Requirements for plate generator

[adamws]

There are dedicated plate generators out there:

• https://kbplate.ai03.com/ (https://github.com/ai03-2725/yet-another-keyboard-builder?tab=readme-ov-file)
• http://builder.swillkb.com/ (closed source?) (https://github.com/swill/kad)
• https://plate.keeb.io/ (https://github.com/keebio/kb-plategen)

kle-ng already supports basic PCB project generation (since v0.22.0) and it would be cool to support plate generation as well
but I wanted to gather user feedback first:

• what are a weak points of above projects?
• what would kle-ng plate generator have to do, to improve on existing solutions?

I actually never used any of plate generators myself.

[RickardAhlstedt]

Base it of aio3, solid foundation, and bring in the sandwich and poker-generation from swillkb.

The dxf and svg files are better and more consistent from aio3 than swillkb.

[incrediblejr]

An easier way than modifying the raw JSON to apply custom data and rotating stabilizers. Maybe add shortcuts for north or south-facing stabilizers. (referencing ai03's plate generator, have not used the others).

Other ideas:

• Add support for filleted corners.
• Shrink/expand outline by x mm.

[guest20]

https://github.com/swill/kad

[adamws]

so far this is what I have: https://kle-93qb7ay03-adams-projects-465f639f.vercel.app/

[adamws]

Released in https://github.com/adamws/kle-ng/releases/tag/v0.25.0

• switch & stabilizer cutouts, combination of types from both kbplate.ai03 and swillkb. Also supports custom rectangular
• accurate dimensions, also tested with rotations and choc spacing (18x17) which case troubles for kbplate.ai03 (Rotated Choc Spacing Not Correct ai03-2725/yet-another-keyboard-builder#11)
• optional outlines with user defined margins and fillets
• kerf (⚠️ both kblate.ai03 and swillkb implement it but there is a different interpretation! for ai03 kerf 0.5 shrinks 14x14 cutout to 13x13, swillkb to 13.5x13.5 (with rounding error) - I think that swill is technically using correct definition - mine will also produce 13.5x13.5 (but exact))
• arbitrary holes; not implemented in kbplate.ai03, implemented in swill but due to missing preview hard to use.
• acoustic cutouts; implemented in kbplate.ai03, we are missing this now. I think that will extend 'custom holes' feature to support extra shapes (slots + rectangles)
• complex outlines; not implemented. swillkb has something but again, hard to use without preview. Ours do only rectangles for now.
• sandwich cases; not implemented, I'm thinking that it is not worth pursuing; to specific. Added option to export outline as separate file for easier case creation in proper CAD software. Maybe implement later.
• per switch manufacturing details like specific stabilizer orientation (_rs key property; used by both kbplate.ai03 and swillkb) - not implemented yet . kle-ng makes easy to rotate switch in place (in layout) so that is recommended way for time being, but probably will add suport for _rs etc; has to extend https://github.com/adamws/kle-serial2 first and work on kbplacer (because I would like a PCB generation to support these to). Add support for the ai03 plate generator #28 implemented in v0.26