How to have a keyboard enclose generated from a centrally managed keyboard layout

[reinout_roels]

Hi,

I design weird custom keyboards with weird key layouts. The layout of the keys is often tweaked and changed, and of course I don't want to redo half of the enclosure for every minor change. 

In OpenSCAD I would just define an array of coordinates that represent the position of each key. Every step in the enclosure design would take these coordinates into account. Based on these coordinates it would know where to make holes in the various layers, it would render the key caps and key switches in the correct location in the render, etc. If I wanted to change the layout I just change the coordinates and all relevant enclosure parts automatically adapt to the change. 

How would I achieve something like that in Fusion 360? How would I maintain the keyboard layout and have everything else automatically adjust to that?

I'm very new to Fusion, did a lot of tutorials, but I feel like I'm still missing something to solve this problem. There are quite a few tutorials on youtube specifically for keyboards in Fusion360. However, every time I see them manually position every part/hole, likely because they use common keyboard layouts that never change. 

[davebYYPCU]

Not enough information, how weird and how much deviation from normal.

typewriter or piano?

Might help…..

[reinout_roels]

Indeed, good question.

I'm talking about the typewriter kind of keyboard.
To give some random examples of "special keyboards" (not my designs):
https://kbd.news/MidEvil-2156.html
https://kbd.news/Rolio-0.9-2158.html
https://kbd.news/Rock-On-v3-1708.html
https://kbd.news/CB34S-2084.html

As you can see, the amount of keys and their positions can vary wildly. Just like in these examples, my layouts are also "flat", and the keys are not on curved surfaces (unlike the Kinesis Advantage or Glove80 keyboards).

[davebYYPCU]

Not much weirdness in those.  Basics are about the same, change of detail….

Keys are standardised?

Spacings are patterns.

Symmetry is available in some.

Better to provide an example and outline how your stuck.

Might help….

[reinout_roels]

I just don't know where to start.

Do I use User Parameters for this?

Or can I base the whole enclosure off a sketch that defines the layout? If so, is there a way to create such a sketch without me manually positioning every single key?

[davebYYPCU]

Top down picture, without fish eye errors.

Can you output from OpenScad, dxf sketch or step body files for one, and

we reverse engineer / copy it in Fusion, to determine workflow/s

Will likely have some parameters for versions

templates for standardised keys, 

Fusion input should be working towards the output you want from Fusion.

Additive / subtractive machining, moulding / casting, blueprints, etc, would determine some direction.

Late now, back tomorrow.