Author Topic: [IC] TKL MX Hot Swap Board with Type C - Made in USA (Read 7315 times)

cgallizzi · « **on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 15:17:26 »

Hi,

I've been working on a prototype for a few months

Type-C interface with Hotswap pads for MX switches and is TKL in size.

DetectiveNio · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 15:26:46 »

A hotswap TKL? I'm in. How many freedoms unit does it cost?

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Mcnos · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 15:30:03 »

Any mock-ups? Protos? Renders? Designs?

iaman · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 15:36:07 »

Interested.

cgallizzi · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 15:38:08 »

I have several prototypes - 2 built and ready. I would be selling the kits at $45 with some soldering the hot swap pads required and 55 with the pads soldered on.
Made in Texas and I'm located in Los Angeles

cgallizzi · « **Reply #5 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 15:41:09 »

Quote from: iaman on Mon, 07 October 2019, 15:36:07

Interested.

The photo in the post is a real working production unit - I paid a little extra for production boards from the fab house.

LightningXI · « **Reply #6 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 16:28:11 »

North-facing?

cgallizzi · « **Reply #7 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 16:37:08 »

Quote from: LightningXI on Mon, 07 October 2019, 16:28:11

North-facing?

shansoft · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 16:49:42 »

Is there option for bottom daughter board connector?

This is an immediate buy for me in bulk since mill-max soldering is such a pain....

cgallizzi · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:00:16 »

Bottom daughter board connector?

You mean the hot swap pads?

Yeah, I would do a version for users that want to solder it themselves or have them pre-assembled.

redbanshee · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:02:20 »

If your aiming to make this fit in some of the cases that are already out your going to have to make some changes. Otherwise this would need a case to go along with it...

Take a look at the TKL PCB compatibility list https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GpM--fKeDw_tIDZj4m2jmbMavSyXeOu3QHzfTJwz-IM/edit#gid=0

lots of info on there that could help you make this usefull for TKL's that are already out

enrique.aliaga · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:05:01 »

Which cases would this be compatible with?

Could it replace, say, the PCB on my Leopold FC750R?

cgallizzi · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:06:16 »

Quote from: redbanshee on Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:02:20

If your aiming to make this fit in some of the cases that are already out your going to have to make some changes. Otherwise this would need a case to go along with it...

Take a look at the TKL PCB compatibility list https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GpM--fKeDw_tIDZj4m2jmbMavSyXeOu3QHzfTJwz-IM/edit#gid=0

lots of info on there that could help you make this usefull for TKL's that are already out

Thank you so much for this! I was planning on providing a 3D file that users can 3D print or make on 3D hubs.
But I have been looking at a wood options for a case.

cgallizzi · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:08:46 »

Quote from: enrique.aliaga on Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:05:01

Which cases would this be compatible with?

Could it replace, say, the PCB on my Leopold FC750R?

The board is currently 14in x 4.75in

cgallizzi · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:12:54 »

The LZ-B8 seems to be the best case so far.

redbanshee · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:19:04 »

Quote from: cgallizzi on Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:12:54

The LZ-B8 seems to be the best case so far.

Well unfortunately, your pcb doesnt have stabilizer holes at all, so it pretty much wont fit in anything without a custom plate.

If your open to suggestions let me know and I will ramble off a few that would help you a lot.

cgallizzi · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:34:23 »

Always open to ramblings

I have experiencing in manufacturing - so creating something custom for prototyping won't be too difficult.

redbanshee · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 18:13:28 »

Quote from: cgallizzi on Mon, 07 October 2019, 17:34:23

Always open to ramblings
I have experiencing in manufacturing - so creating something custom for prototyping won't be too difficult.

Flip the switch orientation so that the switches are facing the other way. The switches are designed to be used the other way, and if you leave them like you have them (north facing), some types of keycaps will actually hit the switch and that is a very bad thing. Also if you orientate them correctly then if you decide to add in-switch led support down the road, the leds will be facing the correct way (south).

The usb port needs to be on the top of the pcb (the top is the side the switches are on) between the f12 and print screen key. This is called the a.87 standard. And this will free up a lot of compatibility for you.

From there you could figure out your stabilizer hole situation. As you have it now, you can only use plate mounted key stabilizers on the large mod keys. No one uses plate mount unless you are an OEM. Diy people use PCB mounted stabilizers.

From there, bring in the foot print in as far as possible basically. Theres not a ton of room inside these custom cases.

Pick up a TKL pcb from txkeyboards.com and study the **** out of it.

cgallizzi · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 19:59:10 »

I have the switch orientation based upon other hot swap keyboards - the keycaps i've used seem to be fine

Other feedback is great, I'll definitely look into moving the type C port.

Rob27shred · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 20:14:41 »

Quote from: cgallizzi on Mon, 07 October 2019, 19:59:10

I have the switch orientation based upon other hot swap keyboards - the keycaps i've used seem to be fine

Other feedback is great, I'll definitely look into moving the type C port.

Most other hotswap PCBs are OEM produced so that is why they mostly have north facing switches. I would not shrug this suggestion off TBH. North facing switches definitely do have compatibility issues with Cherry profile keycaps as MX switches were designed to be installed south facing. Also that & I really think you are underestimating how many people north facing switches will be a deal breaker for. Just as an example I was pretty interested from the post description, but lost all of it when I saw the switches were north facing with this PCB.

heycheeeno · « **Reply #20 on:** Mon, 07 October 2019, 20:19:30 »

Is this your kickstarter?

hineybush · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 08 October 2019, 00:47:16 »

Quote from: heycheeeno on Mon, 07 October 2019, 20:19:30

Is this your kickstarter?

Looks like it

JerkChicken456 · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 08 October 2019, 01:45:05 »

hmmm would like to see where this goes

cgallizzi · « **Reply #23 on:** Tue, 08 October 2019, 10:25:54 »

Quote from: JerkChicken456 on Tue, 08 October 2019, 01:45:05

hmmm would like to see where this goes

Yes it is

cgallizzi · « **Reply #24 on:** Tue, 08 October 2019, 10:29:29 »

Quote from: Rob27shred on Mon, 07 October 2019, 20:14:41

Quote from: cgallizzi on Mon, 07 October 2019, 19:59:10
I have the switch orientation based upon other hot swap keyboards - the keycaps i've used seem to be fine

Other feedback is great, I'll definitely look into moving the type C port.

Most other hotswap PCBs are OEM produced so that is why they mostly have north facing switches. I would not shrug this suggestion off TBH. North facing switches definitely do have compatibility issues with Cherry profile keycaps as MX switches were designed to be installed south facing. Also that & I really think you are underestimating how many people north facing switches will be a deal breaker for. Just as an example I was pretty interested from the post description, but lost all of it when I saw the switches were north facing with this PCB.

Definitely - I am working on changing this for the next batch of prototypes to be made next week.

iaman · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 08 October 2019, 10:30:59 »

Quote from: cgallizzi on Mon, 07 October 2019, 19:59:10

I have the switch orientation based upon other hot swap keyboards - the keycaps i've used seem to be fine

Other feedback is great, I'll definitely look into moving the type C port.

The thing is, this community (rightly) doesn't like other hot swap boards for this reason and many others. You've, thankfully, got a board that addresses a big one—the lack of holes for PCB-mount legs—but I think you should take the feedback on facing to heart as well as the feedback on stabilizer holes, USB placement, and PCB size; all of these things will be factors in this community's interest in what you're selling because they will all have an effect on what keycaps, switches, stabilizers, and cases are compatible with this board.

cgallizzi · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 08 October 2019, 10:43:29 »

I will definitely take the feedback and start working on a new prototype board

cgallizzi · « **Reply #27 on:** Thu, 17 October 2019, 21:00:53 »

Hi All,

just an update - I'm going to be submitting new pcb files to the fab house based upon the feedback provided

Thanks all

painstar · « **Reply #28 on:** Thu, 17 October 2019, 23:31:03 »

would this fit in the tex tkl?

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Author Topic: [IC] TKL MX Hot Swap Board with Type C - Made in USA (Read 7315 times)