16 GOST-compliant facets on an Esc key: procedural design and photopolymer hell

The author shares their experience in creating a unique mechanical keyboard keycap modeled after the iconic Soviet faceted glass. The project required not only 3D modeling in Blender but also rigorous engineering for photopolymer resin printing. Key challenges included maintaining geometric accuracy at a small scale, ensuring the key mechanism functions correctly, and managing resin drainage. To optimize the process, the author developed two custom algorithms: one to identify areas where liquid resin might pool and another to detect 'suction cups' that could damage the print. The article details the mathematical approach to proportions, overcoming the physical limitations of resin printing, and refining the model to achieve the canonical 16-facet look. This project illustrates how procedural design and programming can solve complex challenges in the field of custom peripherals.