Leeku 1800 build log

[digi]

~Leeku 1800 PCB w/ Cherry MX Blues & 65g Spring Swap~

I want to thank Nubbinator for graciously selling me his Leeku 1800 PCB <3. I also want to thank all the contributors who posted in this Leeku Building Thread. Last but not least, I want to thank Dorkvader for all the soldering tips, CPTBadass & JDCarpe for always answering my questions in the simple questions thread.

Please excuse the potato pics! =) 

I salvaged the case, switches, and keycaps from an INET Spectra Protocol Analyzer which is pretty much identical to a Dolch Pac (Cherry G80-1813HFU):

Firmware URL from Leeku himself: http://kbdlab.co.kr/index.php?mid=board_sw&search_keyword=1830&search_target=title&document_srl=543530



Desoldered all the switches, springs were swapped to 65g:



Soldered all the SMD diodes and resistors:



Soldered in the switches & mounted the stabs:



Removed the old leds from the case and swapped in white leds for Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock. Also soldered all the switch led's ("Cyan" Green )):



PCB mounted inside the INET Spectra case, I used masking tape on the metal mounting plate just to be sure it wouldn't short out anything near the bottom if it were to touch the pcb. Pro Zip Tie to keep the cable from getting jerked out:



All done, switches tested good using EK Switch Hitter:



Thanks! =)

[tjweir]

Wow, looks amazing.

I just bought an old Dolch to use with the pcb from the tx-1800 GB.

Nice job!

[Flyersfan1]

Beautiful Digi!

Thanks so much for posting! I love build logs. 

[JaccoW]

Really cool project Digi!

[nubbinator]

Looks good.  Nice to see it up and running.  Those LED colors look perfect.  It looks like it's just waiting for GMK Hyperfuse.

I'm surprised you didn't use the LED breakout board on the PCB that's included for the Dolch boards and instead went with the original PCB.  If it works, it works though.

If I remember correctly, you can also do a fixed cable right there over the numpad if you get worried about the USB connector durability.

[digi]

thanks everyone =)

@ Nubs, I wasn't sure about that breakout board at the time and the stock one was easy enough to modify. I'd be curious to see how people mounted theirs.

[absyrd]

White indicator LEDs pic in dark room, please. Look so bright. 

[nubbinator]

thanks everyone =)

@ Nubs, I wasn't sure about that breakout board at the time and the stock one was easy enough to modify. I'd be curious to see how people mounted theirs.

From what I remember, you solder pins like you do on a teensy to the PCB, solder your LEDs to the breakout board, and solder the breakout board to those pins on the PCB.

[digi]

White indicator LEDs pic in dark room, please. Look so bright. 

haha, viewing right above the board, yes, the white led's are bright. But when sitting back in normal position, it looks great.

[frosty]

off topic but is it hard to get a plate for a 1800 layout?

[digi]

Could someone who has an account on KBDMania please search and see if there is downloadable firmware for the Leeku 1800? The files from the URL don't work:

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/data/7034142

[JaccoW]

off topic but is it hard to get a plate for a 1800 layout?

They are generally not available outside of GB's like the TX1800 buy.

[infiniti]

Could someone who has an account on KBDMania please search and see if there is downloadable firmware for the Leeku 1800? The files from the URL don't work:

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/data/7034142

I was able to download the attached files when I logged in.

The link for ps2avr_mx18003000_0808.zip was broken but I downloaded it before.

[digi]

Could someone who has an account on KBDMania please search and see if there is downloadable firmware for the Leeku 1800? The files from the URL don't work:

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/data/7034142

I was able to download the attached files when I logged in.

The link for ps2avr_mx18003000_0808.zip was broken but I downloaded it before.

<3 TY!

[infiniti]

Could someone who has an account on KBDMania please search and see if there is downloadable firmware for the Leeku 1800? The files from the URL don't work:

http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/data/7034142

I was able to download the attached files when I logged in.

The link for ps2avr_mx18003000_0808.zip was broken but I downloaded it before.

<3 TY!

[digi]

It looks like Leeku has all his source files for the mx1830 on github:

https://github.com/leeku11/mx1830

I'm trying to figure out if "main.hex" posted here is actually the latest firmware?

https://github.com/leeku11/mx1830/tree/master/bootloadHID/firmware

[digi]

I got it working, I flashed the firmware with the file main_1113.hex (attached to this post from http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/data/7034142).

1) Unplug the board, hold down the Esc key to put it into a flashable state.
2) Issued command "bootloadhid main_1113.hex"
3) Unplugged the board, hold down U key to put it into USB mode, plug it in. (This is what fixed it, if you hold down P it will put it into PS/2 mode).

The reason why I flashed the firmware in the first place was because the board wasn't getting detected during boot-up and if I unplugged it and plugged it back in, it wouldn't connect consistently. It seems that you have to hold down the U key to force USB mode for it work consistently. Not sure if this is just the way it is or if there is a better firmware available. The main.hex file from Github would not flash, it threw an error that the hex file was too large.

After some more testing it looks like main_1113.hex does fix the issue of unplugging and plugging the board back and holding down the U key.

[CPTBadAss]

Great build log. I really need to open my Leeku back up and put the LED PCB back in.

[digi]

Great build log. I really need to open my Leeku back up and put the LED PCB back in.

thanks mang, I ordered some purple uv led's, if you need a few I'll drop them in the mail for ya.

[CPTBadAss]

thanks mang, I ordered some purple uv led's, if you need a few I'll drop them in the mail for ya.

I've got some LEDs I can use but thanks for the offer .

[zhihuichan]

Nice job!
I also got a g80-1813HFU few days ago. But just a case without PCB. I've bought a Leeku 1800 PCB. I'm going to build keyboard like yours. I have few questions:
1. What's the small PCB in picture 5? Is it come form the original keyboard?
2. Do you use only three screws to stabilize the PCB? How can you stabilize the part of Numpad?
3. Is the metallic mounting plate near the bottom showed in picture 6 made by yourself?

Thank you !

[digi]

Heya Zhihuichan, here you go:

1. What's the small PCB in picture 5? Is it come form the original keyboard?

That is the small indicator led pcb that should be included in your case, if it doesn't have one, the leeku has a break-out pcb that you can remove from the pcb and use for the indicator led's.

2. Do you use only three screws to stabilize the PCB? How can you stabilize the part of Numpad?

Yes, there are only 3 screws that hold the pcb to the case. It works in conjuction with that metal bracket that should also be included in your case.

3. Is the metallic mounting plate near the bottom showed in picture 6 made by yourself?

No, it's included in the Dolch / Spectra case. You should have it.

Let me know if you have any more questions. It's a great pcb, works well. I had some issues with my Dell port replicator at work, for some reason the Leeku doesn't like the USB 3.0 ports on my replicator, I would have to hold down the 'U' key to force USB mode to get it to recognize the keyboard. I just moved the usb cable to another port (non usb 3.0) and the Dell port replicator picks it right up.

[zhihuichan]

That's very kind of you! Your answer is helpful! I think I should buy another dolch case with metallic mounting plate.
I've known that Leeku have updated the 1800 PCB to a new version with keymapping tool supported!

[zhihuichan]

Do you have the keymapping tool for this PCB?

[digi]

Do you have the keymapping tool for this PCB?

I don't think there is a keymapping tool for the Leeku, if there is one out there that would be awesome.

[digi]

Update OP with the firmware URL sent to me from Leeku.

[wes1099]

Do you have the keymapping tool for this PCB?

I don't think there is a keymapping tool for the Leeku, if there is one out there that would be awesome.

Please post back here if you find out anything about re-mapping keys on the leeku 1800, I would greatly appreciate.

[sethk_]

I got it working, I flashed the firmware with the file main_1113.hex (attached to this post from http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/data/7034142).

1) Unplug the board, hold down the Esc key to put it into a flashable state.
2) Issued command "bootloadhid main_1113.hex"
3) Unplugged the board, hold down U key to put it into USB mode, plug it in. (This is what fixed it, if you hold down P it will put it into PS/2 mode).

The reason why I flashed the firmware in the first place was because the board wasn't getting detected during boot-up and if I unplugged it and plugged it back in, it wouldn't connect consistently. It seems that you have to hold down the U key to force USB mode for it work consistently. Not sure if this is just the way it is or if there is a better firmware available. The main.hex file from Github would not flash, it threw an error that the hex file was too large.

After some more testing it looks like main_1113.hex does fix the issue of unplugging and plugging the board back and holding down the U key.

what program did you issue the command in?

[digi]

bootloadhid.exe from the command prompt

[sethk_]

bootloadhid.exe from the command prompt

ah, thanks. So you entered c:\directory\bootloadhid.exe hex file? Sorry for the Q's

[digi]

bootloadhid.exe from the command prompt

ah, thanks. So you entered c:\directory\bootloadhid.exe hex file? Sorry for the Q's

that's it! no worries dude. I attached bootloadhid.exe to my previous post in case it's not included with that hex.

Just plug in a 2nd keyboard and issue the command.

[sethk_]

bootloadhid.exe from the command prompt

ah, thanks. So you entered c:\directory\bootloadhid.exe hex file? Sorry for the Q's

that's it! no worries dude. I attached bootloadhid.exe to my previous post in case it's not included with that hex.

Just plug in a 2nd keyboard and issue the command.

yeah, I tried using main.hex and I think it broke it. What all did you need to download / unzip besides bootloadhid? My PCB is 3000, but it seems like it might work with both?

[digi]

bootloadhid.exe from the command prompt

ah, thanks. So you entered c:\directory\bootloadhid.exe hex file? Sorry for the Q's

that's it! no worries dude. I attached bootloadhid.exe to my previous post in case it's not included with that hex.

Just plug in a 2nd keyboard and issue the command.

yeah, I tried using main.hex and I think it broke it. What all did you need to download / unzip besides bootloadhid? My PCB is 3000, but it seems like it might work with both?

I just used bootloadhid.exe & main_140611.hex for the 1800 leeku.

mx1830.zip has everything you should need (scroll down once you click the link) - http://kbdlab.co.kr/index.php?mid=board_sw&search_keyword=1830&search_target=title&document_srl=543530

[digi]

swapped the white indicator leds with some uv purpz, gettin' crazy on a Friday night!

[CPTBadAss]

Did I just spot digi's lituation?

[digi]

Now if I could just figure out how to make the Leeku remember the last-used switch led mode so that everytime I shutdown my pc and bring it back up I don't have to re-enable the switch led mode. Probably firmware I'm guessing..

[digi]

Leeku sent me a PM with his latest Leeku 1800 firmware which should keep the LED mode saved after a reboot of the board. It's supposed to also support key-mapping. I have not tested it as I no longer have my Leeku but wanted to pass it along.

http://kbdlab.co.kr/index.php?document_srl=2702787&mid=board_sw

[esoomenona]

.

[trenzafeeds]

This is really nice. Stellar job.

[StormyMonday]

off topic but is it hard to get a plate for a 1800 layout?

sethk_  apparently has a source and was doing an IC in his sub:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=73845.0