geekhack

geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 17:56:46

Title: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 17:56:46
(http://i.imgur.com/9IPp58L.png)

Was going to wait to post this until later, but I ended up acquiring the parts I need a lot sooner than expected. So I'm making this thread as a commitment to my new hobby: custom keyboard building! Hopefully as time goes on I'll be able to customize more and more about the keyboards I make. I've chosen to make my first one as a tribute to my alma mater; Texas Tech University.

This thread will be a blog of my progress with many pictures to come, including as much of a how-to guide to handwiring a keyboard as I can do. Planning stage is done, I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Planning
Form factor: 60%
Layout: ANSI Standard
Components:

Next Step: Parts (In transit)

Update 1:
It's going to be a while before I can do much with this, so I'll post this in case someone was curious about the case/getting one for themselves. This is the Ali acrylic case in all black. I just want to say that the vintage black switches are pretty good. Just a hair lighter than standard blacks. I did blind tests to confirm it wasn't just placebo.

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8355692/keyboard/pixel1_test.jpg)
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: tjcaustin on Thu, 05 September 2013, 18:01:56
Red stems, black springs, bruh.
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 19:29:08
This is a project I can really get my guns up for.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg/220px-Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg.png)

Anything I can help with, just let me know.


Long live the Matadors!
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: UniClown on Thu, 05 September 2013, 19:46:13
Good luck. I'm interested on how your case will turn out.
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: TheFlyingRaccoon on Thu, 05 September 2013, 19:47:52
Neat project, make sure to post lots of pics!
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:02:14
Quote from: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 19:29:08
This is a project I can really get my guns up for.

Show Image
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg/220px-Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg.png)


Anything I can help with, just let me know.


Long live the Matadors!

You went to tech?
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:13:09
Quote from: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:02:14
Quote from: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 19:29:08
This is a project I can really get my guns up for.

Show Image
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg/220px-Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg.png)


Anything I can help with, just let me know.


Long live the Matadors!

You went to tech?

Sure did. :)
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:27:39
Quote from: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:13:09
Quote from: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:02:14
Quote from: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 19:29:08
This is a project I can really get my guns up for.

Show Image
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg/220px-Texas_Tech_Red_Raiders_Logo.svg.png)


Anything I can help with, just let me know.


Long live the Matadors!

You went to tech?

Sure did. :)

I'M GONNA ASK THE QUESTION: What years?
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:35:07
Sent you a PM.

A hint for the rest of you: I'm old. :P
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: domoaligato on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:36:40
Quote from: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 17:56:46
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/9IPp58L.png)


Was going to wait to post this until later, but I ended up acquiring the parts I need a lot sooner than expected. So I'm making this thread as a commitment to my new hobby: custom keyboard building! Hopefully as time goes on I'll be able to customize more and more about the keyboards I make. I've chosen to make my first one as a tribute to my alma mater; Texas Tech University.

This thread will be a blog of my progress with many pictures to come, including as much of a how-to guide to handwiring a keyboard as I can do. Planning stage is done, I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Planning
Form factor: 60%
Layout: ANSI Standard
Components:
  • Acrylic Case w/integrated plate
  • Teensy 2.0
  • Cherry MX Black switches (some vintage, I believe, going to try to make alphas and mods match each other at least)
  • More customization components, I won't be listing them yet.  :cool:

Next Step: Parts (In transit)

Sir you might want to add a metal poker plate to your list...
all acrylic cases to not allow the switches to lock into place using a acrylic plate because the acrylic plates are too thick.
with ali's case that I sold you, you can use a metal poker plate to lock the switches in place together with the acrylic plate.
the case that is one the way comes with 2 plate layers.
one of the 2 will not be used when you are utilizing a metal plate.

I would suggest you find one with the removable switch hole design.
If you can't find one in the classifieds then the_beast may be able to help you.

If you need any help with this I can also assist as I have already hardwired a alps keyboard also.
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:45:55
Quote from: domoaligato on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:36:40
Sir you might want to add a metal poker plate to your list...
all acrylic cases to not allow the switches to lock into place using a acrylic plate because the acrylic plates are too thick.
with ali's case that I sold you, you can use a metal poker plate to lock the switches in place together with the acrylic plate.
the case that is one the way comes with 2 plate layers.
one of the 2 will not be used when you are utilizing a metal plate.

I would suggest you find one with the removable switch hole design.
If you can't find one in the classifieds then the_beast may be able to help you.

If you need any help with this I can also assist as I have already hardwired a alps keyboard also.

Why would it come with a plate fitted for Cherry MX switches if the switches couldn't lock into it? That makes little sense to me.
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:48:25
Quote from: pixel5 on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:45:55
Quote from: domoaligato on Thu, 05 September 2013, 21:36:40
Sir you might want to add a metal poker plate to your list...
all acrylic cases to not allow the switches to lock into place using a acrylic plate because the acrylic plates are too thick.
with ali's case that I sold you, you can use a metal poker plate to lock the switches in place together with the acrylic plate.
the case that is one the way comes with 2 plate layers.
one of the 2 will not be used when you are utilizing a metal plate.

I would suggest you find one with the removable switch hole design.
If you can't find one in the classifieds then the_beast may be able to help you.

If you need any help with this I can also assist as I have already hardwired a alps keyboard also.

Why would it come with a plate fitted for Cherry MX switches if the switches couldn't lock into it? That makes little sense to me.

It's meant to be used with a Poker PCB, which has mounting holes for PCB-mount switches.

I have extra SS Poker plates if you need one.
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: domoaligato on Thu, 05 September 2013, 23:45:36
the switches are normally soldered down to the pcb so they really do not need to lock into the plate because the thickness of the 2 acrylic plates together takes up all the extra space that would normally sit between the plate and pcb.

the case is very very stable for a acrylic case and has very little flex.
You will like it a lot.

I would also take jdcarpe up on his offer as that is really the best way to accomplish what you are looking to do.
Title: Re: Project -- Pixel #1: Wreck 'Em
Post by: pixel5 on Mon, 23 September 2013, 17:38:03
Did a small switch/case test. See OP.