Author Topic: GH60-ML discussion (Read 6598 times)

dante · « **on:** Sun, 14 April 2013, 14:57:12 »

After giving it considerable thought a 60%ish would be best for ML's and not a TKL.

The idea is that a replacement PCB would go back into the original G84 case but with diodes for 6KRO and a programmable teensy.

I will upload a potential layout this week based on pre-existing ML keycap sizes to get your thoughts.

If someone is good at drawing up the schematics necessary to make it happen I will take care of taking orders / ordering parts / etc.

The goal is to keep this super cheap so you can get a programmable ML 60% for under $50.

jdcarpe · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 14 April 2013, 14:59:42 »

agodinhost modfied the existing GH60 PCB for Alps switches. I don't see why the same could not be done for ML switches.

SmallFry · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 14 April 2013, 16:19:35 »

Quote from: jdcarpe on Sun, 14 April 2013, 14:59:42

agodinhost modfied the existing GH60 PCB for Alps switches. I don't see why the same could not be done for ML switches.

Or on the same PCB depending on the spacing.

sth · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 14 April 2013, 16:26:12 »

i am absolutely interested in consuming this product but i have basically zero technical knowledge to add. the only thing i can think of that would be nice is to allow layout changes (hhk-ml comes to mind).

WhiteFireDragon · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 03:18:25 »

Not to be such a negative nancy, but I don't think this will generate nearly as much interest as MX or ALPS version of GH60. First of all, most people that have tried ML switches don't like it as much as MX.

Another important factor is that it's much harder to get individual ML switches and stabilizers. At least with MX, you can just buy a bag of new switches. I haven't really looked, but it might not be available to buy single switches like this. They must all be desoldered, and I just don't expect every person learn and spend time desoldering switches.

Keycap replacement is almost none. They're not compatible with the current large selection of MX keycaps. So not only do you lose a lot of customization, you're also greatly limited on the layout because each layout requires very specific cap sizes.

Quote from: jdcarpe on Sun, 14 April 2013, 14:59:42

agodinhost modfied the existing GH60 PCB for Alps switches. I don't see why the same could not be done for ML switches.

Last time I checked my ML PCB, I remember there were 4 pins per switch compared to only 2 pins for MX or alps switches. The two extra might be the diode pins, but I'm not sure. This will mean some significant rerouting of the current GH60 PCB, which may or may not be possible.

dante · « **Reply #5 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 08:42:53 »

eh, I can get stabilizer parts / keycaps / switches from many ML boards.

I know the interest won't be high - I'm mostly building this for myself. Still, even if someone is not crazy about ML switches they may want to have just one example in their collection.

vipjun · « **Reply #6 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 11:10:24 »

I don't think ML keys are that bad. But was wondering if the reason why you want to do this was to get the short trow / lower profile caps ?

If so would it be a better route to go with say MX switches + some kind of addon that would create shorter trow + low profile keycaps (like ones for the new cherry g80-3850)

I have an ML switch board and feel that after a while the switches start getting funky where the feel of the keypress starts changing .. either tighter or looser. i dont think this has to do with how the stem connects but rather a design of the switch itself. I wouldn't mind having a better ML type board.

dante · « **Reply #7 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 11:24:00 »

I'm going to be using the G84 full time and see where it goes as far as key feel. I've tried blues, greens, browns, ergo clears, clears, whites ... and for me Cherry ML kicks them in the balls ... while they are down in the mud kicks them in the neck for good measure.

As far as tactility is concerned: Buckling Springs and Cherry ML are king.

dante · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 11:24:31 »

I'm going to be using the G84 full time and see where it goes as far as key feel. I've tried blues, greens, browns, ergo clears, clears, tacto blacks, panda clears, whites ... and for me Cherry ML kicks them in the balls ... and while they are down in the mud kicks them in the neck for good measure.

As far as tactility is concerned: Buckling Springs and Cherry ML are king.

vipjun · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 19:29:33 »

Quote from: dante on Mon, 15 April 2013, 11:24:31

As far as tactility is concerned: Buckling Springs and Cherry ML are king.

Maybe you have a special ML , on a good day mine feel like browns. I feel the ML has potential but my problem wasn't with the layout . it was the off center hits making them almost have variable activation forces . If that could be improved it would be a great !

Michael · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 19:32:14 »

I love lubed ML switches. I use my ML board for on-the-go stuff. Modded to use with my iPad as well.

SmallFry · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 19:46:40 »

Did you solder directly to the camera kit or how did you modify it?

dante · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 20:31:53 »

I suck at editing graphics - what do you think?

The long right shift will need to be taken from another board, as well as the additional function key.

The black non existent space can be some sort of pcb shield unless a case can be made for it.

sth · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 22:53:07 »

paging smallfry... i'll never keep track of the HHK ML thread on kbdm but the one over there is very nice

SmallFry · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 15 April 2013, 22:59:56 »

Quote from: sth on Mon, 15 April 2013, 22:53:07

paging smallfry... i'll never keep track of the HHK ML thread on kbdm but the one over there is very nice

Ill pull that link tomorrow, ping me in the IRC. I'm not currently at a desktop.

vipjun · « **Reply #15 on:** Fri, 19 April 2013, 04:35:07 »

Quote from: Bro Caps on Mon, 15 April 2013, 19:32:14

I love lubed ML switches. I use my ML board for on-the-go stuff. Modded to use with my iPad as well.

is there a way to lube the switches without desoldering ? i saw a video of someone lubing switches still intact on the pcb but i find it almost impossible to open the tabs that way.

WhiteFireDragon · « **Reply #16 on:** Fri, 19 April 2013, 05:55:02 »

That was probably my video. I opened it without desoldering, but it takes some maneuvering around to pop the tabs off. It's possible, but will take quite a while. If you desolder all the switches first, it's must easier to pop off the tabs, but desoldering takes some time too. And the actual lubing might take even longer lol. There's really no shortcuts to get these lubed.

vipjun · « **Reply #17 on:** Fri, 19 April 2013, 13:06:59 »

did you happen to use some kind of special tool ? i only need to lube a few keys that i use for gaming on this but am afraid i'll break the switch.

keymaster · « **Reply #18 on:** Sat, 20 April 2013, 10:38:44 »

I came across this glorious keyboard on KBD Mania today: http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/index.php?mid=photo&page=4&document_srl=6443160

dante · « **Reply #19 on:** Sat, 20 April 2013, 12:44:45 »

oh daddy...

metalliqaz · « **Reply #20 on:** Sat, 20 April 2013, 13:09:38 »

smexy

sth · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 25 April 2013, 16:42:45 »

hahahahaha one of the first comments via google translate: "thank you for looking good"

keymaster · « **Reply #22 on:** Fri, 26 April 2013, 10:35:22 »

Does anyone know what kind of custom case this is? I'd love to do this case mod for my G84-4100.

agodinhost · « **Reply #23 on:** Sat, 27 April 2013, 00:03:49 »

I didn't saw this topic before.
GH60-ML? ML are those cherry laptop switches right? If someone provide the footprint I can do it for you guys ...

I'm right now working on a 60% PCB that will work for both Cherry and Alps. This will be kinda quick since I do already have one 65% board that I'm going to use as a starting point ...

I'm just waiting Matt3o to see what he will do with these 65% layout and then I'll publish it somewhere in GH.

dante · « **Reply #24 on:** Sat, 27 April 2013, 08:49:44 »

Quote from: agodinhost on Sat, 27 April 2013, 00:03:49

I didn't saw this topic before.
GH60-ML? ML are those cherry laptop switches right? If someone provide the footprint I can do it for you guys ...

I'm right now working on a 60% PCB that will work for both Cherry and Alps. This will be kinda quick since I do already have one 65% board that I'm going to use as a starting point ...

I'm just waiting Matt3o to see what he will do with these 65% layout and then I'll publish it somewhere in GH.

I'm still fiddling with the layout. I'll probably replace the capslock with a single FN key so people don't have to source caps from a 2nd G84.

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Author Topic: GH60-ML discussion (Read 6598 times)