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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Weltschmerz on Fri, 28 July 2017, 01:33:30

Title: Making a custom alps keyboard. Need help with plate
Post by: Weltschmerz on Fri, 28 July 2017, 01:33:30

Hello GH, been rolling around a bunch of different ideas in my head for a while. I've always wanted an alps keyboard, but since their isn't really an availability of modern ones off hand I'd like to make my own. I have a bunch of questions that I can't really get solid answers to. I have the manufacturing ability and connections to make anything I need (aside from a pcb, going to handwire) but am pretty lost as where to start with a plate design. I'm proficient enough in CAD that I think I could do it, I just have no existing alps keyboards to be able to base designs of. I'm thinking it would make sense to do an ANSI WKL version, and I say this based off of more normal looking keycaps (omnikey, kb101a, acer keycaps, ect) and layout being more modern.

Any resources or help would be greatly appreciated

Title: Re: Making a custom alps keyboard. Need help with plate
Post by: TalkingTree on Fri, 28 July 2017, 05:16:38

Set up your keyboard's layout in the Keyboard Layout Editor (http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/), copy the data from the raw tab and paste everything into swill's builder (http://builder.swillkb.com/), making extra sure you choose ALPS in both Switch Type and Stabilizer Type.

Title: Re: Making a custom alps keyboard. Need help with plate
Post by: Weltschmerz on Fri, 28 July 2017, 12:45:31

Dude sweet, I didn't even know that was a resource. Thank you

Title: Re: Making a custom alps keyboard. Need help with plate
Post by: TalkingTree on Fri, 28 July 2017, 13:44:26

You're welcome. Do show us your keyboard once you're done. It's always nice to see custom boards.