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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Pyrolistical on Thu, 02 February 2012, 23:57:02

Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: Pyrolistical on Thu, 02 February 2012, 23:57:02
**Note the title is now wrong due to backup restores.  It should be "List of full custom keyboards"


I've been looking for a list of custom keyboards, but could not find it so I decided to make one my own.

My definition of a full custom keyboard is a keyboard built from the ground up. Everything needs to be produced from scratch, except for the keycaps, key switches, case and controller.

This means the following are not full custom keyboards:

Given that definition here is the list of full custom keyboards I know of:
Honourable mentions

These keyboards are technically not full custom keyboards, but they are in the spirit of a full custom keyboard:
This is the 3rd repost due to lost thread due to second backup restore

What else did I miss?
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: litster on Fri, 03 February 2012, 00:35:57
For Phantom, see my sig.  There are 2 links in my sig.
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: demik on Fri, 03 February 2012, 00:39:01
356 Series
DK Saver
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: Pyrolistical on Fri, 03 February 2012, 01:26:47
Quote from: demik;507079
356 Series
DK Saver

I would consider 356 Series having gone into production.  So it doesn't count.

I don't understand what a DK Saver is?  I just found this link http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=640 and could not find any more information.
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: demik on Fri, 03 February 2012, 01:33:00
well sixty kind of sums it up a bit in one of his posts.

it's a great board, switches feel awesome and the aluminum case is really nice.
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: sordna on Fri, 03 February 2012, 01:46:22
Hey, you discovered the "adding keys to your Kinesis Advantage" wiki, even though it's very new, thanks!

I see you are missing Lowpoly's Apple M0110 mod:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:20898

It won best 2011 mod award at Deskthority. (http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1633)
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: sordna on Fri, 03 February 2012, 01:46:44
Hey, you discovered the "adding keys to your Kinesis Advantage" wiki, even though it's very new, thanks!

I see you are missing Lowpoly's Apple M0110 mod:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:20898

It won best 2011 mod award at Deskthority. (http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1633)
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: hoggy on Fri, 03 February 2012, 02:38:01
Looks like there are several grades of mods/customisations.  Seems to be a bit harsh to say that converting a board to wireless isn't a mod...

Very Easy - (so you should do it)
changing key caps
cosmetic changes like paint
remapping keys (depends on how this is done)
cleaning keys
o-rings/ EK landing pads
adding palm rests

Easy (might as well give it a go)
key switch swap
drilling holes so you can mount the keyboard somewhere
restoration/retr0bright


Medium (so some care is needed, but probably worth doing)
deleting keys (eg. removing number pad for 10keyless)
retrofitting new controller
adding LEDs
integrating other input devices into keyboard such as trackpads
data conversions (eg. making keyboard bluetooth)


Hard (so you should take photos and post them somewhere)
adding/moving keys
splitting keyboard
reworking keyboard matrix
custom non mass produced keyboard
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: Pyrolistical on Fri, 03 February 2012, 02:53:45
Quote from: sordna;507103
...

I see you are missing Lowpoly's Apple M0110 mod:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:20898

It won best 2011 mod award at Deskthority. (http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1633)


That is my favourite keyboard project, but it falls under "retrofitting new controller" and not a custom keyboard.
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: Input Nirvana on Mon, 06 February 2012, 02:33:54
Quote from: Pyrolistical;507047
  • noctua's split matrix trackball keyboard - Also need link
[/LIST]
Noctua may have removed references to some of his Maltron mods. Last year he was involved with Maltron regarding some work he had done and was at an electronics show with them. He Facebooked me, and maybe soon I can contact him to get an update. I have a Facebook account but refuse to use it. I only signed up to see some friends pics they were too lazy to send to me :)
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: Pyrolistical on Mon, 06 February 2012, 04:30:32
Quote from: Ascaii
Youre missing tim tylers keyboard.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yg3s77nAMQ

Cool keyboard, but I don't like how he was forced to use a staggered layout due to the G3 microswitch size.  Interestingly the width of a G3 is 10.4mm which means centre to centre key distance is 20.8mm which is larger than the standard 19mm.  Also with the G3 microswitch it has has a key travel of only 1.2 mm which means are you going to be bottoming out every key stroke.  This might make a good gaming keyboard application but not for regular typing.

He could have done a matrix layout if he he use a F4 or F5 microswitch (http://w2s.saia-burgessusa.com/ledx/ds/LXSUS/LXSUS1e.lasso?pcode=S210).  The placement of the plunger allows for a minimum key centre to centre of 17.72mm which is less than the standard 19mm on keyboards.
Title: List of custom/modded keyboards
Post by: Pyrolistical on Fri, 24 February 2012, 17:58:45
Moved this post to wiki where it belongs: http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:27776&redirect=no