HomeRacker-Advanced Rod Generator V4

🧩 HomeRacker-Compatible Advanced Rod Generator V4

An advanced parametric rod generator for HomeRacker-compatible builds.

This version is focused on making configurable straight rods with more control over connector behavior, custom end faces, labeling, indexing, and optional reinforcement.

V4 update: adds beta internal stiffeners, advanced custom face options, independent custom end faces, and an optional bed adhesion chamfer for tooth-heavy rod patterns.

✨ What This Makes

• ✅ Straight HomeRacker-compatible rods
• ✅ Adjustable rod length
• ✅ Separate end-unit and middle-unit connector patterns
• ✅ Advanced custom connector face options
• ✅ Independent custom left/right end faces
• ✅ Optional rod labels and connector-code labels
• ✅ Optional indexing and ruler-style markings
• ✅ Optional hidden internal stiffeners
• ✅ Optional bed adhesion chamfer for all-tooth sides

🔌 Connector Face Types

Connector patterns can use:

• H — Hole
• T — Tooth
• D — Divot
• S — Solid

The Tooth option is intended to help the rod lightly grip into a connector during assembly before a locking pin is inserted.

The Divot option gives another lighter connector style when a full tooth is not needed.

🧰 Advanced Rod Controls

• Preset connector patterns for quick setup
• Custom face mode for choosing individual face behavior
• Independent left and right custom end faces for asymmetric rod ends
• Hole + different-face end options for experimental end-unit setups
• Separate middle-unit pattern control
• Optional side/end nib relief features
• Optional hidden internal stiffeners
• Optional bed adhesion chamfer for all-tooth / tooth-heavy rod patterns

The Advanced version is useful when a normal rod pattern is not enough and you want more control over how each part of the rod connects.

🆕 New / Experimental in This Release

• Beta internal stiffeners for added rod strength in some custom builds
• Advanced custom face mode for choosing individual Hole, Tooth, Divot, or Solid faces
• Independent custom end faces so the left and right rod ends do not have to mirror each other
• Asymmetric end behavior allows special cases like a Hole on one side of an end unit and a different face type on the opposite side
• All-tooth bed adhesion chamfer for patterns with Tooth faces on all sides, helping improve first-layer behavior on difficult tooth-heavy rods

Some asymmetric Hole + Tooth / Divot / Solid combinations may need a shorter or half-pin style connector. That pin option is still being developed and tested.

The internal stiffener option is also currently being beta tested. It may be adjusted, changed, or removed later depending on testing and user feedback.

Feedback is welcome — I’m willing to tweak the stiffener behavior, custom face options, adhesion chamfer behavior, and pin-related behavior as real use cases come up.

📏 Optional Indexing Features

This generator can also be used to create indexed rods, measurement rods, or ruler-style reference rods.

• Top / offset index numbers
• Centered unit numbers
• Configurable numbering interval
• Top-only or multi-face numbering
• Raised or recessed index text
• Raised or recessed slabs
• Raised or recessed boundary ticks
• End-unit index behavior controls

For normal builds, the markings can be kept subtle. For layout work, measuring, or multi-color printing, the same generator can be configured into a more obvious reference rod.

🎨 Color / Preview Options

• Main rod preview color
• Index slab preview color
• End label slab preview color
• Number preview color
• Tick preview color

These options are mainly for previewing parts, planning multi-color prints, or making indexed rods easier to read.

🛠️ Why Use This?

• Custom straight rods
• Specialized connector rods
• Layout and spacing tests
• Indexed measuring rods
• Multi-color reference rods
• Build-position labels
• HomeRacker-compatible expansion parts

⚙️ Main Customizer Options

• Rod unit count
• End unit connector pattern
• Middle unit connector pattern
• Preset or custom face mode
• Left/right custom end faces
• Rod label on/off
• Connector-code label on/off
• Internal stiffeners on/off
• Bed adhesion chamfer on/off
• Top / offset index mode
• Center unit index mode
• Slab mode
• Tick mode
• Index interval
• Index face placement
• Preview colors

🧪 Development Status

This generator is still being actively improved and tested as new use cases come up.

The Advanced version includes more experimental controls than the Standard version. Some labels, wording, and options may continue to change as the generator gets refined.

The half-pin / shorter-pin idea for asymmetric end-unit setups is still being developed, so those combinations should be tested carefully before relying on them in a final build.

⚠️ Compatibility Note

This is an independently developed HomeRacker-compatible rod generator with custom connector geometry, custom indexing logic, custom label logic, custom slab/tick logic, and custom cutter implementation.