geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Shroomster on Thu, 02 April 2015, 10:38:20
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I am in the planning process of building a 40 or 60% keyboard from a keyboard I got for cheap with MX Blacks. I'm thinking of using either a teensy or a controller I ripped out of an membrane keyboard and the pins have been mapped already. Which should I use. I already have the membrane controller or should I buy a Teensy or another alternative?
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With the Teensy you have the freedom to wire the matrix any way you want it, and to configure function layers which are a must if you make a 40% keyboard and more or less half the point of making custom keyboards imho. If you're making a 40% keyboard you could probably get away with using the cheaper Pro Micro instead of the Teensy 2.0 and still use the TMK firmware, but it's a bit more difficult to reprogram.
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With the membrane keyboard's controller you will be restricted to using its matrix and you won't be able to get N-key rollover.
If you don't need N-key rollover you could perhaps reuse the PCB of the mechanical keyboard you have, by creating a matrix out of the printed leads still on the PCB.
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With the Teensy you have the freedom to wire the matrix any way you want it, and to configure function layers which are a must if you make a 40% keyboard and more or less half the point of making custom keyboards imho. If you're making a 40% keyboard you could probably get away with using the cheaper Pro Micro instead of the Teensy 2.0 and still use the TMK firmware, but it's a bit more difficult to reprogram.
With the membrane keyboard's controller you will be restricted to using its matrix and you won't be able to get N-key rollover.
If you don't need N-key rollover you could perhaps reuse the PCB of the mechanical keyboard you have, by creating a matrix out of the printed leads still on the PCB.
Thanks for the help. I shall get a Teensy in that case, as the mechanical's PCB is busted according to the seller.
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+1 for the Teensy