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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: wakko on Mon, 01 June 2015, 00:49:39

Title: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: wakko on Mon, 01 June 2015, 00:49:39

Seeing all the cool projects being done here made me want to experiment. I figured I'd start small by converting my AEK II to USB using TMK firmware and also cut it down to a TKL board. Nothing fancy. I did remove the dampening bands from the white alps switches.

I'm planning on dying some of the keys, but otherwise it was a fun project; it'll make a nice office board. There is so much good information here on GH, thanks all for their contribution, especially hasu.

Some pics:

[attach=1]

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: Hzza on Mon, 01 June 2015, 03:18:08

Very nice, how was it getting the case hacked down?

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: wakko on Mon, 01 June 2015, 08:59:50

Cutting down the case wasn't that bad. Just had to go slow and measure often. Still have some cleaning up of the case to do.

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: Yoe on Mon, 01 June 2015, 09:07:19

Cool! I've been considering making something like this. Only, I was planning to remove the function row also.. but I'm not sure.

Looking forward to seeing your key cap dyeing results!

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 01 June 2015, 09:08:53

oooo Very cool. Reminds me of the AT101W that was cut down to a TKL. How'd you get the case back together? Epoxy?

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: wakko on Mon, 01 June 2015, 11:09:54

Same stuff or pro weld works like magic. Very forgiving.

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: wakko on Mon, 01 June 2015, 11:10:50

This board will like get hacked up again to become smaller even.

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Mon, 08 June 2015, 01:36:57

So what made you choose TMK for a handwire over soarer's controller? I've only used the latter.

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: phosphoric on Mon, 08 June 2015, 20:18:47

very cool. forgive the n00b question - how did you convert to a smaller pcb? i'm assuming you de-soldered and re-soldered the switches?

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: rm-rf on Mon, 08 June 2015, 20:43:54

i dig this! now i have to buy some more teensy controllers...
once my wallet has regenerated...

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: wakko on Mon, 08 June 2015, 20:45:48

Quote from: False_Dmitry_II on Mon, 08 June 2015, 01:36:57

So what made you choose TMK for a handwire over soarer's controller? I've only used the latter.

No particular reason. Just thought tmk was easy enough to figure out with all the information available on GH and DT.

Quote from: phosphoric on Mon, 08 June 2015, 20:18:47

very cool. forgive the n00b question - how did you convert to a smaller pcb? i'm assuming you de-soldered and re-soldered the switches?

Yea, de-solder and then hand wire the matrix to a teensy.

Title: Re: AEK II to TKL w/TMK project
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Mon, 08 June 2015, 22:43:13

Ah. That's why I picked soarers controller. It seemed all I needed to do was enter in the keys and matrix. TMK looked more involved.

Quote from: phosphoric on Mon, 08 June 2015, 20:18:47

very cool. forgive the n00b question - how did you convert to a smaller pcb? i'm assuming you de-soldered and re-soldered the switches?

There isn't a PCB anymore. He desoldered them and tossed the PCB. There are wires directly connected to the switches and the teensy. Looks like with added diodes for NKRO. Personally I'm fine with the iMate for these, they seem to have more than 2KRO as it is.