geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Moitoy on Mon, 18 May 2020, 16:13:19
-
This is one of my first post in this forum and my first mechanical keyboard and also my first custom and handwired Keyboard....I always start with the simplest way :))
The idea was to make a keyboard that fit my needs, I wanted a small keyboard a 60% but I also need a numpad as I use it a lot, my first idea was to buy one but has very few options and less in ISO layout so finally I decided to follow the great tutorials of Matt3o and Cribbit and made a handwired one.
I started with "keyboard-layout-editor" to see options, look for diferent layouts and how to match it with a complete PBT keycaps in ISO Spanish that I found in China and this lead to me for a 60% + 1 extra row + numpad in the right ride, ISO layout and cursors at the bottom.
This was easy thanks to "keyboard-layout-editor"as is simple for a noob like me. The second choice was the switches, I bought a tester and I liked the khail box and as I was unable to decide just one type and I finally mixed 3 different types, Whites for alphas, pale blue for modifiers and orange for numpad and arrows
As I need 5 rows + 20 columns I decided to use a Teensy ++ 2 (chinese version that surprisingly worked with oficial teensy loader)
For the firmware as I´m not a great programmer I used "RUIKI MAO GMK Keyboard Firmware Builder", other simple and powerfull tool for noobs
And the final decision, how to made the case, I used 1.5mm laser cut plate for the switches plate, the bottom plate and the cover top plate and to mantain a low profile I used 8x8 aluminium box profile and custom printed corners to make the 2 sandwiches. Top cover has 2 funtions, cover the keyboard and be a wrist rest
Lets go to the build process :cool:
After file all aluminium chips of the laser cut, lets put all stabs and switches in a colourfull way
(https://i.imgur.com/hEkdLnu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/c669jUL.jpg)
Note there is a GATERON Intruder, this is just to allow the 3mm led for the CAPS Lock status Led
All switch plate has M3 tappered holes
(https://i.imgur.com/5eRlMMK.jpg)
Color is the way ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/kFadMyU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/b3qzikm.jpg)
I realised that Khail box do not have a perfect fit to the plate so I had to hot glue them a little bit to ensure them and now the hard work....HANDWIRING :eek:
Diodes rows bucling and soldering
(https://i.imgur.com/Y0PdBqU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ygtSGDT.jpg)
Completed rows
(https://i.imgur.com/ParUUJ5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xdJ8a5Y.jpg)
For the colums I used rigid cable from a Ethernet cable donor and a visegrip magic
(https://i.imgur.com/wNl0H0k.jpg)
To wire Teensy controller I used some fancy coloured cables from a SCART trash cable (20 colours FTW)
(https://i.imgur.com/8k9uRm1.jpg)
Rainbow teensy is ready to go
(https://i.imgur.com/ztFrrSG.jpg)
Some extra wiring and a 330Ohm resistor for the CAPS Lock led
(https://i.imgur.com/JWtdS6Q.jpg)
Time to cut, file and mount 8x8 profile to the case and 3d printed teensy holder, and a little bit of EVA foam to isolate the bottom plate
(https://i.imgur.com/IZVtlKG.jpg)
Some details of the teensy holder
(https://i.imgur.com/KZCjBW7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ngTw2f4.jpg)
For the visible aluminium parts I brushed them with Scotch Brite to make a nice finish, not as cool as anodizing but nice enought to me and some details of the case build
(https://i.imgur.com/kxuINyr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/somgNLX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xAPlJXS.jpg)
The CAPS lock led worked, not at the first time as I put in firmware the pin for NUM Lock instead and then because I wired it wrong GND + Pin instead the CORRECT one +5v and Pin
(https://i.imgur.com/49SkwuY.jpg)
Now its a low ligt under the cap, but im thinking in made a window in the keycap
(https://i.imgur.com/VkfAPAX.jpg)
Finally the result of the build
(https://i.imgur.com/ElaXr1X.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3JQUQEg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P079aDr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DLkfgXp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LnwfS1o.jpg)
I hope it was as entertaining as for me was the build :p
-
Wonderful! Simple and clean looks.
I think EVA foam for isolation also has a positive effect on the sound of the board. How did you feel about it?
-
The 8x8 box aluminium tubes may be exactly the solution I didn't know I needed. Thanks for the idea!