geekhack Projects > Making Stuff Together!
Making my first custom keyboard
b1gsh4d0w:
Hi guys,
So I'm new here in the community I was searching for a keyboard that had a full layout num pad and all that good stuff, I found one that is really nice (at least it seems) Vortex tab 90M. But after watch all the custom boards I wanted also with a rotary knob and an OLED screen.
Because of that i made a list of things I wanted to make a keyboard for my expectations:
-MCU needs to be a STM32
-OLED Screen
-Rotary Encoder
-USB C (Left or Right side)
-White backlight
-Num Pad (when not being used as num pad could be used for macro using num lock)
-Aluminium case
-Powered by QMK and VIA Configurator support
-Maybe RTC ??
This was inspired by Satisfaction75 mainly and other builds on this forum and Reddit.
If someone wants to give me some input on other features I'm all ears but bear in mind that this is my first keyboard
Son0fAres:
--- Quote from: b1gsh4d0w on Thu, 25 March 2021, 13:24:59 ---Hi guys,
So I'm new here in the community I was searching for a keyboard that had a full layout num pad and all that good stuff, I found one that is really nice (at least it seems) Vortex tab 90M. But after watch all the custom boards I wanted also with a rotary knob and an OLED screen.
Because of that i made a list of things I wanted to make a keyboard for my expectations:
-MCU needs to be a STM32
-OLED Screen
-Rotary Encoder
-USB C (Left or Right side)
-White backlight
-Num Pad (when not being used as num pad could be used for macro using num lock)
-Aluminium case
-Powered by QMK and VIA Configurator support
-Maybe RTC ??
This was inspired by Satisfaction75 mainly and other builds on this forum and Reddit.
If someone wants to give me some input on other features I'm all ears but bear in mind that this is my first keyboard
--- End quote ---
Hello!
FOR PCB DESIGN
First of all I think a good starting point for creating your own keyboard is to watch PCB design videos and read ai03's PCB design guide and follow along
ai03's PCB design guide : https://wiki.ai03.com/books/pcb-design
Hadi (Youtube) PCB design guide for 60% board : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbtY7JsOJDYkHNuTmBtGgaWv_qipKeL-u
I understand your preferred layout is 75% but based on these resources it would be a similar technique to get it done.
FOR CASE DESIGN
First of all choose any CAD for your budget, then learn how to use it by reading the docs.
Once you are comfortable with the program, watch this stream to better understand how it all goes together :
Hope this helps!
nevin:
look at YMD96, TOFU96, Melody96, ep96, Massdrop NYM96
pcbs - RGB96
most of these are usually 96 keys and can be found a little quicker searching for "96"
i'm sure there's more but this is what i could find quickly, might not have all requests but this is not a very popular form factor
another option.... alternate QMK controllers for production keyboards
https://1upkeyboards.com/shop/controllers/unloved-bastard-controller/
https://1upkeyboards.com/shop/controllers/qf-xt-ghost-squid-controller-2/
https://1upkeyboards.com/shop/controllers/rosewill-black-petal-controller/
another form factor you might want to look into is the 1800 layout based off of the cherry g80-1800 keyboards
TKC1800, Drop's Shift, KBD19X, AEGIS (southpaw), hbcp - Custom Compact 1800, etc....
you can also find replacement pcb's for actual cherry g80-1800's as well
might be able to find a case, pcb or plate that might work for what you're looking to do
b1gsh4d0w:
--- Quote from: Son0fAres on Thu, 25 March 2021, 13:53:20 ---Hello!
FOR PCB DESIGN
First of all I think a good starting point for creating your own keyboard is to watch PCB design videos and read ai03's PCB design guide and follow along
ai03's PCB design guide : https://wiki.ai03.com/books/pcb-design
Hadi (Youtube) PCB design guide for 60% board : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbtY7JsOJDYkHNuTmBtGgaWv_qipKeL-u
I understand your preferred layout is 75% but based on these resources it would be a similar technique to get it done.
FOR CASE DESIGN
First of all choose any CAD for your budget, then learn how to use it by reading the docs.
Once you are comfortable with the program, watch this stream to better understand how it all goes together :
Hope this helps!
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the info, I was already watching the Hadi YouTube channel and have seen the ai03 guide I also found these:
-ruiqimao GitHub - https://github.com/ruiqimao/keyboard-pcb-guide#associating-components-and-footprints
-Masterzen Blog - https://www.masterzen.fr/2020/05/03/designing-a-keyboard-part-1/
As for the desinging software im going to use fusion360, I know a bit already of the software but I will get up to speed when needed
--- Quote from: nevin on Thu, 25 March 2021, 14:02:08 ---look at YMD96, TOFU96, Melody96, ep96, Massdrop NYM96
pcbs - RGB96
most of these are usually 96 keys and can be found a little quicker searching for "96"
i'm sure there's more but this is what i could find quickly, might not have all requests but this is not a very popular form factor
another option.... alternate QMK controllers for production keyboards
https://1upkeyboards.com/shop/controllers/unloved-bastard-controller/
https://1upkeyboards.com/shop/controllers/qf-xt-ghost-squid-controller-2/
https://1upkeyboards.com/shop/controllers/rosewill-black-petal-controller/
another form factor you might want to look into is the 1800 layout based off of the cherry g80-1800 keyboards
TKC1800, Drop's Shift, KBD19X, AEGIS (southpaw), hbcp - Custom Compact 1800, etc....
you can also find replacement pcb's for actual cherry g80-1800's as well
might be able to find a case, pcb or plate that might work for what you're looking to do
--- End quote ---
I really liked the Melody96 case its awesome but in terms of layout I have already an idea of what I want, and it's closer to the vortex tab 90M and I really want to make my PCB to learn how to do it
on the other controllers to be honest I don't know much but for what I've seen QMK is nice and doesn't seem to complicate to use but tanks for the suggestions
nevin:
the alternate controllers are QMK controllers for production boards from makers like cooler master, rosewill, HHKB & others... (changing the controller in a board you can buy off the shelf)
https://www.twitch.tv/gondolindrim_ also does pcb design, streams regularly, and would be a great person to bounce ideas off of or if you had questions. he's also on discord.
good luck on your journey & keep us posed with your progress.
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