I like it. I already had to address the issue of Cherry MX-compatible key cap sizes and profiles for a design. I thought about making an Alps version but I hadn't considered how much more difficult it would be to acquire the necessary Alps-compatible key caps. Maybe the number of layout options for custom Alps boards will grow once Matias starts selling Alps key caps.
You mention the availability of a 1.5u left shift as being an impediment to an Alps build. Does a Dvorak layout present an even bigger barrier to acquiring the correct key caps or did you just put a Dvorak layout on the board because the availability of key caps for Cherry MX switches makes it more viable?
I got the matrices wired up tonight:Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/SIAUxNW.jpg)
Unfortunately the kid is asleep so I couldn't use the heat gun on the right hand side, but I'll hit that tomorrow. Now I just have to connect everything up to a teensy 2 and figure out firmware.
Nuclear Data looks great on your board. I like how you chose your wiring to complement the plate and the key cap set. And while having the wires loose like that would probably drive me crazy if I had to look at it on my desk everyday, it's visually stimulating and it gives your board character.
...Doesn't the FC660 have a couple of strange size caps which people often complain about on group buys? If so it wouldn't be my first choice to copy...
uses the same set of caps as an FC660M with the exception of left shift.
Doesn't the FC660 have a couple of strange size caps which people often complain about on group buys? If so it wouldn't be my first choice to copy...
Looking forward to seeing mk2 and 3 anyway :)
Thanks for your kind words everyone.Nuclear Data looks great on your board. I like how you chose your wiring to complement the plate and the key cap set. And while having the wires loose like that would probably drive me crazy if I had to look at it on my desk everyday, it's visually stimulating and it gives your board character.
Do you see how messy my desk is? :p
The wire color was more accident than anything else. It's just what I had around. And don't worry, this isn't this keyboard's final form, I'm already planning out the build of Darkstar Mk2 (with gateron clears) with the sectioned plate I had cut. And I'm actually already working on a new design for Mk3, which reduces the amount of vertical stagger (1/4u is way too much, I always miss J and W too much (C and , for you qwerty people) and uses the same set of caps as an FC660M with the exception of left shift.
As a workspace, it's a nightmare. As a composition, I like it. In its current state, it looks like you took the control panels out of a console. It doesn't look practical to use, propped up on wood blocks, but it looks good.
The pinky has been great, if anything I think there's too much stagger for the middle fingers. I've adjusted the mk2 to have about half the vertical difference. In fact, after 2 days of typing on my prototype with SA keys I had to switch to an AEKII for today. My speed was at about half of what it normally was and I couldn't take another day of frustration.
I couldn't even type on my fc660m with SA keys as it was just too similar to the staggered keys, and I kept making typos. So I guess for now I'll switch between the darkstar keyboard and this AEKII, until I get around to swapping the caps on my fc600m.