BrailleGen
Open-source web app that turns text into printable Grade 1 or Grade 2 braille tiles
Opens braillegen.org
About BrailleGen
BrailleGen is a small open-source web app that turns typed text into a 3D-printable braille tile. It uses the liblouis translation library, so you can choose English UEB in Grade 1 or contracted Grade 2, as well as Spanish and French tables.
After entering your text you set the characters per line, dot height, plate thickness, line spacing and margins, then generate the model. A slab mode and a vertical export option help with different print orientations, and an export scale setting lets you match your slicer's units. The generator runs in the browser through WebAssembly, and the code is published on GitHub under the AGPL licence.
It is useful for tactile labels on jars, switches and doors, or for teaching materials. The project is young and lightly documented, so print a small test tile first and ask a braille reader to check it before making a batch.
What you can make
- Braille label tiles
- Tactile signs
- Braille slabs
How to use it
- Open BrailleGen and type your text
- Choose a braille table and characters per line
- Adjust dot height, plate height and margins
- Generate and save the STL
Good
- Proper translation to Grade 1 or Grade 2 braille via liblouis
- Adjustable dot height, plate size, spacing and margins
- Runs in the browser and is open source
Not so good
- Young project with little documentation or community
- Only a few braille tables (English, Spanish, French)
What you'll need to print it
Materials and parts that give the best results with BrailleGen.
0.2 mm nozzle for fine detail
A 0.2 mm nozzle lays thinner lines, so tiny keychain text, small HueForge features and delicate edges come out sharp instead of blobby. Keep abrasive glow and wood filaments away from stainless 0.2 mm nozzles.
- Bambu Lab Hotend A1/A2 - 0.2 mm Stainless SteelDrop-in 0.2 mm hotend for the A1, A1 mini and A2L.
- Bambu Lab Multi-Size Hotends KitBundles a 0.2 mm hotend with larger sizes, with versions for H2, X2D/P2S, A-series and X1/P1 printers.
- Bambu Lab Hotend P1 Series - 0.2 mm Stainless SteelThe 0.2 mm option for P1S owners.
PETG for functional and outdoor prints
PETG handles heat, sunlight and repeated flexing better than PLA, so Gridfinity bins in a hot garage or signs mounted outdoors keep their shape.
- Bambu Lab PETG BasicUpgraded formula that Bambu says matches PLA Basic for strength while staying impact-tough; low price per spool in multi-roll bundles.
- Polymaker PETGHigh-flow replacement for PolyLite PETG: strong, low-odour and quick to print.
- Overture High Speed PETGGood-value PETG in a large colour range for functional parts in bulk.
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