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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: DonnyD on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:09:39

Title: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: DonnyD on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:09:39

In this topic i want to see your hand-wired KB creations as i plan to build myself. I am going for as thin as possible, soshow me what you got !! ;)

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: TalkingTree on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:13:26

26AWG worked in my tests. Perhaps even thinner will do.

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: DonnyD on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:15:19

What about chassis thikness ? Is it any thicker than with pcb ?

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: TalkingTree on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:23:31

Quote from: DonnyD on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:15:19

What about chassis thikness ? Is it any thicker than with pcb ?

I wouldn't worry about the chassis unless you're making a bluetooth keyboard.

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: DonnyD on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:28:41

Did you ran wires as close to plate, or just where PCB would go ? I think running wires close to plate will decrease thikness bu 1-3 mm (?). Gaps between switches would be great channels :D

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: TalkingTree on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:33:52

You need some clearance beneath the switches anyway since the contact pins are there.

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: Tactile on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:34:12

If you're careful you can have nothing higher than the switch body, like this guy did (https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/iso50-a-hand-wired-iso-inspired-50-keyboard-t14538.html).

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: DonnyD on Sat, 24 February 2018, 15:42:49

Thats pretty much what i am aiming to build in terms of thikness. As switches are plate mounted, ican cut that big plastic pin in the center of switch( that goes into pcb), right ? And if i bend the pins i can potentialy get it about 1-2 mm thinner. I am glad i bought extra switches for that :D

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: xondat on Sat, 24 February 2018, 17:26:36

The pins are 3.3mm out from the bottom of the switch case, so without bending, it's 8.3mm straight down. I think the plastic pins are 2.8mm? Haven't checked in a while.

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: ErgoMacros on Sat, 24 February 2018, 20:32:14

The "Keytee" project is nice for this... especially if you're handwriting.
The PCB fits up in-between the key spacing. Adds nothing to the depth of the project. Quite elegant.

* Deskthority: https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/keytee-controller-breakout-board-for-small-keyboards-t15586.html
* github: https://github.com/trebb/keytee

20 IO pins available so 10x10 = 100 keys, max.

Title: Re: How thin can hand-wired KB be ?
Post by: ErgoMacros on Thu, 28 March 2019, 22:37:16

And another option, "Postage board" and "Postage board mini":
    Postage: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=96805.msg2643814#msg2643814
       25 pins, I think, so 12x13=156 keys, max.

    Mini (in process): https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=99638.msg2730415#msg2730415
       25 pins, I think, so 12x13=156 keys, max.

Very nice design.