Custom v.1 plate arrived (thanks Beast!) and was populated with Reds from a Rosewill 104 plus Cherry stabilizers from Mouser. Mostly leftover keycaps were used, but the 1.75x full-width caps-lock keycap works fine as the 1.75x Shift_R keycap. And since nearly all PBT keycap sets contain both a stepped and non-stepped caps-lock keycap, this board should be able to be populated with a normal keycap set.
The only really odd keycaps are the three 1x keycaps on the bottom row; I will use them as Alt_R, Fn, and Ctrl_R. For this proto build I used Riddler Keys.
I have made a v.2 plate drawing that includes some strengthening updates, including edges I will bend with my cheap metal break. Once that comes in I will do the lowpoly diode wiring job and add a Teensy with Phantom firmware. (See http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=20898.0 for lowpoly's mod.)
NOTE: I have some build photos on another camera; I will upload those soon-ish.
- Ron | samwisekoi
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(http://www.samwisekoi.com/pixelart/M.png)
VERY cool. That's the 65%-er, right? Looks awesome, and I would love to get one of these.
Version 2 of the GH75 (eRace/xRace) plate is in. Beast lasered it and then I had a local sheet metal shop bend the front and rear edges to form flanges. It has a 10mm flange on the front and a 20mm flange on the rear, so it is free-standing. It is also stainless, so it is very stiff, especially with the bends.
I'll post more details and a build log, but here are a couple of initial snaps. You can see how it sits on the desk and where the Teensy will sit. It will be fully hard-wired as before.
- Ron | samwisekoi
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(http://www.samwisekoi.com/pixelart/M.png)
Very nice. I like how this is coming along. PCB-less design rocks!
Ron inspired me to do this (40% board):
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(http://i.imgur.com/hZfrAjy.png)
If it works, I'll see if Ron will host the drawing file for you experimenters.
12*4; Interesting. Are you going for this?
(http://i.imm.io/WI26.png)
http://ne0.cc/laygen/
Esc::1.0 Q::1 W::1 E::1 R::1 T::1 Y::1 U::1 I::1 O::1 P::1 Bksp::1$$
Lock::1.25 A::1 S::1 D::1 F::1 G::1 H::1 J::1 K::1 L::1 Enter::1.75$$
Shift::1.75 Z::1 X::1 C::1 V::1 B::1 N::1 M::1 <,::1 Shift::1.25 Fn::1$$
Ctrl::1.25 Fn::1 Alt::1 Space::6.25 Alt::1.25 Ctrl::1.25$$
I can't go that small, but I very much want to do a Miniature Dvorak KB (13*4)
(http://i.imm.io/WI3W.png)
Esc::1 '::1 ,<::1 .<::1 P::1 Y::1 F::1 G::1 C::1 R::1 L::1 /::1 Bksp::1$$
Tab::1.25 A::1 O::1 E::1 U::1 I::1 D::1 H::1 T::1 N::1 S::1 Enter::1.75$$
Shift::1.75 ;::1 Q::1 J::1 K::1 X::1 B::1 M::1 W::1 V::1 Z::1 Shift::1.25$$
Ctrl::1 Fn::1.0 Alt::1.0 ::6.25 Alt::1.25 Super::1 Ctrl::1.5$$
Or maybe something a little larger (14*4)
http://i.imm.io/WI3n.png (http://i.imm.io/WI3n.png)
Esc::1 '::1 ,<::1 .<::1 P::1 Y::1 F::1 G::1 C::1 R::1 L::1 /::1 =::1 Bksp::1$$
Tab::1.25 A::1 O::1 E::1 U::1 I::1 D::1 H::1 T::1 N::1 S::1 -::1 Enter::1.75$$
Shift::1.75 ;::1 Q::1 J::1 K::1 X::1 B::1 M::1 W::1 V::1 Z::1 Shift::1.25 Fn::1.00$$
Ctrl::1 Super::1 Fn::1.0 Alt::1.0 ::6.25 Alt::1.25 Meta::1.25 Ctrl::1.25
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What do these plates cost? I want to make one now. I always thought using the plate as a case was the best KB design. Maybe with a panel-mount USB jack on the back or something: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Amphenol-Commercial-Products/MUSBB551042/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMulM8LPOQ%252byk6V7JFh%252bQKX34iD2mjgWOK8%3d
Ron, can you clarify exactly how the teensy is mounted in your (excellent) free-standing case? Is there a picture of the bottom you can show, or is it not wired yet?
I'm working on this
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(http://i.imgur.com/ji4zrvV.png)
looking forward to my DSA retro keys!
Dang, we should have used green for the arrows on the brown keys!
Hard-Wiring How-To is being loaded to the wiki here: http://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Hard-Wiring_How-To (http://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Hard-Wiring_How-To)
(Attachment Link)
PCBs? We don't need no stinkin' PCBs!
Lots more to go, but it will all be there in the end.
- Ron | samwisekoi
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(http://www.samwisekoi.com/pixelart/Leo.png)
Awesome!
Dat 65%. Dat 65%. The only thing i'm missing on the Pure (aside from it not being in ISO) are those arrow keys. And the programmable keys, of course.
The 75% doesn't look bad either!
Thank you! :cool:
The 75% is sitting there waiting for me to finish the invoicing process for the Retro DSA group buy. Then I'll get the Weller and camera out and finish that and post a build log. I got as far as the populating the caseless, free-standing plate with mostly Cherry MX Brown switches, a few Reds and some white LEDs from a Race.
(Attachment Link)
75% "eRace" v.2 free-standing plate, populated.
I am considering doing the 65% using the yet-to-be started Retro Blue keycap set. I think the combination would be an awesome homage to early IBM terminals and the honorable Selectric.
- Ron | samwisekoi
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(http://www.samwisekoi.com/pixelart/Leo.png)
75% layout with 1.25 left-hand mods and Cherry stabilizers... I think I just wet myself... The stepped caps lock bugs me a bit, but it's not that big of an issue considering the rest of the design (I like swapping caps <> control as an MMO gamer).
75% layout with 1.25 left-hand mods and Cherry stabilizers... I think I just wet myself... The stepped caps lock bugs me a bit, but it's not that big of an issue considering the rest of the design (I like swapping caps <> control as an MMO gamer).
Thanks. The caps lock is likely to end up as an either/or placement. I am used to the stepped caps lock on my Model M, so I add it to my other keyboards. The GH75 v.1 allowed you to install the caps lock shifted left or centered, but I dropped that for this version. GH75 v.3 will revert to a wide slot for your choice of placement.
- Ron | samwisekoi
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(http://www.samwisekoi.com/pixelart/M.png)
Oh awesome, now I just have to start saving up and hope my GF doesn't find out how much I want to spend on one... haha
More work on the board. The matrix is complete. I also reduced the number of LEDs.
(Attachment Link)
Hard-wired GH75 Matrix Completed
Also, more images have been prepped and uploaded to the Wiki How-To:
http://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Hard-Wiring_How-To (http://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Hard-Wiring_How-To)
More image manipulation and uploading to come, then wiring the Teensy harness and adding firmware.
Enjoy!
- Ron | samwisekoi
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(http://www.samwisekoi.com/pixelart/M.png)
What did you use for rail? Tinned Wire?
More work on the board. The matrix is complete. I also reduced the number of LEDs.
(Attachment Link)
Hard-wired GH75 Matrix Completed
Also, more images have been prepped and uploaded to the Wiki How-To:
http://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Hard-Wiring_How-To (http://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Hard-Wiring_How-To)
More image manipulation and uploading to come, then wiring the Teensy harness and adding firmware.
Enjoy!
- Ron | samwisekoi
Show Image
(http://www.samwisekoi.com/pixelart/M.png)
could you please post a pic showing how the positive diode side (rows) and the other side (columns) connect to the teensey?