geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Me on Wed, 10 March 2021, 12:39:48
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I am building my first mech(like I am actually building my first ever mechanical keyboard, I have never owned another before), and my budget is pretty limited. I have figured out pretty much all the parts but 2. Number one, I was thinking about getting the KBD75 rev 2.0 PCB, but then I came across another. The YMDK YMD75 PCB. I think that the latter has all the functions that I would need, but I wanted to make sure that it would be a good choice as oppose to the rev 2.0. Also, I am using a Kailh BOX switch, I don't know whether it well be Pale Blue or Navy, but I know that they will not fit 3mm LED's and can only fit 2x3x4 and 1.8mm by first putting in the leds, then the switches, and that they can also fit SMD's, but I could only find LED's in the color that I want, cyan, in 2x3x4 and 3mm, with the former being 26$ for 100 pcs! Is that expensive, and also, is it possible to have RGB LEDS for each key in the keyboard? Should I use SMD or THT(through hole technology)? Also, do any of the aforementioned PCB's have compatibility with SMD'S? I will be happy to take any information anyone has. Thank you!
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Kailh box switches if i remember correctly are meant to be used with 3mm diodes, and are rather incompatible with smd, although i never used back lighting on a keyboard before i do not thing you can fit the diode inside or under the switch, so you would likely need to solder on after the switches.
Cyan and Pink LED are rather expensive because they are rather niche colors and more complicated to make, 26 for 100 would be a rip off of red or blue but for cyan, pink or uvc that seems like a not too bad price, although you can find cyan SMD diodes on ebay and they may have gone down in price since i searched last with all those fake uvc lamps using them.
as per the PCB, i know neither, but i think you should get the cheapest with the feature you actually need or want, and do not think too hard about what you may need in the long future, especially on a constrained budget.
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What LEDs you can use is decided by the PCB - if it has two little holes per switch it's through hole, if it has pads it's SMD. Through hole is much easier to solder as the legs hold the LED in place rather than having to use tweezers so for a first build these are what you want, unless you can find presoldered SMD (but that will cost as you want an unusual colour)
Does PCB X have all the functions you need? I guess yes - it types. Some people live in a cave and can't touch type making backlight a need, but RGB is never a need and should be forgotten if you're on a budget.
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i actually find that touch typing without seeing where the keys are end up with me typing either 1 unit off or 2 keys at once, depending on speed, found that out because of my dell laptop with black key on a black body, i can't type on it in the dark, while on the black on alu HP i had no problem, and both are backlit but kinda dislike having it on.
i don't know if i am the only one being able to type on a keyboard in an other language or without legends but not in the dark, i don't know either if it is really touch type or not given that...
and yeah the main function of a keyboard is to type, but then may as well get a 5$ rubber dome kb and call it a day, i see why someone would would want a bit more features out of their custom, and to some budget mean 50$ to other it is 300$, yeah at 50$ i would forget RGB, well i would at any budget for myself, but at 300$ i do not see why someone who want it should not get it.
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to some budget mean 50$ to other it is 300$, yeah at 50$ i would forget RGB, well i would at any budget for myself, but at 300$ i do not see why someone who want it should not get it.
It's definitely a "want" not a "need", I can take questions too literally if you hadn't noticed. If the OP wants a Christmas tree and has a bigger budget than baulking at $15 extra for LEDs suggests by all means he(?) is free to find a board with RGB :thumb:
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A lot of things have changes since I posted this message and I am no longer going for backlighting. I am also going to handwire the keyboard. I am closing this thread, but thx for all ur input!