geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: MutachoNacho on Tue, 31 March 2020, 08:45:28
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Dear keyboard enthusiasts,
I'm new to building mechanical keyboards, which is why I would like to ask for your guidance.
DIY-sets seem to be extremely expensive, at least on sites like "KBD-fans", with prices of 120+ and that without keysets or switches.
There's also almost no cases under 80 that suit proper PCBs and keysets tend to exceed 30.
Is there any way of building a decent mechanical keyboard with more reasonable prices and without desoldering?
Here's some of my requirements:
It doesn't matter whether I need to solder the switches on myself or if the PCB is hotswap.
I'd like to be able to use Tealios v2 switches.
The case should be fairly sturdy.
RGB isn't necessary, but underglow is.
It'd be appreciated, if the price doesn't exceed 200.
Thank you for your answers in advance!
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the cheapest way if you have a 3d printer on hand and a bunch of filament would be a 3d printed case with hand wired switches to a pro micro arduino clone. or if you are even more crafty you can make the case out of pretty much anything, there are a few projects of the sort around.
an option that would be more expensive would be to buy the case and hand wire the switches so you do not need the pcb.
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I think if you are looking for cost saving options and you start off with kbdfan, then you kind of start at the wrong track buddy. To me they sort of like high end already, and to many in here they are mid range. And mid range with keeb junkies are like 200 - 300, some even argue up to 400 price range.
Just go with Gk61 or GK64 on aliexpress, even the aluminum options are like 100 (I think, price in my head is in GBP right now and I dont know how much it is in USD).
Also, KPreplic and YMDK stores on ali should give you a lot more options to play around with.
GL with search
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Dear keyboard enthusiasts,
I'm new to building mechanical keyboards, which is why I would like to ask for your guidance.
DIY-sets seem to be extremely expensive, at least on sites like "KBD-fans", with prices of 120+ and that without keysets or switches.
There's also almost no cases under 80 that suit proper PCBs and keysets tend to exceed 30.
Is there any way of building a decent mechanical keyboard with more reasonable prices and without desoldering?
Here's some of my requirements:
It doesn't matter whether I need to solder the switches on myself or if the PCB is hotswap.
I'd like to be able to use Tealios v2 switches.
The case should be fairly sturdy.
RGB isn't necessary, but underglow is.
It'd be appreciated, if the price doesn't exceed 200.
Thank you for your answers in advance!
You can get pretty cheap, but if you're gonna put Tealios v2 switches into the keyboard why are you so concerned about the prices of the other stuff?
Best bet for something would be, buy your pcb and aluminum plate and use either a wood/acrylic/3d printed case. Since you're dead set on underglow, maybe acrylic is the best option for you. If you want to get within your budget as well you probably shouldn't spend half of it on switches. Gateron Yellows are pretty good and are normally $2/10.
Keysets do get a bit tough but honestly if you build something in standard ANSI you can just get PBT Blanks/ Taihaos etc.