[BUILD] my second DIY keyboard, "Keybird69"

[fanf]

I recently finished my second keyboard build. I call it "Keybird69" because it is a keyboard for a Finch, and it has 69 keys.

  * sandwich case made from LEGO Technic beams and FR-4 plates
  * unix69 layout
  * PCB designed by me
  * Waveshare RP2040-Tiny controller
  * Cherry MX Clear switches, Durock screw-in stabilizers
  * SP DSS Dolch keycaps

I am pleased with the result :-) tho I fear that perfection has not yet been achieved, and I am doomed to build another.

[ylothar]

Gorgeous!

[fanf]

Thank you!

[juliday]

Wonderful IDEA!
I'd like to try too if I can  source the lego parts..
Side finish looks fairly nice.

[fanf]

I got the lego parts from https://www.lego.com/en-gb/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick but there are lots of third party sellers that you can find via https://www.brickowl.com/ and https://www.bricklink.com/

I am currently waiting for some black 13 hole beams to replace the grey ones. (For some reason the grey ones ship fast from Poland but the black ones ship slow from Billund, so I got the grey ones when I was prototyping.) When I fit them I will be more careful to make sure that the injection moulding sprue marks on the sides of the beams are on the inside of the keyboard not the outside 🤪

I also have some acrylic on the way to go around the key block above the plate. I rather like the texture of black solder mask on copper, so I am not sure if I want to cover it up or if the acrylic will be too shiny.

[juliday]

I got the lego parts from https://www.lego.com/en-gb/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick but there are lots of third party sellers that you can find via https://www.brickowl.com/ and https://www.bricklink.com/

I am currently waiting for some black 13 hole beams to replace the grey ones. (For some reason the grey ones ship fast from Poland but the black ones ship slow from Billund, so I got the grey ones when I was prototyping.) When I fit them I will be more careful to make sure that the injection moulding sprue marks on the sides of the beams are on the inside of the keyboard not the outside 🤪

I also have some acrylic on the way to go around the key block above the plate. I rather like the texture of black solder mask on copper, so I am not sure if I want to cover it up or if the acrylic will be too shiny.

Thank you for the intel! I'll def. give it a shot.
Since I've got the names, I'll be able to get them here in Korea.

plus, I like your upper arrow key. I'll try that one too when I install SA keycaps nexttime.

[fanf]

I wrote a bit more about the up arrow hack on my blog https://dotat.at/@/2023-08-05-keycaps.html - quoting the relevant section:

I had seen a few keycap sets with extra up arrows, which puzzled me (For example https://drop.com/buy/drop-matt3o-mt3-susuwatari-custom-keycap-set?defaultSelectionIds=952685) The NightFox came with an extra up arrow, and eventually I twigged that it makes the profile of the arrow cluster a bit nicer.

Usually, in a sculpted keycap profile (where each row of keycaps has a differently angled top surface) the bottom two rows have the same angle, sloping away from the typist. This means the up arrow key slopes away from the other arrows on the row below.

The extra up arrow keys typically match the tab row, which is flat or angled slightly towards the typist. This gives the arrow cluster a more dishy feeling.

Unfortunately the keycaps I ordered do not have extra up arrow keys with tab row angle as an option. I did not realise until after I ordered them that I could have got a similar effect by using a reversed down arrow as an up arrow – it makes a sharper angle, but still feels nicer. So I’m using a reversed arrow key for Keybow69’s up button and my up/down legends both point the same way.