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Author Topic: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional  (Read 10056 times)

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Offline jb

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  • Posts: 10
Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« on: Sun, 28 May 2017, 21:27:10 »
I just bought a Das Keyboard 4 Professional..
  • Cherry MX switches (this one was Cherry MX Brown)
  • USB 3.0 hub with 2 ports
  • A jog wheel (volume control) and a few media keys

I was curious what it was made of, so I took it apart...
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Offline jb

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  • Posts: 10
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 28 May 2017, 21:32:12 »
USB hub IC is VL812-Q7
MCU is a Nuvoton NUC123SD48N0 (Cortex M0, 68K flash, 20K ram)

Note the easily accessible test points for the programming interface on the MCU :D
« Last Edit: Sun, 28 May 2017, 21:34:43 by jb »
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Offline GroovyGI

  • Posts: 21
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 29 May 2017, 04:30:07 »
Very nice, I had wondered about the USB connection on the inside as I wanted to know about the ease or replacing the USB cable if need be.
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Offline DuckNorris

  • Posts: 254
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 30 May 2017, 15:43:07 »
Wait so you just got a new keyboard and you decide to tear it apart? Don't get me wrong thank you for this but everyone is different I guess.

If you like doing this, maybe consider building yourself a keyboard from scratch next time?  :thumb:
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Offline jb

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  • Posts: 10
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 30 May 2017, 21:50:08 »
Quote from: DuckNorris on Tue, 30 May 2017, 15:43:07
Wait so you just got a new keyboard and you decide to tear it apart? Don't get me wrong thank you for this but everyone is different I guess.

If you like doing this, maybe consider building yourself a keyboard from scratch next time?  :thumb:

Of course I took it apart! And yes, building from scratch is the plan... but where to begin?
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Offline Hyde

  • Posts: 2643
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
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Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 31 May 2017, 12:47:24 »
So the spacebar is Cherry stabilizer and the rest are Costar stabilizers.

How does the spacebar feel when bottom out?  Is it clean?

And thanks again for the pics.  :)
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Offline jnav

  • Posts: 66
  • Location: California
  • Endgame is for quitters.
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Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 31 May 2017, 21:03:47 »
I have the same keyboard with Greentech Blues (which I've grown to loathe) and I plan on replacing them with Zealio 62 Gs. The replacement key switches are on order and once the project is finished I'll post some photos.
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Offline riko

  • Posts: 44
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 03 June 2017, 12:06:37 »
Is it a Steel or Aluminum plate? How is the build quality and soldering?
« Last Edit: Sat, 03 June 2017, 22:06:22 by riko »
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Offline jb

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  • Posts: 10
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 03 June 2017, 20:13:05 »
Regarding the spacebard, I'm not sure that I know enough to say what it feels like.. it feels like the rest of the other keys. The various keys (shift, enter, etc) that have the white stabilizer attached to the keys all have an extra rattling noise (not very bad, but noticeable if you're paying attention). The spacebar does not exhibit that issue.

The metal plate on top is fairly heavy, and magnets stick to it, but not nearly as strongly as my fridge.. so... some alloy? But the keys are all mounted on the PCB, not the plate. The leads on the switches are all bent outwards before being soldered, so replacing the switches would be some work. Keep in mind though, I'm a newbie, so might not really know what's good or not.
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Offline ferrariguy121

  • Posts: 1
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 09 November 2017, 03:47:17 »
Hello, do you know what type of USB connector is on the PCB?
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Offline Mazian

  • Posts: 8
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 11 November 2017, 18:31:56 »
Quote from: ferrariguy121 on Thu, 09 November 2017, 03:47:17
Hello, do you know what type of USB connector is on the PCB?

Not my board, but it looks like a standard USB 3 Micro-B.
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Offline _haru

  • Formerly linuxfanatic
  • Posts: 390
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Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 12 November 2017, 19:34:52 »
Quote from: jb on Sun, 28 May 2017, 21:32:12
USB hub IC is VL812-Q7
MCU is a Nuvoton NUC123SD48N0 (Cortex M0, 68K flash, 20K ram)

Note the easily accessible test points for the programming interface on the MCU :D

Considering that TMK and QMK can be made to run on other MCUs with the Cortex M0, is it possible to hack an aftermarket firmware onto it?

Quote from: jb on Tue, 30 May 2017, 21:50:08
Of course I took it apart! And yes, building from scratch is the plan... but where to begin?

It all depends on what size and layout you want your custom keyboard to have. Some form factors have more readily available parts than others. Just send me a PM if you need any help :D
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AMJ60 - 45g MX White | GH60 Rev. C - Ghost Gateron Blacks | DFK101 - Alps SKCM Cream | Filco Majestouch 2 TKL - 62g Vintage MX Ergo Clear

Offline daskeybo

  • Posts: 45
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 13 November 2017, 09:48:28 »
5312x2988

That is a lot of pixels
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Offline ColdSphinX

  • Posts: 1
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 04 January 2018, 03:33:28 »
Hmm, that pcb doesn't look like it features soldering points for a simple led mod. I was hoping they use the same pcb for the 4 Professional as for the X40 or Q5 and only change the breakout board in the top right corner.
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Offline joshuamcd97

  • Posts: 1
Re: Teardown - Das Keyboard 4 Professional
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 14 December 2021, 19:35:31 »
Godsend, used this to grab the MCU, cheers!
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