Notebook-style custom 75 % keyboard

[tukusejssirs]

Hey everybody!

I am new on this forum and to custom keyboard making, however, I’d like to create my first custom keyboard.

I’d like it to be:

• low-profile key switches (something like Kailh X Switch http://www.kailh.com/en/News/Information/463.html);
• ISO (UK) keyboard, 75 %;
• it’d be nice to have some space beneath the function keys, above arrow keys and lef from Home, PgUp, PgDn, End;
• caps should be black with UK keyboard layout (therefore: no special features needed).

The problem is that I have no idea how to find a PCB that would be compatible with the low-profile key switches. Also, I search the Internet for a PCB that would have a gap between some keys (as I wrote in point 3).

Could anyone help me with this? Thank you in advance.

[nevin]

I don't know of anything custom with butterfly switches.

Being that specific on a 75% layout... you'll probably have to have a custom plate cut & hand wire your board. Could be done with the Kailh Choc size low profile switch.
Use Keyboard Layout Editor for the layout & Swill's plate builder to generate the plate files & get plate/case files cut at your favorite metal/acrylic cutter like ponoko or similar.

Most 75%s don't have gaps between rows. A popular example is the Vortex Race (has MX switches)
One that's 75 & low profile is the Cherry G84-4100 series (has Cherry ML switches) which i really wouldn't recommend, i have one and the layout is a bit funky & keys can bind on off center presses. The one i have is in pretty rough shape though, it came from an industrial shop that conditions were not optimal by any means.
From this post: you can use MX plates for Choc switches

The Apple Magic Keyboard (small one) is 75%-ish form factor, has low profile scissor/butterfly switches (rubber dome)

[Findecanor]

The only low-profile key switch you could buy from a store is Kailh Choc. However, there are no stabilisers available, which would be needed for any key at least 2u wide. Therefore, no PCB for that switch has had any larger keys.

Once Cherry MX Low Profile becomes available (if ever ...), I think that plate-mount stabilisers for Cherry MX might work if mounted in the PCB instead, without any plate at all. Then such a keyboard would fit regular keycaps for Cherry MX.

I don't know of anything custom with butterfly switches.

The technical term you are looking for is "scissor switch" or "pantograph switch". Apple (re)used the word "Butterfly" specifically for the scissor switches in more recent Macintosh laptops, starting with the 2015 MacBook Pro. These switches are the ones that are infamous for failing.

[nevin]

choc stabilizers... good point. ...wasn't thinking about that.
Low profile & custom don't seem to exist much yet except for some number pads and some ortholinear or split ortholinear boards.

OP was linking to a new? scissor type switch from Kailh

low-profile key switches (something like Kailh X Switch http://www.kailh.com/en/News/Information/463.html);

The Mistel Barocco MD650L was a 65% with Cherry ML....

[Findecanor]

OP was linking to a new? scissor type switch from Kailh

It was actually some time ago that Kailh first announced it, but I don't think any keyboard with them has been made.

The Mistel Barocco MD650L was a 65% with Cherry ML....

Cherry has actually made a 75% keyboards with ML switches in the Cherry G84 series. I have had the G84-4100 and G84-4400, that while both are 75%:ers, do not have identical keys. Cherry ML does not feel nice: the switches get scratchy easily and bind horribly on off-centre key presses.
These G84 keyboards also have keycaps that are smaller than the norm: 1 "key unit" is 18.05 mm where it is 19.05 mm on a normal keyboard.

[tukusejssirs]

@nevim, @Findecanor, as per the physical keyboard layout, yes, I’d like to have something like this. [1] AFAIK, it is 75 % keyboard. I don’t really care for Fn, PrtSc, Pause and Ins keys, all other keys (and there placement) are important to me.

As for Apple Magic Keyboard, I would miss Home, End, PgUp, PgDn. Generally, I haven’t seen an Apple non-full (100 %)keyboard with those keys (there might be some modifiers, however, I use those keys quite frequently, therefore they are a must-have for me).

As for Mistel Barocco MD650L, I would miss the function keys.

As for custom PCB design, I have no problem doing so, however, as I have never designed one, I have some detailed process, esp what I need (PCB, what stabilisers exactly, etc).

Anyway, thank you both, for the info and the links.

[1] https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1_CR.QFXXXXcCaXXXq6xXFXXXR/New-AZERTY-Laptop-keyboard-for-Toshiba-Satellite-L300-A200-A205-A300-M200-M205-M300-M333-Black.jpg_640x640.jpg

[nevin]

Complete keyboards (MX)
Vortex Race - https://candykeys.com/product/race-3-iso-uk
Vortex Tab - https://candykeys.com/product/vortex-tab75

--- Everything below here is fully customizable/programmable-- (can assign any key or key combination to any key on the board, as well as support for slight layout variations)

Fully assembled (MX, needs caps)
KBD75 - https://kbdfans.cn/collections/fully-assembled-keyboard/products/fully-assembled-kdb75-mechanical-keyboard

Kits/Parts (MX, full customization, pick the parts you want)
KBD75v2 - https://kbdfans.cn/collections/diy-kit/products/kbd75v2-custom-keyboard-diy-kit   (add switches & caps)
XD84 - https://kprepublic.com/products/xd84-xiudi-70-custom-keyboard-pcb     (This is a link to the PCB, but they have the other parts as well, would need: case, PCB, stabilizers, switches & caps, plate... optional/up to you)

* all of the above are MX switch keyboards.

If you must have low profile & don't care about programmability or customization, you might be better off looking for a bluetooth keyboard that's meant to be paired with a tablet or smart phone. Those are usually compact "laptop style" low profile keyboards.

[tukusejssirs]

@nevim, thank you for your help.

Anyway, I am in the midle of re-thinking the key switch type. I've just read this [2] discussion and I probably switch to low-profile (though ticker that notebook/scissors-style) switches, something like Cherry ML.

As a sidenote, I am using a Lenovo E531 laptop, so I am accustomed to the 'new' Lenovo keyboard. By any means, I don't say the keyboard is perfect, but it's perfect to my needs. If you ever typed on Lenovo keyboard, I'd like that kind of tactile feedback. I prefer no clicking feedback (i.e. let the keyboard be as silent as possible switches). It'd be nice if I can press the switches not only in its centre to make them operate smoothly, but off-centre too.

[2] https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59755.0

[tukusejssirs]

I've found even Cherry MX → https://www.cherrymx.de/en/mx-low-profile/mx-low-profile-red.html

[nevin]

Low profile MX... don't anything about them. Only board i saw with a quick search was a line from coolermaster

Cherry ML & Kailh ML (choc) switches are probably the most common low profile switch. They can bind but should be improved with lubing the switch. Even with these being more common, the options for caps, PCBs, etc.. just are not there. There are few keyboards or kits that use these switches.

Here's two reviews by our lovely Chryos (Thomas)
Cherry G84-4100 PPAGB review (Cherry ML low-profile)
Teardown - New Kailh Cherry ML-type keyboard switches!

[nevin]

new group buy just started. E7-V1 SE 75% custom keyboard
kinda a compact 75% meets 1800 series.....

[tukusejssirs]

Thank you, @nevim. I am late here am the GB is over. No problem though.

[nevin]

another compact 75% on drop (massdrop) MX, USB-C, bluetooth
https://drop.com/buy/akko-3084-84key-bluetooth-mechanical-keyboard