frame/frame.scad

// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
// frame is a project to generate connectors to build a frame which can
// be used to build anything by combining the connections and the struts.
// It will, however, just produce parts for a frame, not the walls or
// plates to be used to hold any equipment.
// 
// The frames consist of two kinds of elements:
// - struts:      Currently just a straight line between two connectors. 
//                The strut has two endings which are a bit smaller than 
//                the strut and fit into the connectors. 
// - connectors:  The connectors in different variations
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
/* [Connector Options] */
// The kind of connections
Connector_kind = 0; // [ 0 : None, 1 : Strut, 2 : Minus, 3 : Plus, 4 : Three Flat, 5 : Three Corner, 6 : Four Corner, 7 : Five Connectors, 8 : Six Connectors ] 
// The length of a strut without connectors
strut_length = 10; // [ 1.0 : 220.0 ] 
// Use the attachment for struts?
strut_attachment = false;

/* [Hidden] */
// **********************
// ** Static Settings: **
// **********************
include <static.scad>

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// a strut, beginning and ending with a connector.
// The connectors are a bit smaller than the holes in the
// connections to make them fit better. 
// Please edit the connector_correction in static.scad to
// your needs.
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module strut (strutlength, size, wall, correction, attachment) {

    shift = wall + correction;
    plugsize = size - 2 * shift;
    translate ([0, shift, shift])
        cube(plugsize);
    translate([plugsize, 0, 0]) 
        cube([strutlength, size, size]);
    translate([plugsize + strutlength, shift, shift]) 
        cube(plugsize);
    if (attachment[0]) {
        // the attachment is located on the front of the strut, but 
        // raised for the amount of thickness of the plate. The 
        // width of the attachment is variable but should not be too
        // small.
        translate([plugsize, -attachment[2], attachment[1]]) 
        cube([strutlength, attachment[2], wall]);
    }
}


// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// a single connector which connects to one side of a strut.
// Will be combined to multiple way connectors by adding, translating
// and rotating the required connectors
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module connector(size = connector_length, wall = wall_thickness) {
    difference () {
        cube(size);
        translate([wall, wall, wall])
            #cube([size , size - 2 * wall, size - 2 * wall]);
    }
}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// a straight connection of two connectors
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module minus(size, wall) {
    cube(size);
    translate ([size, 0, 0]) 
        connector(size = size, wall = wall);
    translate ([0, 0, size]) 
        rotate (a = [0, 180, 0])  
            connector(size = size, wall = wall);

}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// four connections with a 90 degree angle
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module plus(size, wall) {
    minus(size = size, wall = wall);
    translate ([size, 0, 0]) 
        rotate (a = [0, 0, 90])  
            minus(size = size, wall = wall);
}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// A three way connector
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module threeflat(size, wall) {
    minus(size = size, wall = wall);
    translate ([size, size, 0]) 
        rotate (a = [0, 0, 90])  
            connector(size = size, wall = wall);
}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// A three way connector to build the corners of a housing
// The basic building block for the connections. All others
// just add a connector to the previous one.
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module threecorner(size, wall) {
    cube(size);
    translate ([size, 0, 0]) 
        connector(size = size, wall = wall);
    translate ([size, size, 0]) 
        rotate (a = [0, 0, 90])  
            connector(size = size, wall = wall);
    translate ([size, 0, size]) 
        rotate (a = [0, 270, 0])  
            connector(size = size, wall = wall);
}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// A four way connector used either as a stand in the four corners 
// or for a new section between the bottom and the top
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module fourcorner(size, wall) {
    threecorner(size = size, wall = wall);
    translate ([0, 0, size]) 
        rotate (a = [0, 180, 0])  
            connector(size = size, wall = wall);
}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// basicly a plus with a connection on the top
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module fiveway(size, wall) {
    fourcorner(size = size, wall = wall);
    rotate (a = [0, 0, 270])  
        connector(size = size, wall = wall);
}

// --------------------------------------------------------------------
// a plus with a connection on the bottom and the top,
// like a star ...
// --------------------------------------------------------------------
module sixway(size, wall) {
    fiveway(size = size, wall = wall);
    rotate (a = [0, 90, 0])  
        connector(size = size, wall = wall);
}

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
module main() {   
    if (Connector_kind == 0) {
        echo("No connection selected. Please select one of the connector types");
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 1) {
        strut(strutlength = strut_length, 
              size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, 
              wall = WALL_THICKNESS, 
              attachment = [strut_attachment, PLATE_THICKNESS, PLATEHOLDER_WIDTH],
              correction = CONNECTOR_CORRECTION);
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 2) {
        minus(size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, wall = WALL_THICKNESS);
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 3) {
        plus(size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, wall = WALL_THICKNESS);
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 4) {
        threeflat(size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, wall = WALL_THICKNESS);
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 5) {
        threecorner(size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, wall = WALL_THICKNESS);
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 6) {
        fourcorner(size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, wall = WALL_THICKNESS);
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 7) {
        fiveway(size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, wall = WALL_THICKNESS);
    }
    else if (Connector_kind == 8) {
        sixway(size = CONNECTOR_LENGTH, wall = WALL_THICKNESS);
    }    
}

// Do it!
main();