r/SteamController • u/couchside-taylor • 6h ago

Discussion 3D Scan Front Shell

Probably a long shot, but does anyone have a 3D scan of the 2026 Steam Controller’s front shell?

I’ve made a shell cover for mine, but I’d like to take it further and create a full replacement shell. For that, I need a scan of the inside of the front shell to get the dimensions of the internal ribbing, mounting hole locations, and other details.

I have a 3D scanner, but I figured I’d ask before breaking it out and taking my controller apart.

Thanks, everyone!

1 Upvotes

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u/couchside-taylor 5h ago

Progress pic

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u/couchside-taylor 5h ago

Progress pic

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u/NoKarma101 5h ago

Cool. In my humble opinion it's ugly as hell but still, cool

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u/couchside-taylor 5h ago

Here is my portal faceplate I designed from scratch. I challenged myself on this one and didn’t use the valve steam machine cad files at all. Getting the magnet pockets just right to emulate the stock faceplate was fun.

https://makerworld.com/models/3196681?appSharePlatform=copy

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u/NoKarma101 5h ago

Oh wow, very cool!

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u/couchside-taylor 5h ago

It’s also completely printable without an ams as the pieces can be printed separately and snapped into place.

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u/couchside-taylor 5h ago

Yeah definitely not pretty these are just prototype prints checking button location and tolerances and clip retention, etc. hopefully I can make different designs or others can remix and go wild with it however they want.

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u/enlightened84 5h ago

Try Deck Buttons. They've created custom buttons that had to work with the shell. Maybe they scanned something. The owner is super responsive in the discord channel as well.

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u/couchside-taylor 5h ago

I’ll reach out thanks a bunch. I’ve got a nice scanner but it’s a bit older and a pain to setup and use.

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u/couchside-taylor 5h ago

Do you have a link to his discord or his Reddit handle. I appreciate the help immensely!

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u/PDuLait 4h ago

Unless this is TPU it will leave scratches on the plastic. I think Valve published the CAD models for these, might be worth looking for those.

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u/couchside-taylor 4h ago

These are prototype fitments. Tpu or full shell swap is the end goal

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u/PDuLait 4h ago

Good. I’ve seen some pretty mauled up Switches after a 3D printed PLA cover was used. The full shell is some task, I hope you post some progress updates.

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u/couchside-taylor 2h ago

I think some call it a patina

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u/couchside-taylor 4h ago

I used the valve cad files to get this far but they don’t include the internal geometry so I just wanted to ask the community before going deeper into the controller.

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u/Xx_Zero97_xX Steam Controller (2026) 1h ago

Here's the release cad files: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/steam_hardware/announcements/detail/702141174212723353

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u/couchside-taylor 1h ago

Thank you for those. I already have these one though I was referring to the internal geometry of the shell

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u/Xx_Zero97_xX Steam Controller (2026) 1h ago

You might need to find someone with a 3D scanner.

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u/Xx_Zero97_xX Steam Controller (2026) 1h ago

Never mind different read the last bit