Customizable Looms & Tools (OpenSCAD)

What you can do with this Generator

This is a super generator (merge of 7+ generators) to design most kinds and sizes of of looms and various tools for use with looms, knitting, and yarn projects. You can also make several commonly used knitting tools.

How to use this Generator

In the Customizer, there are sections of parameters that you may change. This is a discussion of the settings and how to use them.

Note: This is a complicated program with lots of calculations. It may be very slow when rendering big looms. It may also be slow and sluggish even when moving it around the screen. It gets slower with more pegs, especially when they have a hook slot cutout. One trick I found to speed it up is to temporarily uncheck the hook slot cutout options until you have everything they way you want; then recheck them just before rendering.

What to make

Choose from the list what item you want to make. Then set the options and dimensions for the selected item.

• Circular Loom
• Rectangular Loom
• Straight Loom
• Loom Hook
• Ring
• Yarn Wrapping Tool
• Potholder Hook
• Needle 

Loom Base Shape

The shape of the base for all of the looms.

• Base Width
  • The width of the base between the inner opening and the outside edge.
• Base Height
  • The height of the base from the bottom to the start of the pegs.
• Base Rounding
  • The radius of the fillet for smoothing on the edges of the base. It may vary from sharp corners (zero) to almost round (if the rounding is larger than the base and width).

Peg Options

All of the variations you can change for the pegs, which are used on all of the looms.

• Peg Position
  • Where you want the row or circle of the pegs placed. They may be centered on the base, or aligned with the inner diameter/edge.
• Peg Diameter
  • The diameter of each peg on the loom.
• Peg Height
  • The height of the peg up from the base.
• Peg Top
  • With this option, you may leave the peg plain, or add a "mushroom" shaped top, either small or large.
• Hook Slot Peg Cut
  • Option to cut a recessed area into the peg body to make it easier to use a hook.
• Hook Slot Top Cut
  • Option to extend the body cut up through the mushroom top. Note this does nothing unless there is a peg cut and a top.
• Hook Slot Base Cut
  • Option to cut a recessed area into the base. Note this may be used whether you have a peg cut or not.
• Peg Outside
  • This adds tie-off pegs to your loom. Select 1 to 4 pegs which are placed around the outside of the base. Each peg is shaped the same as the pegs of the loom (but without a hook cut). Set it to zero for no tie off pegs.

Circular Loom Options

• Loom Inner Diameter
  • This is the inside opening in a circular loom.
• Peg Circle Count
  • The number of evenly spaced pegs around the circle.

Rectangular Loom Options

• Loom Inner Length
  • The length of the opening that runs left-right (on the X axis).
• Loom Inner Width
  • The length of the opening that runs top-bottom (on the Y axis).
• Peg Count Length
  • The number of evenly spaced pegs on the left-right side.
• Peg Count Width
  • The number of evenly spaced pegs on the top-bottom side.

Straight Loom Options

This is essentially the same as the rectangular loom with only 1 side.

• Loom Length
  • Total outside length.
• Peg Count
  • Number of evenly spaced pegs. 
• Note: If you want to join these straight looms to make a longer one:
  • Leave Base Rounding at zero - otherwise the added end caps will interfere.
  • The pegs start at ½ of the spacing in from the end so the spacing will be correct at the joint. 

Loom Hook Tool Options

This is similar to a hook you could buy, but it is all plastic.

• Handle Length
  • Length of the handle.
• Width
  • Width of the handle.
• Height
  • Height of the handle.
• Rounding
  • The radius of the fillet for smoothing on the edges of the handle.
• Hook Length
  • Length of the straight part of the hook.
• Hook Thickness
  • Diameter of the straight part of the hook.
  • Note: the point tapers from this diameter to zero on a 45° angle.

Ring Options

This is a simple ring to crotchet around.

• Inner Diameter
  • Size of the inside opening.
• Thickness Diameter
  • Diameter of the round part.

Yarn Wrap Tool Options

This is a simple tool to aid in looping or wrapping yarn around the pegs. It is also called a “Styler Pen”. It is just a tube that the yarn easily slides through, that fits between the pegs, and is long enough to keep your fingers a short distance away from the pegs. I have included a threader so you don't need to push the yarn into it {you could also use a small crotchet hook}.

• Wrap Tool Inside Diameter
  • Opening in the tube. Make this big enough for the yarn to slide easily. But not too big to fit between the pegs. Note: the total outside diameter of the styler is the inside diameter plus 2 wall thicknesses.
• Wrap Tool Wall Thickness
  • This is mostly for printed strength. Since it is printed vertically, you get more layer adhesion with thicker walls.
• Wrap Tool Length
  • Total length of the styler. Whatever feels comfortable to you.
• Wrap Tool Rounding
  • The radius of the fillet for smoothing on the edges of the threader.
• Note: Both the styler and the threader will be rendered as a single STL. It will print just fine that way, but you may also split them in your slicer. 

Potholder Loom Hook Options

This is a plastic version of the typically long metal hook that comes with pot holder kits.

• Handle Length
  • Length of the long part. Needs to be longer than the pot holder loom sides.
• Width
  • Width of the hook.
• Height
  • Height of the hook.
• Opening
  • The width of the opening of the hook. It just needs to be big enough to hold the loops.
• Hook Length
  • Length of the short part.
• Rounding
  • The radius of the fillet for smoothing on the edges of the hook. 

Needle Options

This is a simple yarn needle.

• Shaft Length
  • Length of the needle's shaft.
• Shaft Diameter
  • Diameter of the needle's shaft.
• Eye Length
  • Length of the opening for the yarn.
• Eye Width
  • Width of the opening for the yarn. I found 2mm works for most normal yarns.
• Eye Wall Thickness
  • Thickness around the eye.
  • This is a print thing – it is a trade off between strength and overall needle diameter. The total diameter of the fattest part of the needle is the eye width plus 2 wall thicknesses. 

Display Options

• Show Color
  • This option shows the various parts in different colors so you can visualize your changes. It is purely cosmetic and does not affect the color of your printed parts. 

Samples Included

I have included some samples that I made – and others that I did not print. If you want to see all of them listed in the OpenSCAD generator, you need to install the JSON file.

Printing Notes

About Pegs

• Commercial looms may have thin pegs, but there is a limit to how strong printed plastic pegs can be. Because these pegs will be printed vertically, they are subject to layer adhesion, so they need to be as thick as you can tolerate.
• I recommend that peg diameters less than 5mm be solid.
  • Try setting a minimum solid threshold.
  • Try setting perimeters to 3 or more.
• Please note that I allow a peg diameter as small as 2mm, but I have not printed with less than 4mm. {I suggest you try a small sample to see how sturdy your peg is.}

Support

All of the items created with this generator can be printed without support, except the Loom Hook. For items with a very high rounding value, the layers nearest the print bed may want support.

Material

• All of the items created with this generator can be printed with PLA.
• I recommend a stronger material like ABS or ASA for the needle when using a diameter less than 4mm. 

Using OpenSCAD and the Customizer

• If you are new to using OpenSCAD and changing parameters, I’ve included my tutorial that may help. Please note that you do not need to know anything about programming. All you need to do is move some sliders on the screen.
• Note: Use OpenSCAD version 2021.01 for full Customizer compatibility.

Note about JSON file

I've included my settings so you can see examples. If you want to use it, here’s the steps:

• The settings file is a ".json" file (as required by OpenSCAD).
• Printables does not allow this type of file to be uploaded.
• I have added ".txt" to the end to make it a text file for upload.
• You need to rename it by deleting ".txt" from the end.
  • You need to show file name extensions.
  • You safely may ignore any warning about making the file unusable.
• Place it in the same folder that you put the main .scad file.
  • The base part of the names must also be the same.
  • For example: "Generator.scad" and "Generator.json"