Eurorack Generator

Quickstart

From an empty browser to a finished set of print files in ten minutes. Use of the generator is subject to the terms and conditions (AGB) of Römhold Modular, with the licence terms in § 12 (see Terms and licence).

The interface

The panel with all settings is on the left, the 3D preview on the right. Every change rebuilds the case after a short pause; the top left of the preview shows how long the calculation took (for example “Preview · 506 ms”). Large cases with a pattern and relief can take a few seconds.

Language

The DE / EN switch to the right of the version number translates the interface, notes, guided setup and messages. On first use the language follows your browser; after that the generator remembers your choice. Part names and file names stay in German.

Tabs

The settings are spread over eleven tabs, in the order in which you plan a case. At the end of each tab, Next: … takes you to the next one. All parameters on one page shows all tabs one below the other; the generator remembers this view for next time.

For each tab the preview shows only the parts that matter there: in tabs 1, 2, 4 and 6 the rows without side panels, in tab 7 only the side panels, in tab 3 the rows plus the side panel if it has a cutout. Tab 5 switches to the exploded view, tab 9 to the print parts.

Messages

Notes (grey), warnings (yellow) and errors (red) appear above the parameters. If a message belongs to a field, it ends with an arrow and the mouse pointer turns into a hand: a click opens the matching tab, scrolls to the field, cutout or mount, puts the cursor in it and briefly highlights it.

Using the preview

• Rotate: drag with the left mouse button
• Pan: drag with the right mouse button
• Zoom: mouse wheel
• Assembled / Exploded / Print parts (top right): the finished case, all parts pulled apart, or all parts arranged on print plates. In the print parts view you can move and rotate parts by hand (see tab 9).
• Dummy front panels: shows grey placeholders for modules so you can check the hole pattern and cutouts

At the bottom of the panel, Reset view resets the camera and Reset all values sets every parameter back to default and deletes all cutouts and mounts. This cannot be undone; save first if you want to keep your current state.

Terms and dimensions

The dimensions follow Doepfer’s “A-100 mechanical details”; the 1U rows follow the Intellijel format.

Row

One storey of the case with two rails, floor, ceiling and back wall. There are 3U rows (A-100), 4U and 5U rows, and 1U rows (Intellijel). Rows are counted from the bottom (row 1 = bottom); all formats count.

Segment

If the case is wider than the print bed, each row is split into segments. Segments are counted from the left, seen from the front.

Split seam

The vertical joint between two segments. Joined with tabs and screws or with butterfly keys.

Row joint

The horizontal joint where two stacked rows sit on each other. Joined with vertical screws at the corners.

Side panel

The cheek on the left and right. It carries the tilt of the case and is also split if necessary.

Corner block

Reinforcement at the back of the row that holds the side panel screw.

Rib

A block behind the rail (and optionally on the back wall) that holds the nut for the side panel screw in the “Rib with nut” style.

1Template

A template sets width, number of 3U rows, number of 1U rows and, for some entries, the depth in one step. All other settings stay as they are. As soon as you change a field afterwards, the selection switches to “— Manual —”, but the values are kept.

2Case

This is where you set size, rails and walls. The groups are numbered as in the tool.

2.1 Format

2.2 Inner depth

2.3 Total width clearance

2.4 Rails

2.5 Walls

2.6 Outer wall shape

A relief on the outside of the back wall, optionally also on the ceiling and floor. The inside of the wall stays the same; the relief is only added on top. Holes, vents, cutouts and the power socket go through the relief; countersinks are cut deeper by the relief height so the screw heads stay clear.

3Module cutouts

A cutout is an opening for a Eurorack module with the matching mounting holes, for example a 4 HP power entry or a USB-MIDI module in the back wall. + Add cutout adds as many as you like; × removes one.

Fields per cutout

Cutout hole dimensions

These values apply to all cutouts together.

4Back-wall mounts

Mounts are hole patterns in the back wall for a power supply, bus board or similar. + Add mount adds as many as you like. A new entry is a 2 × 2 grid with 50 × 40 mm spacing, centred in the first segment of the bottom row.

Boss and hole

4.2 VESA mount

Four M4 holes in a square on the back wall for a monitor arm or a wall mount. The hole pattern always sits exactly in the centre of the case, in width and height; there is no placement setting for it. Inside, two vertical ribs from floor to ceiling reinforce the back wall so the weight does not hang on the thin wall alone.

• With several rows the hole pattern can also span a row joint; each row then gets its own holes and ribs. Only if a hole would land on a floor or ceiling does it move to the centre of the nearest 3U row.
• The VESA mount never adds segments. If a split seam falls within the VESA area, it moves together with its tabs between the two vertical ribs; then two holes sit on each part and the tab joint helps carry the load. The horizontal ribs leave room for the tab at the seam. If that does not fit on the print bed, the seam moves next to the hole pattern; if that is not possible either, it stays where it is with a warning.
• With an outer wall relief the contact surface on the outside stays flat.

5Split seams

If a part is larger than the print bed, the generator splits it. In this tab you choose how the pieces are joined. The preview switches to the exploded view here.

Tab dimensions (for all tabs)

You set the countersink and through hole of the tab screws in tab 7. Butterfly keys are created automatically: with the joining method “Butterfly key”, and on the back between stacked rows if they are not bolted together at the corners (tab 6.5).

6Extras

6.1 Ventilation (back wall)

6.2 Power socket

6.3 Cable pass-through between rows

6.4 Pins between side panel pieces

This setting is in tab 7 (7.6).

6.5 Bolt rows together at the corners

6.6 Handle slots on top

6.7 Position dots

How to read the dots: the top line has one half circle (flat side down) per ten, the line below has one full dot per unit, with a small gap after the fifth. So 24 is two half circles and four dots; round tens like 10 or 20 only have the top line. On the row parts the dots sit inside on the back wall at the top left; on the side panels they sit on the inside of each row, at the bottom in the middle of the depth.

7Side panels

The side panels carry the tilt of the case and hold the rows together. In this tab the preview shows only the side panels.

7.1 Angle to the table

7.2 – 7.4 Style, dimensions and screws

There are two styles. Which fields are visible depends on the style you choose.

7.5 Pattern (side panels)

Patterns save material and print time. The seats of floor, ceiling, back wall and rails, all screw holes and the cut edges of split side panels stay solid.

7.6 Pins between side panel pieces

8Watermark

The RM logo of Römhold Modular appears on every row part and every side panel. In this version it is fixed: 30 mm high and engraved 0.4 mm deep. Only the position and, on the side panels, the orientation can be set. If a mount, cutout, power socket or tab is in the way, the logo moves aside; if there is too little space it gets smaller, and a message states the size.

8.1 Watermark back wall

Inside on the back wall of each row part, readable from the front. The position always refers to the individual part. Vent slots leave the spot out.

8.2 Watermark side panels

Once on the outside of each side panel, between the screw heads of rib and corner block, readable from the outside.

9Printer

In this tab the preview switches to Print parts: all parts arranged on print plates. Row parts and side panels each go on their own plates, at least 20 mm apart. Exactly this arrangement ends up in the 3MF.

Arranging parts by hand

• Drag a part (left mouse button): move it, also onto another plate. The last plate is always empty.
• Double-click a part: rotate it flat by 90°.
• Shift + double-click: tip it over by 90°, so a different side faces down. Check in the slicer how the part prints best.
• Parts marked red are less than 20 mm from a neighbour or stick out over the plate edge.
• Auto-arrange in tab 10 restores the initial layout.

10Overview & export

Figures

Outer dimensions (W × D × H)

Size of the finished case including side panels.

Usable width

HP and mm between the side panels.

Vertical hole spacing

122.50 mm for 3U, 33.65 mm for 1U; for 4U and 5U the value from tab 2.5.

Clear height between rails

Space for the module PCB between the rails.

Ventilation

Number of slots and open area.

Parts / keys

Number of print parts and butterfly keys.

Material

Rough estimate for solid PLA. With infill in the slicer it will be much less.

Plates for the 3MF (Bambu Studio)

The list shows each plate with the parts on it, with warnings below if parts are too close together or stick out over the edge. Auto-arrange packs all parts again and discards your manual changes.

Load profile from Bambu 3MF takes the print settings from a project you saved in Bambu Studio. The profile is remembered in the browser, takes priority over the printer from tab 9 and is then included in every exported 3MF; the plate grid and print bed follow it. × removes it again.

Print parts and export

The Print parts list names every part with its dimensions and its own STL button. Below it you set the File name (default eurorack_case), which is put in front of every file name.

Assembly notes collects all of the generator’s messages. The export buttons are locked as long as values are invalid or there is an error.

11Save & load

11.1 As a file

Save settings as file writes all parameters of tabs 1 to 10 plus all cutouts and mounts into a JSON file named after the Name field (my_case.rackgen.json). Load file … restores everything. Files from older versions work too; missing values get their default.

11.2 In the browser

Save in the browser under the name above creates a quick save in this browser on this device. The same name overwrites. The list below shows all saved states for loading or deleting. For backups or sharing always use the file: browser storage is lost when site data is cleared.

Placing by row and segment

The easiest way to place cutouts (tab 3) and mounts (tab 4) is by the structure of the case rather than by millimetres. This is the default for new entries.

1. Choose the row: 1 is the bottom one. 1U, 4U and 5U rows are marked “(1U)”, “(4U)” and “(5U)”. On the top and bottom sides there is no row choice; the top or bottom row applies.
2. Choose the segment: 1 is the left one, seen from the front. On side panels there is no segment choice.
3. Choose the horizontal and vertical alignment, five steps each: left, left – centre, centre, centre – right, right (vertically bottom … top). The intermediate steps are at ¼ and ¾ of the free range. On the top and bottom sides the second direction is front … back; on the side panels it is the first.
4. Fine-tune with the offset in mm: positive values move towards the second option, so to the right, up or back.

Below the entry you see the calculated position in mm, for example “= 76.3 mm from left, 2.5 mm from bottom”. If you later change the width or the number of rows, the cutout moves with it.

Printing and assembly

Printing

• All parts come in print orientation. Row parts stand on their cut or end face, so slot and nut channel have no overhangs. Side panels lie flat with the countersinks facing up. If you tip parts over in the print parts view, check the result in the slicer.
• With Bambu Studio the easiest way is to open the 3MF: the plates are already filled, and you adjust filament and process there.
• Print the rail test piece first and check it with a real front panel, screw and nut. If the channel does not fit, adjust it in tab 2.4.
• The shrinkage compensation is already included in the export. Do not scale again in the slicer.

Hardware

All joints are designed for M3. Which parts you need depends on your settings; the screw length depends on wall and tab thickness.

Order of assembly

1. Sort the parts using the position dots (tab 6.7): within each row from left to right, rows from bottom to top.
2. Fit heat-set inserts while the parts are still separate.
3. Join the segments of each row at the split seams.
4. Bolt the stacked rows together at the corners.
5. Screw on the side panels. With “Rib with nut”, first push the nuts into the ribs and corner blocks from the interior.
6. Mount the power supply and bus board on the mounts, then fit the modules.

Messages and FAQ

Why does the preview keep showing the loading message?

The generator needs an internet connection when it opens, to load three.js, JSZip and manifold-3d. Without a connection the preview stays empty.

“Watermark: not everywhere is there space for …”

On some parts the logo did not fit at full size and was scaled down. The message states the smallest size. This is not an error; change the position if you like.

“… lies on a split seam”

A cutout, hole pattern or handle slot cuts into the seam or the tabs. Move the element with alignment or offset, or choose another segment.

“… only x mm of material for the heat-set insert”

Wall plus reinforcement are shorter than the insert. Increase the inner reinforcement in tab 3; on side panels make the side panel thicker or use shorter inserts.

Why is my case split into segments?

The width is larger than the print bed minus 10 mm. A larger print bed in tab 9 gives fewer parts.

Can I change a case later?

Yes, if you saved the .rackgen.json. The info file in the ZIP also contains all values for reference.

Which part goes where?

The position dots show this (tab 6.7): half circles are tens, full dots are units. Counting runs from left to right within each row, row by row from bottom to top.

Bambu Studio shows only one plate

The 3MF needs print settings, otherwise Bambu Studio ignores the plates. Choose a printer in tab 9 (not “none”) or load your own Bambu profile in tab 10.

Why are parts red in the print parts view?

They are closer than 20 mm to a neighbour or stick out over the plate edge. Move or rotate the part, drag it onto the empty plate, or press “Auto-arrange” in tab 10.

How do I make a flat case for the table?

Set the angle to the table to 0°. The case then lies on its side panels with the front panels facing up.

Terms and licence

The Eurorack Generator is offered by Römhold Modular. Use of the generator is subject to the general terms and conditions (AGB) of Römhold Modular: rhm-systems.de/agb

The files created with the generator (STL, 3MF, settings files) and the parts printed from them are subject to the licence terms in § 12 of the AGB. Among other things, they set out what you may use the files and parts for and whether you may pass them on.