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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: trauring on Mon, 09 May 2016, 05:52:14

Title: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: trauring on Mon, 09 May 2016, 05:52:14
I just ran across this intriguing ebay listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/maltron-keyboard-kit-better-than-kinesis-/172198659229?

It's a kit for building your own Maltron keyboard, including a vacuum-formed ABS shell with holes for MX-compatible switches, and a bunch of simple electronics that would let you build a hand-wired electronics (leds, diodes, a prototyping board, copper wire, an Adafruit 32u4 breakout board, etc.). No switches or keycaps included.

Doesn't show the inside of the shell, or a finished keyboard. Looks like it could ber a fun project, although I'd prefer to get it without all the electronics and do that part myself. If these shells were available in quantity, then perhaps someone could put together three circuit boards for it (left, right and center with the control logic). Of course, to do it right you'd need the right and left circuit boards to be flexible PCBs, but I'm sure there's a workaround for that.
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: need on Mon, 09 May 2016, 06:34:00
I just ran across this intriguing ebay listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/maltron-keyboard-kit-better-than-kinesis-/172198659229?

It's a kit for building your own Maltron keyboard, including a vacuum-formed ABS shell with holes for MX-compatible switches, and a bunch of simple electronics that would let you build a hand-wired electronics (leds, diodes, a prototyping board, copper wire, an Adafruit 32u4 breakout board, etc.). No switches or keycaps included.

Doesn't show the inside of the shell, or a finished keyboard. Looks like it could ber a fun project, although I'd prefer to get it without all the electronics and do that part myself. If these shells were available in quantity, then perhaps someone could put together three circuit boards for it (left, right and center with the control logic). Of course, to do it right you'd need the right and left circuit boards to be flexible PCBs, but I'm sure there's a workaround for that.
Wow that's very interesting. Considering Maltron is supposed to be made in the UK,I wonder why this is in the US. And there isn't a brand name badge either.
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: hanya on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:52:32
I've seen someone constructed such a thing in the thread:
https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/tenkeyless-maltron-t12918.html
It seems small hack required inside it.
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: Zekromtor on Mon, 09 May 2016, 10:39:05
Two thumbs way up. I would have jumped on that a few years ago before making my own. If you want to make your own ergo keyboard, what a great way to do it.
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: need on Mon, 09 May 2016, 10:43:20
I've seen someone constructed such a thing in the thread:
https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/tenkeyless-maltron-t12918.html
It seems small hack required inside it.
I wonder how he got it?
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: davkol on Mon, 16 May 2016, 05:22:00
Maltron (the company) has sold the cases to several people. One example's been mentioned, and here goes another one (http://benjamin.vanryseghem.com/2015/10/23/Ergotron.html).
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: need on Tue, 17 May 2016, 10:28:22
Maltron (the company) has sold the cases to several people. One example's been mentioned, and here goes another one (http://benjamin.vanryseghem.com/2015/10/23/Ergotron.html).
I was about get one, but too much work for me...and I can't see it as a daily driver due to its size.
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: nothing4me on Sun, 19 June 2016, 01:54:04
If anyone has this case... can you please laser scan it or take a bunch of pictures so I can turn it into a model?

Edit: I also found this wow: https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/designing-a-custom-topre-board-t11734.html
Title: Re: Want to hand-wire your own Maltron? Now you can...
Post by: trauring on Thu, 23 June 2016, 11:14:44
I bought it, but I don't have it yet. He only shipped in the US, so I sent it to a relative who will get it to me eventually. I don't have a laser scanner though. There is some kind of iPhone app that claims to be able to make 3D models, maybe I can try that.

According to the seller he bought two directly from Maltron in the UK but only ended up building one of them.


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