geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BenV62 on Tue, 21 March 2017, 17:46:55
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Being new to this, i want to build my own keyboard. I was looking at a phantom or something bigger than a 60%. How do i know if the board is capable of back lighting on the keys or would these ( https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2229 ) work if it isnt back lighting capable?
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There's two kinds of lighting; PCB underglow, and in-switch LEDs. Underglow is from LEDs on the bottom of the PCB that will shine out from acrylic cases, or through acrylic inserts in metal cases. It will also shine through clear switches subtly like the one you linked (it looks nice). Most pre-soldered PCBs these days come with RGB underglow LEDs, but it should be specified somewhere in the product listing. The phantom is not pre-soldered (doesn't come with LEDs or diodes pre-soldered) and does not support typical underglow. It does support in-switch LEDs, and the switches you listed would work well. In-switch LEDs are inserted near the top of the switch housing, and gives bright keycap back lighting. Most PCBs only support single colored LEDs, not RGB, phantom included.
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There's two kinds of lighting; PCB underglow, and in-switch LEDs. Underglow is from LEDs on the bottom of the PCB that will shine out from acrylic cases, or through acrylic inserts in metal cases. It will also shine through clear switches subtly like the one you linked (it looks nice). Most pre-soldered PCBs these days come with RGB underglow LEDs, but it should be specified somewhere in the product listing. The phantom is not pre-soldered (doesn't come with LEDs or diodes pre-soldered) and does not support typical underglow. It does support in-switch LEDs, and the switches you listed would work well. In-switch LEDs are inserted near the top of the switch housing, and gives bright keycap back lighting. Most PCBs only support single colored LEDs, not RGB, phantom included.
The phantom does not have in switch LED support for the entire keyboard.
It only supports filco style lock led locations in the upper right corner as well as caps lock and scroll lock.
Also the cherry RGB switches linked in the OP won't do anything for backlighting on a phantom PCB. They are meant to be used with surface mounted LEDs.
And I will add that anything is possible and someone somewhere might have modified a phantom to be completely backlit but the PCB is not designed for it as is.
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i would like to do keycap backlighting as far as the back light goes. If the phantom doesnt support in switch leds where should i look from here? I have tried googling but not entirely sure the proper search for what im looking for. any suggestions on where to start?
i want to build something like or similar to this:
(https://massdrop-s3.imgix.net/product-images/MD-5550_20150127123648_cc303b25e55a3d1c.jpg?auto=format&fm=jpg&fit=crop&w=955&h=289&dpr=1)
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Why do you want to build rather than buy an existing backlit board?
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Why do you want to build rather than buy an existing backlit board?
the experience and to say i built one. and i dont just want to build one, i want to build something id actually like and enjoy using and showing off.
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Most nice TKL DIY kits with PCB and case run $320-420. You can get a sandwhich case TKL going for much less though. PCB with underglow and in-switch LED support http://winkeyless.kr/product/b-87-pcb-x2/ or http://winkeyless.kr/product/b-87-r-x2-pcb/ (in-switch LEDs face opposite directions between these two). Standard sandwich case http://winkeyless.kr/product/bbb-acrylic-case/ or acrylic diffuser case http://winkeyless.kr/product/bbb_acrylic-case-with-rgb-diffuser/
what you can end up with https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0f/70/b4/0f70b423db226fbe77992f5f58942a32.jpg
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Most nice TKL DIY kits with PCB and case run $320-420. You can get a sandwhich case TKL going for much less though. PCB with underglow and in-switch LED support http://winkeyless.kr/product/b-87-pcb-x2/ or http://winkeyless.kr/product/b-87-r-x2-pcb/ (in-switch LEDs face opposite directions between these two). Standard sandwich case http://winkeyless.kr/product/bbb-acrylic-case/ or acrylic diffuser case http://winkeyless.kr/product/bbb_acrylic-case-with-rgb-diffuser/
what you can end up with https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0f/70/b4/0f70b423db226fbe77992f5f58942a32.jpg
Thanks for the links! i may or may not have an extra broken keyboard around somewhere i can use the case for. if not the ones linked would be fine.