hi all,
just wanted to share my experience on making my own keyboard. I wanted something similar to the humble hacker keyboard, but didn't want to spend the same amount as he did. So the only way for me to get a matrix layout was to look at some number pads. I chose the goldtouch numpad because it had cherry mx keys and had an extra row.
I was able to buy 3 of them from amazon, used at $20 each (used 2 for my build). I cut and glued two of these together to form a pretty compact matrix layout keyboard. After figuring out the matrix layout, i removed the original chip and wired the different groups to a teensy++. Then after configuring the humble hackers firmware for my layout, the keyboard was functioning sucessfully. finishing touches like painting the interior red and put on a new set of wasd keycaps. The key caps for cherry mx are slightly directional but i was able to turn them sideways, it a bit tight in wrong orientation but not a real issue.
Ideally i would have liked a number row but i was willing to make this concession. right now the keyboard is working well, there is almost no movement of my hands to reach any key. Since i designed the layout myself i do remember it, but just doesn't come quickly yet.
here is the key layout i am using:
| default: |
| esc | q | w | e | r | t | y | u | i | o | p | bs |
| tab | a | s | d | f | g | h | j | k | l | ; | ent |
| l_shft | z | x | c | v | b | n | m | , | . | / | r_shft |
| l_ctrl | | l_alt | fn2 | fn1 | | space | | win | ' | r_ctrl |
| Fn1: |
| ` | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | bs |
| tab | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | (+) | 4 | 5 | 6 | - | ent |
| l_shft | F6 | F7 | F8 | F9 | F10 | (*) | 1 | 2 | 3 | / | = |
| l_ctrl | | l_alt | fn2 | fn1 | | 0 | | . | , | esc |
| Fn2: |
| ~ | ! | @ | # | $ | % | ^ | & | * | ( | ) | esc |
| tab | F11 | F13 | insert | home | p_up | left | down | up | right | " | ' |
| l_shft | F12 | email | del | end | p_down | [ | ] | { | } | \ | = |
| l_ctrl | | l_alt | fn2 | fn1 | | space | | win | | | _ |
