feat(case): add parametric 3D-printed enclosure concept
Typewriter-body OpenSCAD model for the GDEY0579T93 panel and ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1: glueless screen retention (bezel lip + foam gasket + screwed bracket), baseplate-as-chassis board mounting, and a recessed deck nameplate. Ships render previews, a dimensioned concept drawing, and just recipes to open/render/export.
This commit is contained in:
Julien Calixte
168
hardware/case/README.md
Normal file
168
hardware/case/README.md
Normal file
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
|
||||
# Enclosure — typewriter body (concept)
|
||||
|
||||
Part of [**Typoena**](../../README.md) — the distraction-free DIY writing
|
||||
machine. This page covers the enclosure only; the project root README covers
|
||||
the whole appliance (hardware, software stack, roadmap).
|
||||
|
||||
A 3D-printable case for Typoena. The e-paper strip sits on a reclined **deck**
|
||||
where a typewriter's sheet of paper would be; the keyboard you bring rests in
|
||||
front. There is **no platen part** (it complicates the print) — the rounded
|
||||
back-top edge is a subtle roll that nods to one for free.
|
||||
|
||||
> **Status: v0 concept, not yet printed.** Outer form and the screen-retention
|
||||
> / board-mounting strategy are worked out and render cleanly. Board hole
|
||||
> positions and port offsets are placeholders marked `<< MEASURE >>` in the
|
||||
> `.scad` — confirm them against the real board before printing a final.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
## Files
|
||||
|
||||
| File | What |
|
||||
| --- | --- |
|
||||
| [`typoena-case.scad`](typoena-case.scad) | The parametric model. All dimensions live at the top. |
|
||||
| [`concept.html`](concept.html) | Dimensioned side/front/top drawing (open in a browser). |
|
||||
| `renders/` | PNG previews (regenerated by the commands below). |
|
||||
|
||||
## Render / preview
|
||||
|
||||
Needs [OpenSCAD](https://openscad.org). Open `typoena-case.scad` in the GUI and
|
||||
flip the `show` variable, or from the CLI:
|
||||
|
||||
```sh
|
||||
cd hardware/case
|
||||
# assembled, coloured, screen ghosted in
|
||||
openscad -o renders/assembled.png --imgsize=1100,825 --colorscheme=Tomorrow \
|
||||
--camera=0,0,0,62,0,22,0 --viewall --autocenter \
|
||||
-D 'show="assembled"' typoena-case.scad
|
||||
|
||||
# export a printable part to STL (body | bracket | baseplate)
|
||||
openscad -o body.stl -D 'show="body"' typoena-case.scad
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
`show` accepts `assembled` · `body` · `bracket` · `baseplate` · `print_plate`.
|
||||
|
||||
## Dimensions
|
||||
|
||||
From the datasheets, baked into the model:
|
||||
|
||||
- **Panel — GDEY0579T93:** glass outline **150.92 × 56.94 × 1.0 mm**, active
|
||||
area **139.00 × 47.74 mm**, pitch 0.1755 mm. Strip aspect ~2.9:1.
|
||||
- **Board — ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1:** ~**70 × 28 mm**, USB-C ×2 + reset/boot on one
|
||||
short edge (that edge faces the back wall).
|
||||
- **Body (default):** 176 W × 104 D, 24 mm front → 58 mm back, deck reclined
|
||||
**~21°**. Walls 2.4 mm, deck 2.6 mm, corner radius 8 mm.
|
||||
|
||||
The deck angle is the one knob worth tuning first — see below.
|
||||
|
||||
## How the hardware goes in — glueless
|
||||
|
||||
The whole design avoids glue on the fragile 1 mm glass and keeps every part
|
||||
serviceable.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
### Screen (bezel lip + foam + screwed bracket)
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
front face the sandwich, front → back:
|
||||
┌───────────────┐ 1. deck BEZEL LIP (overlaps ~4–5 mm of the
|
||||
│ ┌─────────┐ │ glass's inactive border only, never the
|
||||
│ │ active │ │ ← lip active area — lip_t = 1.4 mm of material)
|
||||
│ └─────────┘ │ 2. GLASS drops into the recess from behind;
|
||||
└───────────────┘ the recess walls locate it in X/Y
|
||||
3. FOAM gasket (non-adhesive closed-cell,
|
||||
[lip][glass][foam][bracket] foam_t ≈ 1 mm) spreads the clamp load
|
||||
↑ screwed to 4 bosses so you never point-crack the glass
|
||||
4. printed BRACKET, screwed to 4 bosses,
|
||||
presses the stack forward
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
- The through-**aperture** is a hair larger than the active area and stays
|
||||
*inside* the glass-minus-lip envelope, so the lip covers only dead border.
|
||||
- The recess opens straight into the cavity, and an **FPC slot** on the
|
||||
up-slope edge lets the ribbon fold back to the DESPI-C579 breakout.
|
||||
- Foam does three jobs: cushions the glass, takes up print tolerance
|
||||
(±0.2–0.5 mm), and removes any need for adhesive. Cut it from a plain EVA/
|
||||
PORON sheet — no sticky backing.
|
||||
- Alternative if you want no screws: replace the bracket with printed
|
||||
cantilever clips. It works, but clips point-load the glass edge; the
|
||||
foam+bracket route is gentler and I'd default to it.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
### Boards (the baseplate is the chassis)
|
||||
|
||||
Mount everything to the **baseplate** on the bench, then drop it in and close
|
||||
from below — far easier than fishing screws inside a shell.
|
||||
|
||||
- ESP32 + DESPI-C579 sit on printed **standoffs** (M2.5 self-tap). Positions in
|
||||
`esp_holes` / `brk_holes` are placeholders — set them to your board's holes.
|
||||
No mounting holes on your board rev? Switch to slide-in edge rails.
|
||||
- The baseplate screws **up into 4 corner posts** in the shell.
|
||||
- A **cable relief** notch at the back lets the keyboard's USB-C cable exit and
|
||||
route around to the front.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
### Assembly order
|
||||
|
||||
1. Lay glass into the deck recess (from inside), add the foam gasket, screw the
|
||||
bracket down onto the 4 bosses.
|
||||
2. Screw ESP32 + breakout to the baseplate standoffs.
|
||||
3. Connect the FPC (screen → breakout) through the slot.
|
||||
4. Screw the baseplate up into the corner posts.
|
||||
|
||||
## Tune first
|
||||
|
||||
- **`Hb` (back height) → deck angle.** 18–22° is typewriter-shallow; raise `Hb`
|
||||
toward ~28–35° if the screen reads too edge-on when you're sitting close.
|
||||
- **`<< MEASURE >>` items:** `esp_holes`, `brk_holes`, `port_x`, `port_z`,
|
||||
`screen_off` (the real panel's active area is offset toward the FPC edge).
|
||||
|
||||
## Print notes
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
- **Material:** PLA/PETG. Print the body in matte **indigo** (`#130f40`), the
|
||||
bracket/base in cream or brass — two-tone reads unmistakably "typewriter" for
|
||||
the price of a filament swap.
|
||||
- **Make the engrave read:** on a body this dark the recessed `TYPOENA` is
|
||||
near-invisible until you give it contrast — a swipe of paint pen in the recess,
|
||||
or a 3–4 layer filament swap across the nameplate band mid-print.
|
||||
- **Shell, not solid:** 2.4 mm walls + open bottom keep material low despite the
|
||||
chunky body form.
|
||||
- **Orientation:** body deck-up (or on its back) needs little/no support; the
|
||||
bezel lip is a small overhang. Bracket and baseplate print flat.
|
||||
|
||||
## Nameplate font
|
||||
|
||||
The `TYPOENA` engrave on the deck (recessed, faces the user) is set via the
|
||||
`name_font` parameter. Current pick: **Monaspace Krypton** (GitHub's mechanical
|
||||
mono). OpenSCAD only renders fonts installed on the system:
|
||||
|
||||
```sh
|
||||
# current: Monaspace Krypton (installs the whole family)
|
||||
brew install --cask font-monaspace
|
||||
|
||||
# alternative tried: Cutive Mono (typewriter slab-serif)
|
||||
curl -sL -o ~/Library/Fonts/CutiveMono-Regular.ttf \
|
||||
https://github.com/google/fonts/raw/main/ofl/cutivemono/CutiveMono-Regular.ttf
|
||||
|
||||
fc-cache -f # so the OpenSCAD CLI picks either up
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
To audition other faces: Google Fonts, filtered to monospace and previewing the
|
||||
name —
|
||||
<https://fonts.google.com/?preview.text=TYPOENA%0ATypoena%0Atypoena&categoryFilters=Appearance:%2FMonospace%2FMonospace>
|
||||
|
||||
## Open questions / TODO
|
||||
|
||||
- [ ] Confirm the GDEY0579T93 active-area **offset** and which edge the **FPC**
|
||||
exits; adjust `screen_off` / the FPC slot.
|
||||
- [ ] Real ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 mounting-hole + port coordinates.
|
||||
- [ ] Optional **hinged lid** over the deck (portable-typewriter-case echo,
|
||||
protects the glass in a bag) — `docs/hardware.md` calls for one; not yet
|
||||
modelled.
|
||||
- [ ] Decide feet: printed (modelled) vs. stick-on rubber bumpers.
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user