Along with the recent stable Steam client update bringing full support for the Steam Controller, Valve also released the CAD files for modders.
This is great news for anyone who wants to "hack, mod, or design accessories for the Steam Controller and Puck" say Valve. What have they released? The "CAD files for the external shell (surface topology) of Steam Controller and Puck available for download under a Creative Commons license" which includes "an STP model of each, an STL model of each, and an engineering drawing with critical features/keep outs for each".
You can find all the files on their GitLab.
I fully expect we'll end up seeing some accessory makers design entirely new casing for the Steam Controller, just like we saw with the Steam Deck. We already have dbrand skins, but actual casing would be interesting to mod.
Valve continue to impress with their openness when it comes to their hardware.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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6 comments
This isn't of interest to me, so I can't say for sure, but I can't think of many other big-name vendors that would do this. I mean, I expect they'll already have given this to skin-creator vendors like dbrand, but making the schematic public, directly? That's pretty cool.
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Quoting: scaineThis isn't of interest to me, so I can't say for sure, but I can't think of many other big-name vendors that would do this. I mean, I expect they'll already have given this to skin-creator vendors like dbrand, but making the schematic public, directly? That's pretty cool.There certainly aren't.
Physical design publications are pretty sparse and often restricted.
Even source code is more often published than CAD files.
This's exactly, because "it's not of interest to you".
Physical garage development is monumentally more expensive than software development.
Meaning that a much smaller group cares to do it and thus cares to advertise it.
Edit:
The most major party besides Valve that does this seems to be [framework](https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13).
Last edited by LoudTechie on 6 May 2026 at 12:14 pm UTC
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Diego Gutierrez 4 hours ago
I can't think of many other big-name vendors that would do thisIf I'm not mistaken, Keychron did this not too long ago, but really I cannot think of another ones, except from Framework, as LoudTechie said.
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PlayingOnLinuxphone 4 hours ago
> Valve continue to impress with their openness when it comes to their hardware.
Still far away from open hardware, but I was not even expecting an open source case. Well done Valve.
I already looked into both files. The STL file (for 3D graphic programs as Blender) is ~75MiB big in size. It is a super high resolution file with a single surface. So you have to cut them apart manually, which is annoying. The STP file (for CAD software) is ~8MiB and contains detailed surfaces you can select and edit easier.
If I find some time I may create my own case. There are some pretty unique ideas in my head.
Still far away from open hardware, but I was not even expecting an open source case. Well done Valve.
I already looked into both files. The STL file (for 3D graphic programs as Blender) is ~75MiB big in size. It is a super high resolution file with a single surface. So you have to cut them apart manually, which is annoying. The STP file (for CAD software) is ~8MiB and contains detailed surfaces you can select and edit easier.
If I find some time I may create my own case. There are some pretty unique ideas in my head.
Quoting: LoudTechieThe most major party besides Valve that does this seems to be [framework](https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13).[Purism released everything](https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/hw) for their pocketcomputer Librem 5. Not just the CAD files, but also the actual hardware schematics. There is still room for improvements as opening the CPU (which becomes possible with RISC-V open hardware CPU manufacturers).
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Quoting: scaineThis isn't of interest to me, so I can't say for sure, but I can't think of many other big-name vendors that would do this. I mean, I expect they'll already have given this to skin-creator vendors like dbrand, but making the schematic public, directly? That's pretty cool.Absolutely same boat!
I don't care for it, I don't even care for anything that could be made with it (custom cases, stands, whatever it might be)...
... but it's so cool, and it is part of what makes Valve the cooler company!
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Quoting: PlayingOnLinuxphone> Valve continue to impress with their openness when it comes to their hardware.Yeah and [Mnt reform did even that.](https://mntre.com/docs-reform.html) with the Ls1028A module.
Still far away from open hardware, but I was not even expecting an open source case. Well done Valve.
I already looked into both files. The STL file (for 3D graphic programs as Blender) is ~75MiB big in size. It is a super high resolution file with a single surface. So you have to cut them apart manually, which is annoying. The STP file (for CAD software) is ~8MiB and contains detailed surfaces you can select and edit easier.
If I find some time I may create my own case. There are some pretty unique ideas in my head.
Quoting: LoudTechieThe most major party besides Valve that does this seems to be [framework](https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13).[Purism released everything](https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/hw) for their pocketcomputer Librem 5. Not just the CAD files, but also the actual hardware schematics. There is still room for improvements as opening the CPU (which becomes possible with RISC-V open hardware CPU manufacturers).
I wasn't comparing openness, but majorness with the minimum requirement of realeasing CAD files.
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