Model 3d keyboards

[chimera15]

Building my scratchbuilt I find I'm to a point that I need to mock up a 3d or at least a 2d layout that can be used to machine parts, and I can show to people.

Does anyone know an existing free 3d mechanical board that I might be able to modify?

http://www.the3dstudio.com/product_details.aspx?id_product=39716

I see a lot of rubber dome 3d junk, but almost no mechanicals.  Having an existing 3d switch or even cherry caps for instance would be helpful if nothing else.

hmm..

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=3f34b7f6ef1fd8e7891aaffa5a7c7cad



Also, does anyone have any suggestions or that has used cnc what the best format would be?   For instance if I do mock something up is it possible that the machinist would be able to use my 3d files to directly machine the part?



Are these measurements in mm, they don't seem to match the measurements I've taken..hmm.

Oh I see the holes are 14mm which was my measurement. The switch is 15.6 mm width.

http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/pdf/keyswitch_cat.pdf

[chimera15]

I see this page, which is the mx?

http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/drawings/drawingstree.html

[keyb_gr]

Seems like there aren't any.

If everything fails, you could still try asking lowpoly.

[imsto]

mm?

[rantenki]

Building my scratchbuilt I find I'm to a point that I need to mock up a 3d or at least a 2d layout that can be used to machine parts, and I can show to people.

Does anyone know an existing free 3d mechanical board that I might be able to modify?
Also, does anyone have any suggestions or that has used cnc what the best format would be?   For instance if I do mock something up is it possible that the machinist would be able to use my 3d files to directly machine the part?

Oh I see the holes are 14mm which was my measurement. The switch is 15.6 mm width.

http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/pdf/keyswitch_cat.pdf

I do _everything_ in solidworks, which can export pretty much any imaginable format. I used MastercamX (old and crappy) for the CNC G-Code part.

I have 3d models of the Cherry mx switch (accurate enough that my parts all fit when I assembled them). PM me your email and I will send them.

You may wanna try out shapeways.com for 3d printing, coz you can get a lot more creative with the design of the casing.

Basically, as long as you get the spacing right, the rest of the job is pretty easy.

The PCB design job is a lot more difficult.

[aegrotatio]

Wow, isn't Solidworks expensive?  I priced it once, long ago...