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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: iHateKnives on Fri, 13 July 2018, 12:33:52

Title: Kishsaver inspired keyboard: Southpaw Numpad + Winkeyless + Uniqey C70 Layout
Post by: iHateKnives on Fri, 13 July 2018, 12:33:52
I've been designing a layout for my SA Camping keyset for months and I initially came up with this crazy layout:

(https://i.imgur.com/ORtyOL9.png)

With this case design:

(https://i.imgur.com/mPoMrP3.png)

I thought that was too modern for the vintage look I'm after so I settled for this:

(https://i.imgur.com/OkcEXUT.png)

I clearly have a soft spot for southpaw layouts, hehe. I love the vintage vibe of SA profile and I wanted to push that look further by copying the bezels from the Kishsaver boards:

(https://i.imgur.com/MoC1PVj.png)

The board will be made out of wood. I'm in the process of looking for woodworkers who can do the job neatly. TaeKeyboards did something similar recently with a meme layout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIDs8tq5Pa4&t=594s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIDs8tq5Pa4&t=594s).

I plan to handwire everything with a Teensy++ 2.0. I might redesign my case later to have underglow and the extra pins on the big Teensy might come in handy.

I'm still choosing between two switches: BOX Royal Hako (Clears) or MX Zilents (Aliaz housing and spring + CMX Blacks stems). The plate will be made out of 4.5mm acrylic
so I'll have to use Cosstar stabs from Aliexpress. It should dampen the sound a bit and hopefully not flex. Gonna line the case with sound dampening foam too
Title: Re: Kishsaver inspired keyboard: Southpaw Numpad + Winkeyless + Uniqey C70 Layout
Post by: Kilgarah on Fri, 13 July 2018, 12:56:23
Cool project! Are you planning on getting the case CNC'd? Do Costar stabs snap into a 4.5mm plate?

Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Kishsaver inspired keyboard: Southpaw Numpad + Winkeyless + Uniqey C70 Layout
Post by: iHateKnives on Sat, 14 July 2018, 09:59:37
Cool project! Are you planning on getting the case CNC'd? Do Costar stabs snap into a 4.5mm plate?

Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk

Yup. I found a guy who's got a CNC mill in his shop and is willing to do a one-off project. Unfortunately, he's still waiting a part for it so I'll only get to start the machining process three weeks later. It's perfect timing to be perfectly honest. I have to perfect every part of my plan and not to mention, get my capital up. Haha.

I haven't used Costar stabs in years but from what I read, they just slide into slits and you just have to glue them in place. They work with any plate thickness without fancy CNC Milling techniques which is great for me!