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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: LukStarkiller on Fri, 20 January 2012, 11:38:37

Title: It's posible to print your own flexible keyboard matrix?
Post by: LukStarkiller on Fri, 20 January 2012, 11:38:37
I'm trying to build an hybrid from two keyboards (an ibm M and a G15), but I need to make a new matrix. Designing the matrix it isn't dificult, But then I don't know how to "print" the matrix.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/105o8dd.jpg)

I found several companies that make flexible circuitry and some of them exactly like this, but all of them in large quantities.

Looking for DIY, I found in Instructables a guide to make flexible circuitry on copper. But it seems to bend and deform too easily, unlike a printed matrix.

(http://www.instructables.com/image/F5X10THFB7FPNI0/Get-copper-coated-film.jpg)(http://www.instructables.com/image/FR3PWFDFB7FPNI1/Etch-it.jpg)

Anyone know a company that does this in little quantities, or another method to make one?
Title: It's posible to print your own flexible keyboard matrix?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 20 January 2012, 11:48:49
Some people have had success with loading piezoelectric inkjet printers with conductive ink for doing circuits on mylar.
Title: It's posible to print your own flexible keyboard matrix?
Post by: mkawa on Fri, 20 January 2012, 12:23:31
woah, that's awesome. if you try this let us know how it goes
Title: It's posible to print your own flexible keyboard matrix?
Post by: LukStarkiller on Fri, 20 January 2012, 12:29:31
Quote from: lysol;494937
Some people have had success with loading piezoelectric inkjet printers with conductive ink for doing circuits on mylar.
Do you know what type of conductive ink, because the one I found costs 600€ a can. ^^U

Quote from: mkawa;494964
woah, that's awesome. if you try this let us know how it goes
Don't worry about that, if I can make a matrix I'll put on the forums the results ^^
Title: It's posible to print your own flexible keyboard matrix?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 20 January 2012, 14:01:00
Not sure, I can't find it either since I don't know brand names. I just remembered reading an article on it awhile back. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Title: It's posible to print your own flexible keyboard matrix?
Post by: mkawa on Fri, 20 January 2012, 14:11:20
could you bond the copper foil onto a polymer film base? that might help it keep shape

eta: it looks like the pyralux already has a kapton base but it's very thin.. could it be epoxied down to mylar or nylon after printing?