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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mitchbyers on Tue, 14 September 2021, 12:15:10
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Hi all! I'm so glad to join here tho i only have just known about mechanical keyboards lately. It's so amazing when I first saw a keyboard built by someone on the Internet. I would like to build a Cherry type for typing because I am a office man.
So hopefully, there are someone who will guide me on how to build it.
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There are so many additional questions to ask.
- Do you mind soldering, or would you prefer to avoid soldering?
- Do you have a layout in mind?
- What's your budget? (perhaps the most important question)
- Do you mind waiting a bit?
- Are there any special features you would like, such as bluetooth, LEDs, rotary encoders, etc?
- What colors are you envisioning?
- What materials are you thinking about? Plastic? Aluminum? Steel? Wood? (keep in mind, materials and budget often go hand in hand
Probably the best place to get started is to understand the anatomy of a keyboard:
I would also spend some time browsing What Keyboard Are You Using Now (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45475.7100). That thread has an enormous amount of variance (not just what's new / shiny / trendy / expensive) and should give you a good idea of what's out there
Once you start narrowing down a bit, you'll probably want to start filling out a checklist of parts:
- Case: __
- Plate: __
- PCB: __
- Switches: __
- Keycaps: __
Most kits will include a case, plate, and pcb for you. You can mix and match some, but the case will dictate your plate and pcb (usually).
Switches are up to you. You mentioned wanting a Cherry style switch. Fortunately there's an ENORMOUS amount of variance there. Some questions to answer:
- Do you want something linear, tactile, or clicky?
- Do you want a heavier or lighter switch? (referring to the amount of force required to press the key)
- Again, what's your budget? (perhaps the most important question)
- Again, you mind waiting a bit?
Finally the caps, or the little pieces of plastic that attach to the switch. Again, lots of variance there (different materials, manufacturing processes, profiles, colors, and price points), but seeing as those are pretty much all compatible with cherry switches we can save that conversation for later.
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For example, a mid-range build of materials might be:
- Case: Brutal60 HHKB in Green
- Plate: Brutal60 FR4 Tsangan
- PCB: Instant60 Tsangan
- Switches: Durock T1s
- Keycaps: GMK Botanical
I realize there's a lot of nuance in that and maybe some confusing terms. A lot of people are drawn to the hobby because of all the customization. Others, not so much. I'm assuming though that, since you want to build your own and not buy a pre-built mechboard, that you're attracted to "making something unique"
There are also lots of great "jumping off points". The GMMK Pro is a very popular choice because it lets you customize and tinker with your board, but doesn't force you to source your own parts (though you can if you'd like)
If anything, my best recommendation is to read the forum, browse the subreddit, watch youtube videos, and generally gain knowledge before jumping in. There's a lot to learn, so ask lots of questions and enjoy!