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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: nulo on Tue, 01 June 2021, 15:50:03

Title: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: nulo on Tue, 01 June 2021, 15:50:03
Hey, I'm building my first keyboard (not my first mech keyboard but my first building one) and I want to make it pretty cheap (so mostly for learning purposes but I want to use this thing.)

I have a few questions:

Thanks! I'll post if I have any other questions.
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: fpazos on Tue, 01 June 2021, 16:48:36
1 not neccesary but mdf tend to absord humidity from your hands and will torn off

2 it'll be more flexible. Maybe not something bad but maybe a bit fragile in mdf

3 yes, it is easy. You must modify the firmware too

Enviado desde mi Redmi Note 7 mediante Tapatalk

Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: nulo on Tue, 01 June 2021, 17:20:22
1 not neccesary but mdf tend to absord humidity from your hands and will torn off

2 it'll be more flexible. Maybe not something bad but maybe a bit fragile in mdf

If I use acrylic then both of these things are solved right?

(also soy argentino :)
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: nulo on Tue, 01 June 2021, 17:37:44
Another question: a board design for MX switches should work with Outemu switches too, right?
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: fpazos on Tue, 01 June 2021, 18:33:08
Hola! Yo de España!!

Yes. Both problems would be solved if you use acrylic.

All the MX switches use the same pins (kailh, gateron, outemu, cherry....) Outemu aren't too popular. Maybe you should check the most popular option in the low price range for the kind of switch you prefer.

Enviado desde mi Redmi Note 7 mediante Tapatalk

Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: suicidal_orange on Tue, 01 June 2021, 18:54:04
Isn't 1.5mm acrylic fragile and likely to snap?  I might be remembering that wrongly...
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: nulo on Tue, 01 June 2021, 18:59:50
All the MX switches use the same pins (kailh, gateron, outemu, cherry....) Outemu aren't too popular. Maybe you should check the most popular option in the low price range for the kind of switch you prefer.

Sadly Outemu are the only real options locally, but I will probably replace the switches in the future (or build a new board.) My worry is that they won't click properly into the plate.
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: nulo on Tue, 01 June 2021, 19:02:32
Isn't 1.5mm acrylic fragile and likely to snap?  I might be remembering that wrongly...

Possibly. Would MDF be less fragile? I want to use something cheap that won't break (don't mind if it's ugly.)


Is this design alright? It's the official Atreus but with the two keys added·
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: suicidal_orange on Tue, 01 June 2021, 19:31:12
I have no idea, I've never used either that thin.  If you just wanting cheap and have time you could use thicker MDF then file the sides of each hole at an angle from below until the top bit is only 1.5mm and the switches clip in.  I wouldn't suggest it on a big board but an Atreus doesn't have many switches.
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: fpazos on Wed, 02 June 2021, 01:33:52
Isn't 1.5mm acrylic fragile and likely to snap?  I might be remembering that wrongly...
Hi suicidal. I don't know exactly. That's posible. I know for sure that md will be very fragile.

Enviado desde mi Redmi Note 7 mediante Tapatalk

Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: nulo on Thu, 03 June 2021, 09:36:54
Isn't 1.5mm acrylic fragile and likely to snap?  I might be remembering that wrongly...

Possibly. Would MDF be less fragile? I want to use something cheap that won't break (don't mind if it's ugly.)


Is this design alright? It's the official Atreus but with the two keys added·

I got it done but the keys are too close to each other! And yes, MDF 1.5mm is quite fragile. I believe it could be done but I'd rather do it with a harder material so today I'm gonna try different ones (and with measurements fixed.)
Title: Re: Making my own Atreus, halp
Post by: fpazos on Thu, 03 June 2021, 13:48:06
I got it done but the keys are too close to each other! And yes, MDF 1.5mm is quite fragile. I believe it could be done but I'd rather do it with a harder material so today I'm gonna try different ones (and with measurements fixed.)

Good luck then. 19.05mm is the right size.

I just remembered using 2mm mdf and this was strong enough.