diff --git a/examples/plate_generation.scad b/examples/plate_generation.scad
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11bdcc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plate_generation.scad
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+include <../includes.scad>
+
+// plates are currently generated via the same layout arrays as layouts are.
+// just pass the layout to plate() and it'll do it's job using hull().
+// still in beta
+plate(60_percent_default_layout);
diff --git a/src/key_layouts.scad b/src/key_layouts.scad
index 28e2194..ae79212 100644
--- a/src/key_layouts.scad
+++ b/src/key_layouts.scad
@@ -13,3 +13,5 @@ include <layouts/project_zen/default.scad>
 include <layouts/60_percent/default.scad>
 include <layouts/gherkin/default.scad>
 include <layouts/gherkin/gherkin_bump.scad>
+
+include <layouts/plate.scad>
diff --git a/src/layouts/60_percent/default.scad b/src/layouts/60_percent/default.scad
index 8ee33c4..0280b30 100644
--- a/src/layouts/60_percent/default.scad
+++ b/src/layouts/60_percent/default.scad
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 include <../layout.scad>
 
-60_percent = [
+60_percent_default_layout = [
   [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2],
   [1.5,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1.5],
   [1.75,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2.25],
@@ -17,5 +17,5 @@ include <../layout.scad>
 ];
 
 module 60_percent_default(profile) {
-  layout(60_percent, profile, 60_percent_legends) children();
+  layout(60_percent_default_layout, profile, 60_percent_legends) children();
 }
diff --git a/src/layouts/layout.scad b/src/layouts/layout.scad
index d494019..19e66e4 100644
--- a/src/layouts/layout.scad
+++ b/src/layouts/layout.scad
@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@ module layout(list, profile="dcs", legends=undef, row_sculpting_offset=0, row_ov
   }
 }
 
+// much simpler, decoupled layout function
+// requires more setup - it only does what is in the layout array, which is translate
+// and key length. you have to do row / column profile yourself and always pass
+// children()
+// this is probably the way we'll go forward
 module simple_layout(list) {
   for (row = [0:len(list)-1]){
     /* echo("**ROW**:", row); */
diff --git a/src/layouts/plate.scad b/src/layouts/plate.scad
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6eb4208
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/layouts/plate.scad
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+// No support for stabilizers yet - but should be easy enough
+// Won't work well for split layouts. or, it'll work fine - but it'll only be
+// one plate.
+
+// each corner
+module unit_corners(height = 3, radius=3, $fn=24) {
+  positions = [
+    [-$key_length/2, -$key_height/2],
+    [$key_length/2, -$key_height/2],
+    [$key_length/2, $key_height/2],
+    [-$key_length/2, $key_height/2],
+  ];
+  for (position = positions) {
+    translate_u(position.x, position.y) cylinder(h=height, r=radius, $fn=$fn);
+  }
+}
+
+module switch_hole() {
+  cube(14, center=true);
+}
+
+
+module plate(layout_object) {
+  difference() {
+    hull() {
+      simple_layout(layout_object) unit_corners();
+    }
+
+    simple_layout(layout_object) switch_hole();
+  }
+}