geekhack

geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Macpants on Sun, 22 May 2016, 17:40:12

Title: Custom keyboard with a custom plate
Post by: Macpants on Sun, 22 May 2016, 17:40:12

Hey everyone! I had the idea of building my own keyboard from scratch and I've started by ordering some parts starting with the following:

• Phantom PCB (TKL)
• Teensy 2.0 controller
• Gateron Browns
• (if you looked at my intro and first posts I mentioned these as well. I appreciate all the replies and I nearly did go for another set. Using my judgement of my own preferences, I got to a conclusion)
• Keycaps TBD
• Custom faceplate/case

That last one is the one I'm really wondering about. I have a plan to take a piece of sheet aluminum and cnc the switch holes out (I do have access to a CNC router, the ShapeOko). The only thing I can't figure out is how thick a sheet (or a plate, maybe?) of aluminum I should get. In terms of grade/type of aluminum, my research is pointing to 6061-T6 due to it's apparent ease of machining and welding. Anyone fabbed their own faceplate out of aluminum before? Care to help a fellow mechie out? :)) ...I'm a nerd.

Thanks, all!

Title: Re: Custom keyboard with a custom plate
Post by: joey on Sun, 22 May 2016, 17:41:51

1.5mm is the standard thickness.

You can use a thicker plate, and only have 1.5mm in the parts that the MX switches clip onto. That requires a lot more work than just using a 1.5mm plate though!

Title: Re: Custom keyboard with a custom plate
Post by: Macpants on Sun, 22 May 2016, 17:58:37

Well sweet, that was fast! Thanks!
I don't have the parts in hand, so I'm basically just working from my imagination at the moment. Please pardon any seemingly obvious questions I'm asking here... What would happen if the plate was slightly thicker, say 1.6mm? Could the PCB just be put ever so slightly closer to the plate?

Title: Re: Custom keyboard with a custom plate
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 22 May 2016, 19:22:12

If you use a too thick plate the switches won't clip on to it, that's not a problem if you're using a PCB though as they aren't going to pull out anyway :)

Title: Re: Custom keyboard with a custom plate
Post by: Macpants on Sun, 22 May 2016, 21:12:56

Quote from: suicidal_orange on Sun, 22 May 2016, 19:22:12

If you use a too thick plate the switches won't clip on to it, that's not a problem if you're using a PCB though as they aren't going to pull out anyway :)

Ahhh ok. That makes sense. I've done some searching and everything I've found is in inches. :mad: Unless I buy it from England or something, which seems a bit excessive considering I live in the USA. Urg. Anyone know of a metal place that trades goods in 'Murican dollars AND measures in mm?

Title: Re: Custom keyboard with a custom plate
Post by: tacnificent on Sun, 22 May 2016, 22:37:45

You can order sheets on amazon if you can't find something locally.

http://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Unpolished-Finish-Standard-Tolerance/dp/B00CNLV9B8

0.05" (~1.3mm) or 0.063" (~1.6mm)