Author Topic: First diy keyboard in progress (Read 7629 times)

Charger · « **on:** Sat, 13 July 2013, 22:29:39 »

It seems that this site is rather addicting as with in a week of finding it I had already started thinking about making a mechanical keyboard(because I'm cheap and can make things lol). To start with i bought a m2c-tg3-tp keyboard off ebay and took off the splash guard and used it for a few days. Knowing that i bought this for parts i wasn't to annoyed when i found anti ghosting stopping me from doing things when playing games like using 3 keys at the same time so i got to work tearing it down.

I am to cheap to buy a de-soldering iron and the solder wick I have didn't work so i had to do it the cheap way of heat the solder and pop the switches out. This worked relatively well for most if not all of it. I did however pull one lead out of a switch but pushed it back in and tested with a multimeter to make sure it worked (hope it really does as i don't know what switch it is anymore). Then i cut up the plate that was on the keyboard and made a bent piece of 1/8" aluminum to hold it that I spray plastidiped black. To attached the plate to the case i used small socket head cap screws. This is to allow me to remove the plate and change the base if i don't end up liking it without having to remove anything other then the space bar keycap that blocks one of the screws.

I have now put the switches and keycaps in place with it sitting in front of me and I keep trying to type on it without thinking even though it isn't done. I have yet to wire up the matrix or figure out how to code the tmk keyboard firmware for a 6x15 matrix. I have the 1n4148 diodes and the teensy so I am almost done or that is what i think anyways lol.

MOZ · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 14 July 2013, 10:19:27 »

Excellent work elcheapo!

domoaligato · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 15 July 2013, 00:15:13 »

I just bought one to farm switches/led's from.
great job!

ITzNybble · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 15 July 2013, 09:33:53 »

Nice Job!

funkystuhero · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 16 July 2013, 20:16:25 »

Had a nearly identical idea last night, but you beat me to it ahah. Will definitely follow your progress, good work so far!

Charger · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 16 July 2013, 20:46:36 »

I have now wired the matrix and i think programmed the teensy with a properly modified TMK firmware all i have to do is figure out how I am going to connect the teensy to the matrix and mount the teensy to something and it should be good to go.

domoaligato · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 16 July 2013, 21:11:07 »

have a look at this...
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45587.0

Charger · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 16 July 2013, 21:33:23 »

I posted in that topic but I am thinking about using perf board (I had a piece but i just cant find it) but i also want to see if i can find some black ribbon cable to wire it up as i don't want a lot of free wires.

domoaligato · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 16 July 2013, 21:43:43 »

I used a black asus floppy cable in my build but I would not recommend it. the wire is very fine and not the easiest to work with.
24 or 22 gauge solid core wire might work better.

Charger · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 16 July 2013, 21:56:20 »

22 gauge is what i used for the matrix as that is what i had on hand but it seems a little overkill however i may end up using it in the end. I have done stuff with ide cable before and never really had a problem with it but i wouldn't mind a thicker gauge ribbon cable but i don't think i can find that for cheap.

Charger · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 18 July 2013, 15:18:50 »

Well i finally just said f it and direct wired it to the teensy i view this as a temporary set up until make a new case for it in the future where u am smart enough to think through where to mount a pcb to something but for now i have it working and am typing on the now. As it turns out programming the matrix isn't as hard as it seems i just took me looking at a few of them to understand what it was saying and then i was able to program it and have it working just fine and right first try after soldering the matrix to the teensy. i did program the teensy 2 times the first just to see if i could even get it to work before hooking it up to the matrix the second to change all the pins again so that its just in line going around the teensy instead of jumping all around like it was set up before.

only problem now is to get a usb cable that is longer then 3 feet as i cant run it to the back of my computer. I think I will also add head phone and mic jacks to the next case i make for it as well as my front audio on my pc buzzes so I may as well add pass through for them as well. If I ever get off my ass and go to the scrap yard by my house to get a block of aluminum i will take photos of me milling it on my manual mill as I'm sure people will get a kick out of that.

it ended up costing 50$ no joke i added it up and it was really 50$ no change lol

Thimplum · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu, 18 July 2013, 15:41:28 »

Quote from: Charger on Tue, 16 July 2013, 20:46:36

Show Image

Very clean looking! I love the 1337 idea of using the diode pins to connect the switches.

esoomenona · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu, 18 July 2013, 15:45:42 »

TBC, it wasn't anti-ghosting, bu 2KRO that caused your initial problem.

But good job!

Charger · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 18 July 2013, 15:54:16 »

Quote from: esoomenona on Thu, 18 July 2013, 15:45:42

TBC, it wasn't anti-ghosting, bu 2KRO that caused your initial problem.

But good job!

but is that not a way of controlling ghosting?

esoomenona · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 18 July 2013, 16:41:38 »

No, it's a limitation in the design of the keyboard, or in the controller. Ghosting is, in general, a gaming term.

Charger · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 18 July 2013, 17:34:35 »

Good to know i have have to remember that and disregard what I have read before. Seems i have ran into my first not real problem that valve or tf2 anyways doesn't seem to support f13 that i set caps lock to be so i need to change that and I may as well work on a layer set up as well if i changing some stuff anyways.

domoaligato · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 18 July 2013, 17:49:47 »

Quote from: Charger on Thu, 18 July 2013, 17:34:35

Good to know i have have to remember that and disregard what I have read before. Seems i have ran into my first not real problem that valve or tf2 anyways doesn't seem to support f13 that i set caps lock to be so i need to change that and I may as well work on a layer set up as well if i changing some stuff anyways.

you might look at creating a gaming layer.
this is what I have done with hasu's tmk firmware.
I actually just change the dvorak mode to my custom layout for gaming in the keymap.
when I am gaming I just change to that layer.
I map my capslock key to be Scroll lock and you can use that inside any source engine game.
I am a cs:go junkie. ENFORCER in the Geekhack steam group if you ever want to play.

Hellmark · « **Reply #17 on:** Wed, 28 August 2013, 15:39:56 »

I am thinking about buying one of those keyboards to play with at work.

It kinda sucks on the 2nkr with the stock stuff for it, so I am thinking may do something like what you did with it.

Charger · « **Reply #18 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 07:16:58 »

I thought i would update this with what the keyboard looks like right now.

I spent some time and finally made a new case for the keyboard it is machined out of 2 pieces of 1/2" plate that bolt together. Also you can see a key cap i made some time back out of a stainless bolt.

metalliqaz · « **Reply #19 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 07:18:25 »

Nice machining. That thing looks hardcore!

WONDERBRIGHT · « **Reply #20 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 07:24:05 »

nice , love it

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #21 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 08:05:08 »

Whoa, nice case. ~~Did you machine that yourself?~~ Found your previous post where you said you had a mill. I'm jealous, wish I had my own mill. Did you ever get around to taking some pictures?

Charger · « **Reply #22 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 12:20:19 »

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Wed, 23 April 2014, 08:05:08

Whoa, nice case. ~~Did you machine that yourself?~~ Found your previous post where you said you had a mill. I'm jealous, wish I had my own mill. Did you ever get around to taking some pictures?

Sorry I didn't end up taking photos because I didn't have my good camera so I didn't take photos. Plus it wasn't all that interesting just some milling, cutting on a table saw, some cutting on a band saw, drilling on a drill press, oh and some turning on a lathe to make the cap head screws heads a little smaller and make a filler piece to fill a hole in the bottom aluminum plate (now that i type out the things i did it may have been interesting lol).

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #23 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 12:20:48 »

But I love machining porn

Charger · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 12:27:47 »

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Wed, 23 April 2014, 12:20:48

But I love machining porn

LOL don't we all. It would not have been the best machining porn it would have been like 70s machining porn lol (by that i mean all manual no cnc... Im guessing its to late for this as you are already thinking of porn from the 1970s arn't you...)

metalliqaz · « **Reply #25 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 13:35:26 »

He likes it hairy

Melvang · « **Reply #26 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 22:10:11 »

Machining porn in awesome. For a way to mount the teensy check this link. On the second page there is a second version where the mount holes are on the sides instead of the ends so that the break out board puts the teensy port at the edge instead of inside the board. This was done for people using it as an external converter for terminal boards.

I love the simplistic feel and the look of the raw metal. By the looks of things I am guessing aluminum? What grade if I may ask.

Sending you a PM regarding machining questions.

You should have a look at my project. Check the M-64 link in my signature.

Charger · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 23 April 2014, 23:48:58 »

Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 23 April 2014, 22:10:11

Machining porn in awesome. For a way to mount the teensy check this link. On the second page there is a second version where the mount holes are on the sides instead of the ends so that the break out board puts the teensy port at the edge instead of inside the board. This was done for people using it as an external converter for terminal boards.

I love the simplistic feel and the look of the raw metal. By the looks of things I am guessing aluminum? What grade if I may ask.

Sending you a PM regarding machining questions.

You should have a look at my project. Check the M-64 link in my signature.

I ended up doing the diy home version of the board that was shown in that thread. Just like I posted in that thread about making on out of perf board. I originally directly wired to the teensy so I had to desolder it and remove the old solder to put it on headers pins to solder it to perf board though.

It has a removable usb cable but you have to remove 6 screws to get to it.

Yes it is made of aluminum I thought i posted that, however i don't know what grade it is as it was just scrap I got for free and I tend to not question free metals unless we are talking tool steels.

the keyboard only cost me $50 usd total and that was just the original keyboard and the teensy. It also weighs 4.064 lb as a completed keyboard so it sure isn't the lightest keyboard around lol.

Melvang · « **Reply #28 on:** Thu, 24 April 2014, 00:18:52 »

Nice work. I would love to see that thing with a proper brushed finish.

Charger · « **Reply #29 on:** Thu, 24 April 2014, 00:42:18 »

Quote from: Melvang on Thu, 24 April 2014, 00:18:52

Nice work. I would love to see that thing with a proper brushed finish.

So do I but after switching back to my $9 logitech keyboard for 2 weeks I just wanted to put this on back together for a bit. I don't view it as done by any means its just on its 3rd stage of usability until I decide to work on it again. As it sits right now i just did some sanding with 180 grit also known as what was next to me at the time and wiped it down and put some wax on it to keep it look like it does for a bit. It has some deeper marks that will take some work to sand out of the top as it looked about as bad as the bottom does in the photo of the teensy

Melvang · « **Reply #30 on:** Thu, 24 April 2014, 00:46:55 »

Quote from: Charger on Thu, 24 April 2014, 00:42:18

Quote from: Melvang on Thu, 24 April 2014, 00:18:52
Nice work. I would love to see that thing with a proper brushed finish.

So do I but after switching back to my $9 logitech keyboard for 2 weeks I just wanted to put this on back together for a bit. I don't view it as done by any means its just on its 3rd stage of usability until I decide to work on it again. As it sits right now i just did some sanding with 180 grit also known as what was next to me at the time and wiped it down and put some wax on it to keep it look like it does for a bit. It has some deeper marks that will take some work to sand out of the top as it looked about as bad as the bottom does in the photo of the teensy

A good hard anodization will help with keeping it from scratching.

Charger · « **Reply #31 on:** Thu, 24 April 2014, 01:27:22 »

Quote from: Melvang on Thu, 24 April 2014, 00:46:55

A good hard anodization will help with keeping it from scratching.

I'm not really sure how it is going to be finished in the long run. I'm guessing it is some kind of cheap extruded aluminum so i don't know how well it will take anodizing. I do have the equipment on hand however to paint it with automotive paint so that may end up being the way it goes unless I just keep it raw and do it as brushed or engine turned pattern. Powder coat or anodizing would be better options though depending on how much they would end up costing.

arbit · « **Reply #32 on:** Wed, 07 May 2014, 19:21:28 »

so cool!

Quote from: Charger on Wed, 23 April 2014, 07:16:58

I thought i would update this with what the keyboard looks like right now.

I spent some time and finally made a new case for the keyboard it is machined out of 2 pieces of 1/2" plate that bolt together. Also you can see a key cap i made some time back out of a stainless bolt.

Show Image

Show Image

Charger · « **Reply #33 on:** Wed, 17 September 2014, 05:41:53 »

my keyboard now has some new friends to hang out with

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Author Topic: First diy keyboard in progress (Read 7629 times)