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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: spwath on Fri, 27 May 2016, 17:18:23

Title: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: spwath on Fri, 27 May 2016, 17:18:23
Come with my on my journey of building my custom split keyboard.
 
Parts:
Custom plates
Purple Zealios
Granite DSA keycaps
2x teensys
 
Total price~ $300
 
Keycaps arrived, and show the layout that the keyboard will be
[attachimg=1]
 
Plates arived, and I started to put zealios in. One thing, the left plates holes are too big, I will have to have it remade
[attachimg=2]
 
Put all switches and keycaps onto the right plate
[attachimg=3]
 
Started to wire top plate
[attachimg=4]
 
 
More coming soon
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog
Post by: zefyr on Tue, 31 May 2016, 01:49:57
Awesome!
How about produce "switch traces only" PCB?
My first PCB has no diodes or ICs at all, just for switch traces.
It's pretty much simple, not too easy.
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog
Post by: spwath on Tue, 31 May 2016, 05:19:37
Awesome!
How about produce "switch traces only" PCB?
My first PCB has no diodes or ICs at all, just for switch traces.
It's pretty much simple, not too easy.
Hmm, i havent looked into PCB's at all.
Ill just hand wire this one, but if i ever build a new keyboard, i might look into a PCB

Oh cool, you are behind the VEA keyboard. Its really cool, I would get one, but im doing this keyboard. I love split keyboards ever since I got an Apple Adjustable keyboard.
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog
Post by: spwath on Tue, 28 June 2016, 17:52:24
Did some more soldering, and got my other plate. I can see what the final layout will be and test it.
WOw thoes granite keycaps are sexy.
[attachimg=1]

Next to my Apple Adjustable Keyboard
[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog
Post by: MOZ on Wed, 29 June 2016, 03:50:37
Very interesting use of the ISO enter for the spacebars!
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog
Post by: spwath on Wed, 29 June 2016, 08:03:31
Very interesting use of the ISO enter for the spacebars!

Yeah, seemed like best option to have a bigger space bar. Not sure if there are really any readily avalible bigger keys
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog
Post by: spwath on Sat, 27 August 2016, 22:21:11
Another update.
Made some wood stuffs.
Think ill make my wrist wrest smaller....
(https://linustechtips.com/main/uploads/monthly_2016_08/57c1b848404a6_20160827_115117(2).thumb.jpg.17dc0a5ebc973aee4cd7906c91f53fc1.jpg)(https://linustechtips.com/main/uploads/monthly_2016_08/20160827_115145.thumb.jpg.1d3da391c514421f0e4b9fc64b564b2c.jpg)
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: spwath on Sun, 28 August 2016, 14:47:07
This is new
(https://linustechtips.com/main/uploads/monthly_2016_08/19ni7z.gif.9a2230743ff259d09558ba605da65c70.gif)
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: spwath on Sun, 28 August 2016, 15:18:37
(https://i.imgflip.com/19nk1j.gif)
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: SBJ on Mon, 29 August 2016, 03:39:20
Bling bling, baby. :D
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: zefyr on Thu, 08 September 2016, 00:03:29
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: dead_pixel_design on Thu, 08 September 2016, 13:31:31
Really love the look of this, something spartan and really attractive about it, great job.

Kindof a rookie question here but I see you and Zefyr talking about PCBs and see that you are not using one for this build, I didn't know you could create a keyboard without one, are you just daisy-chain soldering the switches to each other to a USB port and then letting whatever you plug it into handle the software side of the keyboard?

Edit: Here's the problem with being new to the community, I don't always know where all the resources are to answer my own questions, haha, I think I just found a few tutorials that might answer my above question, but any insight you guys have would be appreciated!!
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: zefyr on Mon, 26 September 2016, 01:02:25
Really love the look of this, something spartan and really attractive about it, great job.

Kindof a rookie question here but I see you and Zefyr talking about PCBs and see that you are not using one for this build, I didn't know you could create a keyboard without one, are you just daisy-chain soldering the switches to each other to a USB port and then letting whatever you plug it into handle the software side of the keyboard?

Edit: Here's the problem with being new to the community, I don't always know where all the resources are to answer my own questions, haha, I think I just found a few tutorials that might answer my above question, but any insight you guys have would be appreciated!!

I believe he is using external controller like Arduino or Teensy :)
Those controllers have lots of software resources out there on public.
And here's one keyboard dedicated external controller made by winkeyless.
http://winkeyless.com/product/u-con-pcb/
This need some additional effort to use RGB otherwise it is pretty easy to build custom keyboard.
I used it with my early designs.
Title: Re: Custom Split Grid Keyboard Buildlog [NOW RGB]
Post by: spwath on Sun, 16 July 2017, 12:20:44
Really love the look of this, something spartan and really attractive about it, great job.

Kindof a rookie question here but I see you and Zefyr talking about PCBs and see that you are not using one for this build, I didn't know you could create a keyboard without one, are you just daisy-chain soldering the switches to each other to a USB port and then letting whatever you plug it into handle the software side of the keyboard?

Edit: Here's the problem with being new to the community, I don't always know where all the resources are to answer my own questions, haha, I think I just found a few tutorials that might answer my above question, but any insight you guys have would be appreciated!!

I believe he is using external controller like Arduino or Teensy :)
Those controllers have lots of software resources out there on public.
And here's one keyboard dedicated external controller made by winkeyless.
http://winkeyless.com/product/u-con-pcb/
This need some additional effort to use RGB otherwise it is pretty easy to build custom keyboard.
I used it with my early designs.

Do you know if I can buy that in the US?
I'm having some troubles with Teensy.