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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: NuClear235 on Wed, 08 June 2016, 06:13:08

Title: Is any kit for DIY keyboard 68k ?
Post by: NuClear235 on Wed, 08 June 2016, 06:13:08: Hello,
I have MX BLACK keys from old keyboards so I want to DIY small keyboard in 68 key layout:

-no F keys
-no numeric block
-no PrintScreen, Pause....

But:
+Win key
+Insert, Delete, PgUp, PgDown
+arrows
+NumLock, ScrolLock, F12 possibility thruFN-key
+Support USB/PS2 adapter
+I preffer gray color of body and keycaps

I need to by programmable layout.

Is possible to buy very very similar kit ?
(I imagine it as VARMILO VA68m or Magicforce 68 but programmable and without in keys kit.)
Title: Re: Is any kit for DIY keyboard 68k ?
Post by: mike52787 on Wed, 08 June 2016, 08:25:33: You can buy a gh60 and just map those extra keys to a function layer. There are plates and pcbs available on ebay pretty cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminium-60-Plate-Universal-Frame-Kechanical-Keyboard-GH60-DIY-/291762166785?hash=item43ee615c01:g:LYoAAOSwxp9W8MQj (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminium-60-Plate-Universal-Frame-Kechanical-Keyboard-GH60-DIY-/291762166785?hash=item43ee615c01:g:LYoAAOSwxp9W8MQj)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-NEW-DIY-GH60-Keyboard-PCB-support-Breathing-LED-60-cherry-MX-/301977108875?hash=item464f3d018b:g:IfUAAOSwJQdW-XHp (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-NEW-DIY-GH60-Keyboard-PCB-support-Breathing-LED-60-cherry-MX-/301977108875?hash=item464f3d018b:g:IfUAAOSwJQdW-XHp)
Title: Re: Is any kit for DIY keyboard 68k ?
Post by: mike52787 on Wed, 08 June 2016, 08:27:20: Or if you want to go super custom, you can get bigbluesaw to cut you a custom plate and you can hand wire it with a teensy.
Title: Re: Is any kit for DIY keyboard 68k ?
Post by: SBJ on Wed, 08 June 2016, 08:38:19: I don't know if it's got everything you want but I know Varmilo does kits of it's 68key mech.
VA68M < can check pics on google
Title: Re: Is any kit for DIY keyboard 68k ?
Post by: phosphoric on Wed, 08 June 2016, 10:22:38: i have a pcb and case for a magicforce 68. i'll sell it to you if you want it - pm me
Title: Re: Is any kit for DIY keyboard 68k ?
Post by: NuClear235 on Thu, 09 June 2016, 14:39:11: I need programmable layout. Sometime. I have it to 8 bit computer, where is need to set some keys to non-standard position on keyboard.
VA68M or Magicforce is perfect layout, but I dont know if exists programmable PCB...
Title: Re: Is any kit for DIY keyboard 68k ?
Post by: Leslieann on Thu, 09 June 2016, 16:57:26: Programmable keyboards are niche market, as are keyboards in the size you want, so you're looking for a niche feature, in a niche format. Good luck.
And, each time you write your program, you risk bricking the keyboard, it's a slim chance, but still a chance. It's similar to flashing the bios on your motherboard, most of the time it's fine, but if something goes wrong, it goes REALLY wrong.

However,
If all you want to do is remap keys, you don't need a programmable keyboard to do that. Linux lets you do it in the operating system and in Windows there is a fantastic program called Autohotkey. The nice thing about Autohotkey is that not only is it easy to transfer from one system to another, load new profiles and turn on and off, but it can also remap the keyboard based on what program has focus. So in a game, you can disable the winkey and enable capslock, you alt tab into Firefox and it enables the Winkey and disables caps lock.