LZ-CE Build Log

[Puddsy]

POSTMORTEM 3/30/17:

I'm never stickermodding another keyboard again. It took me a little over an hour to solder everything, then another 3 hours to put the stickers on. Thank god for Sentraq plates.

Cherry definitely made their switches smoother. This board is a lot smoother than my MX red Filco, and I've been using that for YEARS.

Building a keyboard is REALLY easy. If you're on the fence about it you should do it

I had to replace the switch on the "T" key, but other than that, it worked as soon as I installed the firmware. Dunno what was wrong with the switch, but I had extras so it wasn't an issue.

I'll post good looking pictures when I have time to take them.

~



i'll take good looking ones later


~


I'm making this thread as a sort of log for my LZCE/GH60. I could keep this as a doc on my PC, but I'm big into the whole "public feedback" thing.

There will be pictures added later.

Typos and poor grammar courtesy of it being 1AM.

I've never built a keyboard from zero before, but I have 62g'd my QFR. I have fairly minimal soldering experience, but a keyboard is easy enough.

THE PROBLEM: I received an LZ-CE in a trade about 3 months ago. I got it with a KBT Pure with MX Reds as a hopeful holdover until I could find something better. I bought a GH60 that had an almost-perfect layout off classifieds for a good price, but it broke about a month later. I tried to fix it, but I ended up making the chattering issue worse.

Currently, the nicest 60% case I've ever used is sitting in my desk drawer at school. This is not ideal.

THE SOLUTION: I'm gonna build a GH60.

I don't know that much about building keyboards. I've never done it, and I've never really considered it until now.

I ordered:

From Techkeys: 1x GH60 Rev. C PCB in black, 1 sheet of Yellow switch stickers (Just for ****s)
From MK.com: 7x 10 pack of Cherry MX blacks, 1x set of switch tools
From Originative: 1x Set of 6.25x compatible stabs, 1x set of 100 24k gold 62g Springs

Here's the layout I'm going with.

I'm 99% sure the electronics lab at my college will have an LED and a resistor lying around for CAPS. If not, I'll take a ride to the local electronics store.

Weirdness worth mentioning:

I didn't buy lube to go with this. My budget was $125 and the cheapest lube I could find put me over by a few bucks if I wanted switch tools. I remember from my re-springing that a set of switch tools would've been a godsend. I stabbed myself with a screwdriver a few times. Wasn't fun.

Some of you might remember all my whining about how Originative is a massive ****pile and how I maintain a boycott. I still think Sherry charges too much, but at least he's shipping stuff now. So I ordered some #goldsprings and a set of stabs. Worst case, I'm out $20-odd. No biggie.

I'm using MX switches over Gaterons or Zealios. I picked them because I'm a firm believer in MX. I'm aware the other options aren't as **** as they were two years ago. Someone always mentions it when someone puts MXs in their board (or so it seems).

Thanks,

P

[Puddsy]

UPDATED 3/28/2017:

LIST OF THINGS I BOUGHT, AND WHERE I BOUGHT THEM FROM:

PCB: https://techkeys.us/products/gh60 It's SMD Presoldered, so no need to buy diodes.

Plate: Salvaged, but I'm pretty sure it's a Sentraq one. https://sentraq.com/products/60-aluminum-plate-1?variant=10596342599

Switches: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1030

Springs: https://originativeco.com/products/24k-gold-springs-and-stabilizers?variant=9212450821

Stabs: Originative again. I remember when it was hard to get stabs, and now it's so easy.

Stickers: https://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/vinyl-switch-stickers I like these because one sheet is enough for a full size keyboard. I got mine in Yellow.

Case: I'm lucky and have an LZ-CE, but any poker compatible case will work.

LEDS: I wanted a caps lock LED, so I bought 100 LEDs. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AUI4VWO

The lab at my school has resistors, so I'll just get them from there.

[yuktsi]

Orginative is doing quite well now. New cherry switches are bad, especially for the linear. Gateron is good, but their quality is not consistent. Actually I don't know what switches are good anymore =(
But yeah, LZ CE is a beautiful case, what colour is yours?

[digi]

Orginative is doing quite well now. New cherry switches are bad, especially for the linear. Gateron is good, but their quality is not consistent. Actually I don't know what switches are good anymore =(
But yeah, LZ CE is a beautiful case, what colour is yours?

Cherry Silvers are #1 breh, don't get it twisted.

[Puddsy]

Orginative is doing quite well now. New cherry switches are bad, especially for the linear. Gateron is good, but their quality is not consistent. Actually I don't know what switches are good anymore =(
But yeah, LZ CE is a beautiful case, what colour is yours?

I'm gonna hunt around the electronics lab to see if they have lube. If not, I'll find the $8 or whatever in my budget to get a little. Might order a plate from sentraq too, I don't know how badly I want to desolder a ****ed GH60.

I would've gone with Gaterons if I trusted their QC more. I've heard that new Cherry switches are smooth now, something about a new mold.

I got one in Gold w/ black inserts. It was the only non-cash offer I got for my blue ice, and I'm really glad I took it. Best 60% case I've ever used. There are some picture floating around in my post history.

It doesn't have a lot of the problems I hear about in other 60% cases. There's no weird metal pinging, it doesn't slide around (I got some non-slip feet with it), and it's suuuper heavy. Much better than just getting a cast poker case off aliexpress or something.

Cherry Silvers are #1 breh, don't get it twisted.

I actually thought pretty hard about doing MX silvers. I was gonna buy a Ducky ONE and take it apart for donor switches, and then maybe do a little handwired project with the extras. Seems like more work than I feel like doing.

A whole bunch of weird switches popped up during my hiatus. Hard to keep up with them all.

EDIT: missed a word

[Puddsy]

I was gonna build it on Tuesday, but it looks like my PCB hasn't actually been shipped by Techkeys yet.

I'll bring the dead one back up to school and take it apart so I can show y'all what's wrong with it.

[Puddsy]

bits are here



gonna spend this afternoon swapping springs methinks

[theillumedpanda]

Have you at least tried Gateron switches before? I haven't encountered a real issue at all, except one switch being a bit more wobbly. On the other hand, all of my Cherry MX switches were a lot scratchier, so there ist that. But now to the more important part: have fun and please provide enough pictures. 

[Puddsy]

Have you at least tried Gateron switches before? I haven't encountered a real issue at all, except one switch being a bit more wobbly. On the other hand, all of my Cherry MX switches were a lot scratchier, so there ist that. But now to the more important part: have fun and please provide enough pictures. 

Haven't tried them. I was planning on doing this with MX blacks from the start so

TODAY'S UPDATE:

PCB is at the Post Office, there's a little address snafu. I called them and they said it should be OK, so I should have it in hand later today or tomorrow morning.

I might desolder the old GH60 to harvest the switches and plate later tonight. Depends on how busy I am with homework today.

[theillumedpanda]

Haven't tried them. I was planning on doing this with MX blacks from the start so

You definitely should do that. You're missing out on something.

TODAY'S UPDATE:

PCB is at the Post Office, there's a little address snafu. I called them and they said it should be OK, so I should have it in hand later today or tomorrow morning.

I might desolder the old GH60 to harvest the switches and plate later tonight. Depends on how busy I am with homework today.

Fingers crossed that the PCB will arrive soon

[digi]

Who is this "Puddsy" guy?? He has the same post count and avatar as TacticalStache

[Puddsy]

Who is this "Puddsy" guy?? He has the same post count and avatar as TacticalStache

Dunno. Hear he likes triangles, though.

Haven't tried them. I was planning on doing this with MX blacks from the start so

You definitely should do that. You're missing out on something.

TODAY'S UPDATE:

PCB is at the Post Office, there's a little address snafu. I called them and they said it should be OK, so I should have it in hand later today or tomorrow morning.

I might desolder the old GH60 to harvest the switches and plate later tonight. Depends on how busy I am with homework today.

Fingers crossed that the PCB will arrive soon

TL;DR of my morning is that I should have it in the next 2-3 hours.

[Puddsy]

All's well.

What's next (in order):

Take apart old GH60 to recycle plate for this project and switches for another project

Swap 62g springs and stickermod new MX blacks for this project

Assemble new GH60 and perform all firmware changes (Stll need to locate an LED. We've got resistors up the ass, but no 3mm or 1.8mm LEDs)

Convert MX clears from old GH60 to panda clears with the springs from MX blacks

Decide what to build next (probably a JD40 or planck)

[VGVisionary]

Definitely following this! Could you post a full list of items for this build for noobs like myself though?

[Puddsy]

Definitely following this! Could you post a full list of items for this build for noobs like myself though?

Sure. I'll do a list with links before I start building it.

[pr0ximity]

I respect Cherry, I wouldn't build a high-quality board without them. I appreciate all the work Zeal et. al. have done to improve Gateron quality. But OG is still where it's at for the highest end.

Looking forward to your build!

[theillumedpanda]

Definitely following this! Could you post a full list of items for this build for noobs like myself though?

Sure. I'll do a list with links before I start building it.

You could include that in your startpost because of better visibility. Have fun!

I respect Cherry, I wouldn't build a high-quality board without them. I appreciate all the work Zeal et. al. have done to improve Gateron quality. But OG is still where it's at for the highest end.

Which version of his Zealios have you tried? As far as I know, his first two or three rounds were quite to very wobbly and not that good. I'm currently using R4.5 and mine don't wobble whatsoever. I somewhat dislike Cherry switches because of their scratchiness. Yes, you can lube, but still not as smooth as Gaterons imo. It's all personal preference.

[Puddsy]

Today's update:

Old GH60 isn't real cherry switches, can't believe it took me this long to notice. Went to desolder, noticed that they're not real clears, and decided it's not worth it just for the plate.

Gonna go back tomorrow or Thursday when my LEDs come in and solder/spring swap the new one.

Top right is real cherry, rest are something else.

[theillumedpanda]

Did you buy a second hand GH60 or what's the story behind this?

[Puddsy]

Did you buy a second hand GH60 or what's the story behind this?

yeh secondhand

worked fine, spacebar started chattering, i accidentally broke it more instead of fixing it

didn't notice that it wasn't cherry switches until i started to take it apart

[Puddsy]

ignore my legs

changed my mind, attained victory over the plate in about 2 hours

i forgot how awful it is to desolder a plate mount board

never do this

will do final assembly when i have time, then again i really should not have used the time i had to take apart the old board

[digi]

ignore my legs

I'm so focused in on your legs right now..

[Puddsy]

ignore my legs

I'm so focused in on your legs right now..

they're good legs

~

I added the list of stuff I bought at the top.

[mech0nly]

Hmmm LZ-CE...
Wonder where i can find them nowadays...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Puddsy]

Hmmm LZ-CE...
Wonder where i can find them nowadays...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

classifieds

[Puddsy]

got some meetings first but i'm gonna build it later today

here's a nice before shot on my bed

[Puddsy]

i was dumb and didn't take any process pictures

it works, except for the "t" key

i'll go back and fix it tomorrow

will post longer thoughts when i fix it

[Puddsy]

Things I wish I'd known:

Stickermodding is awful

Remember to solder ALL the switches

Bring a pair of pliers in case you bend the legs on your switch

Resistors aren't polarized, but they are finicky.

The small, conical tip is good for electronics. The large, flat tip is not good for electronics. The girl doing stained glass doesn't know what she's talking about.

The word you're looking for to describe what stickers do is "shim."

Anyway, thanks for following my thread. I'll leave it open if anyone has questions, but I reply to PMs usually as soon as I see them.

Any extra pics will probably end up in the Korean keyboard thread in media.

[xondat]

Any plans to change the keyset? And the mismatching Esc?

[Puddsy]

Any plans to change the keyset? And the mismatching Esc?

Mismatching ESC is on purpose. I have the full black/DG set. I usually run it with a yellow enter as well, but I wanted to try it this way.

Do have plans for other keysets. I'll probably get some neat GMK (or more likely JTK, cause I'm cashed out) thing soon.

[pr0ximity]

Yup, stickering can be a PITA until you get a process down.

I (and I think a number of people here) find the "chisel" shaped soldering tips work wonders for most electronics. SMD is tedious no matter what though.

[Puddsy]

It was a tip for stained glass. I figure any small tip would've worked for what I was doing.

[theillumedpanda]

Looks pretty good to me. How do you like your new keeb so far? Thanks for the build log anyways, always appreciate it.

[Puddsy]

Looks pretty good to me. How do you like your new keeb so far? Thanks for the build log anyways, always appreciate it.

So far so good. Once I fixed the broken "T" key, everything has been smooth.

[Petch]

Nice build

I'm interested in the new cherry molds you mentioned, do you have any more info on that?

[Puddsy]

Nice build

I'm interested in the new cherry molds you mentioned, do you have any more info on that?

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=88031.0

read dis