Valve is giving modders and accessory makers more freedom to experiment with the Steam Frame. The company has released CAD files covering the VR headset and its controllers. Outside of Valve itself, exterior 3D files are also available for the Arcturus Vision color passthrough camera designed for the Steam Frame.

CAD, or computer-aided design, files are essentially detailed digital models that show the shape and dimensions of physical components. Designers can load these files into compatible software and use them as an accurate reference when creating their own parts. For something like the Steam Frame, this means accessory makers don’t necessarily have to measure and recreate every part of the headset themselves before designing something that fits it.

Steam Frame customization is being made easier

Valve’s Steam Frame files cover several parts of the headset, including the facial interface, light blocker, head strap, battery housing, core module, and controllers. The release should therefore make it easier for the community to experiment with replacement parts, custom designs, and other accessories built specifically around the headset.

The Arcturus Vision camera is particularly interesting because it expands the Steam Frame’s passthrough capabilities. The company (Arcturus Industries) has released a simplified exterior mesh of the camera in both STL and Blender formats, giving creators a starting point for designing cases and accessories that fit around it. The camera measures approximately 79.987 x 25.703 x 14.114mm. It attaches to the front of the Frame, weighing less than 10 grams.

It has also provided information for adding passthrough support to games and applications. Unity developers can use the Unity OpenXR plug-in and its environment-blend feature, while Unreal Engine developers can follow Valve’s Android ARM64 route through Lepton. Custom engines and native applications can work with OpenXR directly.

There are some restrictions for anyone interested in using Valve’s official files. The publicly released Steam Frame CAD materials are provided under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International license, so they aren’t automatically a green light for companies to start selling products based on them. However, Valve says companies interested in commercial use can contact it about obtaining a commercial license.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.