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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 18:44:32

Title: [Nevermind] How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 18:44:32
I originally planned to rely on http://builder.swillkb.com/ on all of the plate designing but there isn't an option to put the hole in the middle.
I guess I have to do this myself. May someone tell me how?

Edit: You know what? Nevermind. I'll find some workaround to where I use a 6.25 spacebar instead.
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Wed, 13 January 2016, 18:54:02
If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:02:40
If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:

Thanks, but is this really okay? Will the switch be stable?
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:03:00
Keep in mind that the most common 6u spacebar's switch stem is off-centered: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Space_bar_dimensions#6_units_.28114mm_wide.2C_3_keymounts.2C_57mm_and_38mm_apart.29
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: user 18 on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:08:16
If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:

Thanks, but is this really okay? Will the switch be stable?

It should be fine as long as it is soldered into the PCB appropriately. If you're really concerned, you could use a PCB with provision for PCB-mount switches, even just for that one switch. If you get it PCB-mounted as well, you can rest assured that it's not going anywhere  :thumb:
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:13:00
If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:

Thanks, but is this really okay? Will the switch be stable?

If it's soldered into a PCB it will be as the top and bottom are fully supported, this plate JD designed and LeandreN did a group buy of has a huge hole for the spacebar, mods and shift switches

(http://i.imgur.com/aK87L21.jpg)

If you're hand wiring you need to work out where it needs to be so you can get the switch supported on all sides.
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:13:50
Keep in mind that the most common 6u spacebar's switch stem is off-centered: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Space_bar_dimensions#6_units_.28114mm_wide.2C_3_keymounts.2C_57mm_and_38mm_apart.29
I wanted it in the center so I can flip the spacebar if I need to.
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:14:45
If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:

Thanks, but is this really okay? Will the switch be stable?

It should be fine as long as it is soldered into the PCB appropriately. If you're really concerned, you could use a PCB with provision for PCB-mount switches, even just for that one switch. If you get it PCB-mounted as well, you can rest assured that it's not going anywhere  :thumb:

Am I supposed to use a PCB? I was told I should hand wire my keyboard instead. Now I'm confused as to which I should do.
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: user 18 on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:19:52
If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:

Thanks, but is this really okay? Will the switch be stable?

It should be fine as long as it is soldered into the PCB appropriately. If you're really concerned, you could use a PCB with provision for PCB-mount switches, even just for that one switch. If you get it PCB-mounted as well, you can rest assured that it's not going anywhere  :thumb:

Am I supposed to use a PCB? I was told I should hand wire my keyboard instead. Now I'm confused as to which I should do.

Using a PCB isn't necessary. But you're right that you will have problems with stability if you try to handwire a board that doesn't have the switches supported on all four sides by the plate. You also won't want to include cutouts on the plate to allow you to open the switches without desoldering, because you'll have similar issues.
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:35:34
Keep in mind that the most common 6u spacebar's switch stem is off-centered: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Space_bar_dimensions#6_units_.28114mm_wide.2C_3_keymounts.2C_57mm_and_38mm_apart.29
I wanted it in the center so I can flip the spacebar if I need to.
Not possible to do that directly. If you are going to hand-wire the keyboard it isn't a major problem. If you are going to use a PCB it must support both spacebars positions.

6u spacebars are a pain in the a**.
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 19:45:49
If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:

Thanks, but is this really okay? Will the switch be stable?

If it's soldered into a PCB it will be as the top and bottom are fully supported, this plate JD designed and LeandreN did a group buy of has a huge hole for the spacebar, mods and shift switches

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/aK87L21.jpg)


If you're hand wiring you need to work out where it needs to be so you can get the switch supported on all sides.

If you add a 1u key in the correct position on top of the space bar the plate builder will add the extra switch hole.

If you don't know exactly where it needs to be and you're using a PCB you can add a couple of switches overlapping each other and it will come out with a big hole - that's how most "universal" plates work :thumb:

Thanks, but is this really okay? Will the switch be stable?

It should be fine as long as it is soldered into the PCB appropriately. If you're really concerned, you could use a PCB with provision for PCB-mount switches, even just for that one switch. If you get it PCB-mounted as well, you can rest assured that it's not going anywhere  :thumb:

Am I supposed to use a PCB? I was told I should hand wire my keyboard instead. Now I'm confused as to which I should do.

Using a PCB isn't necessary. But you're right that you will have problems with stability if you try to handwire a board that doesn't have the switches supported on all four sides by the plate. You also won't want to include cutouts on the plate to allow you to open the switches without desoldering, because you'll have similar issues.

Keep in mind that the most common 6u spacebar's switch stem is off-centered: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Space_bar_dimensions#6_units_.28114mm_wide.2C_3_keymounts.2C_57mm_and_38mm_apart.29
I wanted it in the center so I can flip the spacebar if I need to.
Not possible to do that directly. If you are going to hand-wire the keyboard it isn't a major problem. If you are going to use a PCB it must support both spacebars positions.

6u spacebars are a pain in the a**.

I don't think I'll be using a PCB. I think I'll be hand wiring this.
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 20:17:30
Okay. So I'm going to be handwiring. How do I edit the spacebar hole in the CAD to be in the center?
Title: Re: How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 20:26:18
You know what? Nevermind. I'll find some workaround to where I use a 6.25 spacebar instead.
Title: Re: [Nevermind] How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: user 18 on Wed, 13 January 2016, 20:32:52
Take a look at where the spacebar switch is on the non-flipped spacebar. It's in column 7, looks to be precisely. I'm not an expert, but I would guess that if you were to put a switch hole in column 6, right next to it, you would at least have a spot to put the spacebar. You'd still need to decide before you solder which orientation you want the spacebar, but you won't need to rework your layout.

You can put a cutout there on the cad file by putting a 1u switch in the position you want.
Title: Re: [Nevermind] How do I edit a CAD for the 6u spacebar hole to be in the center?
Post by: Vozella on Wed, 13 January 2016, 20:43:38
Take a look at where the spacebar switch is on the non-flipped spacebar. It's in column 7, looks to be precisely. I'm not an expert, but I would guess that if you were to put a switch hole in column 6, right next to it, you would at least have a spot to put the spacebar. You'd still need to decide before you solder which orientation you want the spacebar, but you won't need to rework your layout.

You can put a cutout there on the cad file by putting a 1u switch in the position you want.

Oh. Thank you.