Updates and milestone #1.
Updates:
I am going to do at least two runs of this PCB. The first version will be a PROTOTYPE and will be electrically complete and correct as far as I know. It is ready to go now. The form factor is 5" x 5", with M3/6-32 mounting holes at four corners and in the center of the PCB.
The second version will be a BETA or PROD version, and will add the following:
- Fixes and improvements from the prototype round.
- Connector for dual PCB use (GH36x2).
- Improved LED control; hopefully complete LED backlighting.
- Reduced form factor and mounting hols for better compatibility next to GH60, 70%, Phantom and other keyboards.
Experienced keyboard builders and firmware developers are eligible to receive free PROTO boards. Unless more are needed, I will only have 10 made. Other interested people should wait until the BETA or PROD versions are released.
Milestone #1PROTO PCB.
Images attached show the front and back traces, the front silkscreen, which shows the Gamepad layout, and the back silkscreen, which shows all of the component placements as well as the numpad layout.
All 41 switch positions are functional (6x6=36 plus 5 alternate 2x positions.) The PCB is designed to be used without a plate, although plates could certainly be made to fit. The board is 100% through-hole. I suggest socketing the Teensy for this version to avoid trapping the two switches above it.
IMAGESMore
MECHANICALMore
PCB dimensions are 5.00" tall and 5.00" wide.
Using the bottom left corner as the origin (0,0), 0.125" mounting holes are at (0.125,0.125), (4.875,0.125), (0.125,4.875), (4.875,4.875), and (2.500,2.500).
The keyboard matrix of 36 0.75" areas starts at (0.250,0.250) -- or 1/4" in from every edge. So the 4.500" matrix has 0.250" of free space surrounding it. Almost all of the "free" space at the edges carries traces or ground plane, so should not be used for additional holes without great care.
The pair of VCC/GND pads and the LED1/LED2 pads are on 0.100" centers, as are all three 1x6 row and column expansion pads. Please note that this is spacing for normal through-hole pads, not for ribbon cables, although ribbon cables can be expanded to fit.
PINOUTSMore
VCC VCC
F0 COL_1
F1 COL_2
F4 COL_3
F5 COL_4
F6 COL_5
F7 COL_6
B6 LED1 (PWM)
B5 LED2 (PWM)
B4 NUMLOCK LED
D7 WASD LED (PWM)
D6 COL_12
GND GND
B0 COL_7
B1 COL_8
B2 COL_9
B3 COL_10
B7 COL_11
D0 ROW_1
D1 ROW_2
D2 ROW_3
D3 ROW_4
C6 ROW_5
C7 ROW_6
If you are qualified and interested in a PROTO PCB, please reply below or send me a PM. I will create and update a list here:
PROTO PCB RECIPIENTSMoved to OP.Thanks to everyone who helped or expressed interest!
- Ron | samwisekoi
p.s. The GH75 isn't dead. I ran aground trying to make it LED backlit AND multi-size AND able to use both top and side F-keys (110%). After I get through the GH36, I
may open the GH75 back up. I'd like to make one and populate it with Nuclear Data Green SA keycaps.