Dilla4x — Open Source Device Platform

(4×4 enclosure / Parts V0.1)

Dilla4x is an open-source device platform built around a 4×4 (16-key) ortholinear layout, inspired by classic MPC-style workflows. In short, it can be an ortho gaming claw, a plug and play MIDI controller, or whatever you make it.

Project home + docs: https://github.com/Cypaloma/Dilla4x

What’s in this upload

3D-printable enclosure parts for the Dilla4x build
Intended for assembly with M3 machine hardware + brass heat-set inserts
Built for use with an Arduino Pro-Micro

Printing notes (important)

Supports are required for printing this enclosure as designed.
The enclosure is intentionally taller than it “needs” to be to leave room for Dupont pigtails / extra wire length used in beginner-friendly, low-stakes wiring experiments (solder a pigtail to a switch lug, strain-relieve with glue, and iterate without constantly re-soldering).
If you’re building a more permanent version (shorter wiring, cleaner harness), this is a great candidate for remixing into a lower, more ergonomic footprint. A really nice future upgrade would be a simple switch matrix PCB that drops onto the switches after they’re snapped into the top plate (flip the top half upside down, seat the PCB over the pins, and solder in one go).

Remix note (recommended): adding a small access hole in the bottom for wiring a tactile reset switch (to the Pro Micro RESET + GND) would make firmware flashing and recovery much easier.

Note: Built for a closed course (docs may feel incomplete)

Some documentation and materials were originally created for a closed, university-sponsored course, so not everything is currently packaged as a polished “consumer product.”
Extras that may still be useful:

Fleshed-out Wiki, including beginner learning pathways for microcontrollers and audio
Web-Dilla4x: basic offline web sampler/synth bundle
Bio-Debugger: accessible, anti-shaming de-escalation materials

Hardware: M3 heat-set inserts + screws

This enclosure is designed around brass heat-set threaded inserts (melt-in inserts) and M3 screws.

Core fasteners (minimum):

4× M3 heat-set inserts
4× M3 machine screws

Recommended insert spec (M3×5×4)

M3×5×4 mm heat-set inserts

Internal thread: M3 (M3×0.5)
Outer diameter (D1): 5.0 mm
Length (L): 4.0 mm
Additional common dims: D2 4.25 mm, D3 4.4 mm, W(min) 1.3 mm

Sourcing options

CNC Kitchen (Made for Voron, lead/cadmium-free):
https://cnckitchen.store/products/made-for-voron-gewindeeinsatz-threaded-insert-m3x5x4-100-stk-pcs
Ruthex (manufacturer):
https://www.ruthex.de/en/products/ruthex-gewindeeinsatz-m3-100-stuck-made-for-voron-rx-m3x5x4-messing-gewindebuchsen-fur-3d-druck
Marketplace option (HANGLIFE on Amazon.ca):
https://www.amazon.ca/HANGLIFE-Heat-Set-Threaded-Printing-Components/dp/B0CS6VZYL8/

Firmware options

✅ Dilla4x-MIDI firmware

Class-compliant USB MIDI for performance workflows.

⚠️ Dilla4x-QMK firmware (ALPHA)

QMK is currently alpha and should be treated as experimental.

VIA support is sketchy right now (not plug-and-play):

It typically needs an external definition/JSON and/or upstreaming before it behaves like a normal VIA keyboard.
It may not work reliably even with an external definition.

License

The Thingiverse upload (enclosure/parts): CC0 / Public Domain Dedication (selected due to Thingiverse license options).
Project repo (GitHub): Apache-2.0.

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