geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: elmo on Mon, 18 May 2020, 06:21:01
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Hey all,
just wanted to present you some small project that I recently started.
I got my hands on an old Apple M0110a keyboard a few weeks ago (found it for really cheap on eBay).
It was in pretty good condition and the original PCB is still working so I converted it to USB using an Arduino Pro Micro.
While that does work it has some minor issues (virtually stuck keys, sudden disconnects etc.) I started to think about if it wouldn't be possible to find a better solution for it.
So I made this:
A fully QMK compatible drop-in replacement PCB for the Apple M0110a :D
https://github.com/elmo-space/m0110a_usb
It uses the Atmega32a 40-pin DIP package that sits in the exact same location as the controller on the original PCB (right under the spacebar) and the entire PCB is built using THT parts only to keep a vintage look to the board.
(https://i.imgur.com/ntsaQLo.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/7hwpVoj.png)
So far I have not ordered any prototypes but I will do that soon to test out if everything fits correctly.
The entire project is open source and everyone is welcome to submit improvements :)
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I'm not familiar with this board so maybe it's right but there's a switch in the Enter area that's not connected to anything that looks strange to me.
Other than that great idea and I love the retro through hole controller. Thanks for open sourcing it too :thumb:
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I'm not familiar with this board so maybe it's right but there's a switch in the Enter area that's not connected to anything that looks strange to me.
That is indeed intentional. The enter key on that board uses a "blind" switch that is not connected to anything as a stabilizer :D
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Of course, it's Apple - they had to do something non-standard even back then (https://cdn.geekhack.org/Smileys/solosmileys/laugh.gif)
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Nice, would have made me doing this redundant... (7 years ago).. https://i.imgur.com/hAZcYfL.jpg , https://i.imgur.com/K8ofn2F.jpg
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Nice, would have made me doing this redundant... (7 years ago).. https://i.imgur.com/hAZcYfL.jpg , https://i.imgur.com/K8ofn2F.jpg
I've seen quite a few handwired M0110a/d now. Thought about doing it myself first :D
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looks great. will keep an eye on this. big fan of the old apple boards. (have more than a couple)
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Built the first PCB today.
It fits perfectly and almost looks like it's original in the board.
Firmware also runs smoothly and without any issues so far.
I also changed a few things from my original design.
The board is now using a mini daughterboard because the PCB sits so deep in the case that a USB port on the PCB itself would not have worked properly.
Some pics:
(https://i.imgur.com/h8nN8On.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/ea1CpBZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uYm4PSh.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/CFuogo9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pZBU3Dl.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/YBv4Ca8.jpg)
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Very nice! Any plan for a small group buy or leftovers from prototyping?
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Very nice! Any plan for a small group buy or leftovers from prototyping?
no groupbuy but I might sell the four leftover PCBs that I have here later :)
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Keep me posted when you do please.
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Same here please, this sounds like a fun project.
Is the PCB compatible with QMK or VIA?
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Same here please, this sounds like a fun project.
Is the PCB compatible with QMK or VIA?
Both :)
though I haven't tested VIA yet. But I created the keymap via config files for it so it should work fine.
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Out of curiosity, do you know how difficult it would be to modify this file for an M0116?
Edit: the case construction does seem quite a bit different
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M0116 is SKC/LM the M0110 is SKCC, the older tall alps switches. (different switch footprint & layout)
.... though the M0116 IS one of my favorite apple boards.
for the M0116, just do one of HASU's ADB protocol converters. very easy, runs TMK (QMK is a fork of TMK)
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Looks great! Cool project, love that it retains the old school look and feel of the keeb. ;D
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Out of curiosity, do you know how difficult it would be to modify this file for an M0116?
Edit: the case construction does seem quite a bit different
PCB is entirely different but good news:
I already made a PCB for the M0116 as well :D
https://github.com/elmo-space/m0116_usb
I'm currently testing the prototype of this one.
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Out of curiosity, do you know how difficult it would be to modify this file for an M0116?
Edit: the case construction does seem quite a bit different
PCB is entirely different but good news:
I already made a PCB for the M0116 as well :D
https://github.com/elmo-space/m0116_usb
I'm currently testing the prototype of this one.
You're my hero! I'll take a look
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Same here please, this sounds like a fun project.
Is the PCB compatible with QMK or VIA?
Both :)
though I haven't tested VIA yet. But I created the keymap via config files for it so it should work fine.
Very cool!!
Do folks know if the M0110a was available with Alps? It would be incredible to pick one up, swap in, and get to work on a classic Alps setup.
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yes, there were 3 variants, alps, mitsumi & smk. pay attention to the sticker on the back, where it was made as an indicator of what switches should have been in it.
also, refer to the deskthority wiki article. (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0110A)
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yes, there were 3 variants, alps, mitsumi & smk. pay attention to the sticker on the back, where it was made as an indicator of what switches should have been in it.
also, refer to the deskthority wiki article. (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0110A)
Thank you!
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great project! getting some of these made for some M0110A boards I'm restoring. How easy do you think it would be to make a version of this which works with the Mitsumi (Japan/Malaysia) version? Seems the switches have a different footprint but are positioned the same.