AEK Tile Studio

NCSA Mosaic: AEK Tile Studio

URL:https://aek.local/installed-prototype.html

Updated real-world prototype: red left and right function-label frames installed on an Apple Extended Keyboard II, with white modular icon tiles, status lights, and a Layer key — The updated printed prototype — two fitted frames with a fuller set of hand-finished, replaceable icon tiles.

The idea

A durable memory strip for a legendary keyboard

The legendary Apple Extended Keyboard remains wonderfully usable decades after it was made. Modern programmable layers, however, ask it to remember functions its original legends never anticipated.

The initial inspiration was Doekman’s printable AEK-template. This project turns that useful paper-overlay idea into a durable, modular system.

These two slim frames add replaceable icon tiles above and below the function keys—glanceable, printable, and easy to revise without putting labels on the keyboard itself.

Document: Done1 inline image

01 · Layout

Choose a tile position

Editing Bottom F5

02 · Symbol

Pick its function

Or use your own filled SVG

03 · Print

Inspect and export

Ready

Relief 0.40 mm Symbol scale 100%

Load configuration

Geometry: 17.4 × 10.2 × 1.7 mm, rev10 medium fit, 0.25 mm top chamfer. Generated locally; nothing is uploaded.

Proven hardware

The two-frame system

The frame geometry is static and compiled from the fit-tested rev10 OpenSCAD model. Print the left and right frames once; regenerate only the legends when your mappings change.

STLLeft frameESC through F8 STLRight frameF9 through Layer SCADParametric sourceRev10 master model

Printer starting point0.10 mm layers · white PLA · no supports

FinishSkim raised faces with a paint marker after printing

CompatibilityDesigned around the Apple Extended Keyboard II