit into the inner wall of the case, then do "path" > "object to path". Clone the outline in place with "ctrl + d" to make the outer wall of the case, then do another offset of 3mm, for the width of the case wall, "path" > "object to path" again on that one. (we will delete the screw holes after the next step, but we need them for the case bottom).
kb_case_bottom.svg - Clone the case wall and delete the inner outline, delete the screw holes from the case wall.
kb_case_bottom_outer.svg - Clone case bottom, swap the screw holes with the counter sunk ones.
For each part created above, clone it, run "path" > "object to path", then "path" > "combine", then "file" > "export", choose "selection", choose "svg" for the filetype, and save to the src folder with the appropriate filename.

Creating the STL files

Run build.sh to create STL files in the output folder, or open the OpenSCAD files to tweak parameters and export STL files manually.
- Note: If the ports in the case don't line up, you'll need to adjust their location in OpenSCAD via parameters.
You'll need to mirror both parts to print the other half for split keyboards, you can do this with modern slicers such as PrusaSlicer.
Print them up and build yourself a keyboard!

OpenSCAD Parameters

Case