NovaChat
keyguard.scad lists several NovaChat versions among its list of tablets but NovaChat is much more than a tablet. Its a package of tablet, case, and AAC software.
Normally, when you use keyguard.scad, you first select a tablet and then provide measurements for the tablet case. When it comes to a NovaChat system, we can predict the dimensions of the case (because it’s included in the package) so there’s no need for you to take your own measurements. We’ll just give them to you:
| NovaChat version | height of opening in case | width of opening in case | case opening corner radius |
| 5.4 | 68 | 135 | 0 |
| 8.5 | 112 | 188 | 2 |
| 10 | 160 | 242 | 5 |
| 12 | 190 | 283 | 5 |
Just enter them into keyguard.scad.
NovaChat 5.4
The openings_and_additions.txt file should contain these entries:
case_additions=[ // ID, x, y, width, height, shape, thickness, trim above, trim below, trim to right, trim to left, corner radius [ 1, 0, 0, 8, 0, "-f1", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 2, 0, coh, 8, 0, "-f2", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 3, cow, 0, 3, 0, "-f4", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 4, cow, coh, 3, 0, "-f3", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 5, 0, coh/2, 7, 34, "-cm4", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 6, cow, coh/2, 2, 60, "-cm2", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], ];
NovaChat 8.5
The keyguard is mounted with posts so you should set the following additional values in the Customizer:
---- App Layout in px ---- bottom_of_upper_message_bar = 122 bottom_of_upper_command_bar = 150 top_of_lower_message_bar = 1200 top_of_lower_command_bar = 1200 ---- Mounting Method ---- mounting_method = "Posts" ---- Posts Info ---- post_diameter = 4 post_length = 3 mount_to_top_of_opening_distance = 2 mini_tab_width = 10 mini_tab_length = 1 mini_tab_inset_distance = 26 mini_tab_height = 1
Finally, the following instructions should be placed in the openings_and_additions.txt file:
case_additions=[ // ID, x, y, width, height, shape, thickness, trim above, trim below, trim to right, trim to left, corner radius [ 1, cow, coh-15-9-63/2, 5.5, 63, "r2", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 2, cow, coh-15-9, 5.5, 9, "t1", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 3, cow, coh-15-9-63, 5.5, 9, "t2", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 0], [ 4, 0, 66+7, 4.5, 14, "rr4", 0, -999, -999, -999, -999, 5], ];
NovaChat 10 & 12
Saltillo, the makers of the NovaChat line, have chosen the Samsung Galaxy Tab A and the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 as the tablets they include in their packages. What we can’t be sure of is how you will prefer to mount the keyguard. Our experience so far is that micro-suction tape is a great choice. Just choose “No Mount” from the “Mounting Method” pull-down list. If you need to go with Raised Tabs or Clip-on Straps, let us know and we’ll work with you to get the measurements just right. Then we’ll update this page to include that information.
Saltillo is a bit loose with which Samsung tablet version they ship so it’s hard to know for sure where the home button and front-facing camera are located. So, by default, keyguard.scad doesn’t add openings for them. It will ignore your request if you tell it to expose either one. That doesn’t mean that you can’t expose them, it just means that you have to take an additional step. The way you create openings in the keyguard for the home button and/or camera is to provide location and size information in the “case_openings” data structure found in the openings_and_additions.txt file. If you want to pursue this path, contact us and we’ll help you get the measurements right. Then we’ll update this page to include that information.
One further thing to note. Depending on your settings, you may end up with “dead space” above and below the app as shown below:
In this image from a NovaChat 10, there are 6 mm above and below the grid that are part of the screen but are not being used by the app. The setting “STYLE > KEYGUARD INSET” is causing this wasted space. Turn off this setting and you’ll have an additional 12 mm of vertical screen height that you can use. If you want to leave this setting turned on then you will need to account for it when designing your keyguard. The simplest way is to tell keyguard that there’s a 6 mm status bar at the top that you don’t want to expose and there’s a 6 mm lower command bar at the bottom that you don’t want to expose.