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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: yehoshuaf on Wed, 03 June 2015, 10:45:45

Title: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: yehoshuaf on Wed, 03 June 2015, 10:45:45
http://imgur.com/a/u84eS

Nothing new about the design. I wanted a big ass wooden keyboard that looked kinda like an IBM space saver. It's not done yet. I'll save pictures for when the caps get here.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: azhdar on Wed, 03 June 2015, 10:50:22
Looks great sir,
no doubt it will be great with SA Retro.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 03 June 2015, 10:52:31
Holy ****, I love seeing people making their own circuit boards or PCBs. Nice job :D
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: greath on Wed, 03 June 2015, 10:59:54
The case is beautiful!
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: nathanrosspowell on Wed, 03 June 2015, 11:22:04
Oh man, great work. Can't wait to see it set up.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 03 June 2015, 12:08:29
That looks amazing! :) It'd suit the 1976 set VERY well also ;)

I bet it's going to feel lovely to type on. I've never tried a wooden plate / case before, but I want to and imagine it would have it's own, unique feel.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: flabbergast on Wed, 03 June 2015, 12:22:08
Truly sublime!
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 03 June 2015, 15:13:48
Looks fantastic!
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 03 June 2015, 16:01:04
wooden keyboard that looked kinda like an IBM space saver

You can cut the internal plates of a regular Model M and fold the sheets underneath for a faux-SSK.

The only problem is the case.

If you could cut a nice wooden case for either standard M or SSK, there may be a market for quite a few of them. If you can cut square holes, you could probably re-use the yoke/frame for the SDL socket.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: ghostjuggernaut on Wed, 03 June 2015, 16:05:53
This looks amazing.  Great job.  I can't wait to see the finished project.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: rm-rf on Wed, 03 June 2015, 16:20:55
that is some beautiful work.
i was planning on making something similar a while back.
might have to bring that idea back into my planner.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: BlueNalgene on Wed, 03 June 2015, 16:31:40
Top notch.  I wish I had access to the equipment (and spare time) to do something similar.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: neverused on Wed, 03 June 2015, 19:49:51
Very nice work!  Do you mind giving a quick explanation of how you made the layout for transferring to the copper board befire etching? . I would like to do something similar but have concerns about getting the component spacing right.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: yehoshuaf on Wed, 03 June 2015, 21:35:37
Thanks for your comments. I'll post pictures when it's done and when I get the caps.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: yehoshuaf on Wed, 03 June 2015, 21:47:52
Very nice work!  Do you mind giving a quick explanation of how you made the layout for transferring to the copper board befire etching? . I would like to do something similar but have concerns about getting the component spacing right.

Ya sure. I started by using the keyboard layout editor (http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/), which, admittedly, took about 15 seconds since I used the ANSI 104 key preset minus the number pad. Then, I used the amazing swillkb plate/case builder (http://builder.swillkb.com/ -- thanks @swill!). I only cared about the dfx vector files for my purposes. This gave me all the switch/stabilizer holes. In Vectric Aspire, I added the cutout/pocket paths I wanted. I made the holes for the CB manually in Aspire using the cherry switch docs. I copied and pasted these into the exact center of each switch hole. Amazingly it came out perfect the first time.

I've attached the vector files for the cherry switch PCB holes. Maybe you'll find them useful. I've also attached the vector files for the teensy holes, which I made and then subsequently cut off the CB, because I got frustrated trying to draw traces to them. :)
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: yehoshuaf on Wed, 03 June 2015, 21:49:11
Top notch.  I wish I had access to the equipment (and spare time) to do something similar.

It's all equipment. I'd say 4 hours of actual work so far.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: neverused on Wed, 03 June 2015, 22:07:27
Awesome thank you!
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: Yoe on Thu, 04 June 2015, 01:23:19
Wow! Excellent wood work!! Looks absolutely gorgeous!
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: vivalarevolución on Thu, 04 June 2015, 08:21:00
That is a gorgeous case.
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: rsbseb on Sun, 07 June 2015, 08:18:24
So very nice. You might try working some fiberglass resin into the back side of the switch plate area to stabilize it next time around . I look forward to seeing it with the retros
YMTRWV
Title: Re: Wooden Retro Themed Keyboard (Anticipation of SA Retro Keycaps)
Post by: yehoshuaf on Mon, 08 June 2015, 10:15:59
So very nice. You might try working some fiberglass resin into the back side of the switch plate area to stabilize it next time around . I look forward to seeing it with the retros
YMTRWV

Huh, interesting Idea. Just the resin? no fiber?