Mounting Hole in Outline

published: 2026-03-15

tags: ergogen,mounting hole

mounting-hole-in-outline

To create mounting holes in an Ergogen outline, you define a new outlines section with what: circle and specify the where location using reference points (like matrix_outer_num) and shift values to position them between keys or diodes. This outline is then typically referenced in the cases section to generate the 3D case geometry, or used directly as a footprint in the pcbs section to drill holes in the PCB.

Configuration Example

You can define the mounting hole outline and integrate it into your case or PCB design using the following YAML structure:

units:
  screwSize: 1  # Radius for M2 screws

outlines:
  mounting:
    - what: circle
      radius: screwSize
      where:
        ref: [matrix_outer_num]
        shift: [0.5kx, -0.3ky]
    - what: circle
      radius: screwSize
      where:
        ref: [matrix_outer_bottom]
        shift: [0.5kx, -0.3ky]
    # Add more circle entries for other mounting locations

cases:
  _holes:
    - name: mounting
      extrude: 4
  case:
    - what: case
      name: bottom
      operation: add
    - what: case
      name: _holes
      operation: add

Key Implementation Details

• Placement: Use where.ref to anchor the hole to specific matrix points (e.g., matrix_index_num) and where.shift to nudge the hole away from key switches or diodes.
• PCB vs. Case: While mounting holes can be defined as outlines for 3D printing, they can also be defined as footprints with what: mountinghole (referencing a .js file) for direct PCB drilling.
• External Files: If using custom mounting hole footprints, ensure the filename is config.yaml and call Ergogen with the folder path (e.g., ergogen .) to recognize local .js files.
• Hardware: For a sturdier design, these outlines often correspond to holes for threaded screw inserts (3.2mm wide, 3mm tall) which are melted into the plastic case.