It took me a long while to realize that HHKB plates are basically my favourite layout without the Control cutouts. So I decided to make those cuts myself.
I overlapped the HHKB plate over a winkeyless one and put three switched through for a more precise alignment, then I marked the cutting area with a blackmarker, like so.
I drilled through the inside to make room for a hand file to finish the cutout.
Originally I wanted to do this with a steel plate, but it was so hard that I couldn't get through even with a power drill, and I don't own a drill press, so props to LeandreN
for making my life a living hell providing us with top-notch materials.
I then filed the cutout to make them square. It look like five minutes each.
I filed again the left cutout later on because it wasn't square but I don't have a picture for that.
I populated plate and PCB with switches and it looked great.
For this keyboard I used a plastic 60% case bought on Aliexpress.
Close ups on the hand cut holes.
Keycaps.
I really like the contrast between black keycaps and red plate, and I'm very satisfied with the result. I'll try again with the steel plate in the future but surely I'll be getting more aluminum HHKB plates.
Lastly, some technical details and a summary:
Parts usedPCB: White GON's NerD 60% Mekanisk - 1UPkeyboards edition, with TMK firmware
Plate: R4 HHKB red aluminum plate.
Switches: Gateron KS-3 Black, bought on Aliexpress.
Keycaps: Mods are from
WoB icon mods GB, alphas are OG cherry lasered and infilled ABS, right shift is a gracious present from LeandreN himself.
Tools usedDremel 3000 to cut the extra holes.
USBasp programmer to replace NerD's bootloader and firmware.
This great guide to achieve the previous goal.
That's it.
Thanks for reading.
