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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: FlukeNukem on Sun, 27 March 2016, 00:56:47

Title: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Sun, 27 March 2016, 00:56:47: This keyboard came with my first computer, a Dell Pentium 90 workstation I pulled from a dumpster when I was about 13. That workstation is long gone but I kept the keyboard and used it as my primary until 3 years ago. The switches are worn out, the tactile bump is all but gone on about a third. Activation force varies wildly between them. PS/2 ports are becoming rare, and the 2kro sucks for gaming. It's time for a refresh.

So here's the plan. I ordered a five pack of the Matias clicky switches to try out, and I was impressed with the feel. Time to order more switches and some diodes. I'm going to hand wire a new matrix and convert to usb using a teensy (haven't decided on a firmware yet). In the mean time I've started with dissassembly today. The keycaps are soaking in some soapy water and I'll probably start desoldering tomorrow evening. For now, pictures:

(http://i.imgur.com/BKLmYea.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6jNpfmX.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ICIyNPA.jpg)
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: evangs on Sun, 27 March 2016, 02:39:02: Quote from: FlukeNukem on Sun, 27 March 2016, 00:56:47
This keyboard came with my first computer, a Dell Pentium 90 workstation I pulled from a dumpster when I was about 13. That workstation is long gone but I kept the keyboard and used it as my primary until 3 years ago. The switches are worn out, the tactile bump is all but gone on about a third. Activation force varies wildly between them. PS/2 ports are becoming rare, and the 2kro sucks for gaming. It's time for a refresh.

So here's the plan. I ordered a five pack of the Matias clicky switches to try out, and I was impressed with the feel. Time to order more switches and some diodes. I'm going to hand wire a new matrix and convert to usb using a teensy (haven't decided on a firmware yet). In the mean time I've started with dissassembly today. The keycaps are soaking in some soapy water and I'll probably start desoldering tomorrow evening. For now, pictures:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/BKLmYea.jpg)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/6jNpfmX.jpg)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ICIyNPA.jpg)

Cool project, looking forward to updates
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: Venatorious on Sun, 27 March 2016, 02:53:05: Nice. I will be watching this thread for updates.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: StormyMonday on Sun, 27 March 2016, 06:36:11: A new lease on life for the ol' girl. This will definitely be fun.

I've never been a fan of blinky lights, but the soft glow of backlit keys on an AT101 would be fun and definitely turn some heads. Had you considered tarting her up some?

https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/another-single-switch-circuit-board-t11420.html?sid=ba365146b3db77a858d80e07006cbd86
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FletchINKy on Sun, 27 March 2016, 07:13:56: Gotta love an old AT101! I pulled one with blacks out of a dumpster, and turned it into a handwired teensy run split keyboard https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=79278.0 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=79278.0).

The imgur build log has some pitfalls I ran into, and I don't envy you desoldering that circuit board (though I did want to try another time with a blowtorch...), but hopefully there's something in there you might make use of and save time with.

I had plans on making a sandwich case for it with a laser cutter, so the original case is untouched. You're welcome to it if you're looking to retain the original appearance, and damage yours in some way... and pay shipping ;D

Good luck! :thumb:

Attached some laser cutter pics only because I just did it yetserday and I'm still excited
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Sun, 27 March 2016, 21:08:07: Quote from: StormyMonday on Sun, 27 March 2016, 06:36:11
A new lease on life for the ol' girl. This will definitely be fun.

I've never been a fan of blinky lights, but the soft glow of backlit keys on an AT101 would be fun and definitely turn some heads. Had you considered tarting her up some?

https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/another-single-switch-circuit-board-t11420.html?sid=ba365146b3db77a858d80e07006cbd86

Nah, I might paint the case but that's about it. Just wiring the matrix will be over 300 solder joints, I'd rather not add any more lol

Quote from: FletchINKy on Sun, 27 March 2016, 07:13:56
Gotta love an old AT101! I pulled one with blacks out of a dumpster, and turned it into a handwired teensy run split keyboard https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=79278.0 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=79278.0).

The imgur build log has some pitfalls I ran into, and I don't envy you desoldering that circuit board (though I did want to try another time with a blowtorch...), but hopefully there's something in there you might make use of and save time with.

I had plans on making a sandwich case for it with a laser cutter, so the original case is untouched. You're welcome to it if you're looking to retain the original appearance, and damage yours in some way... and pay shipping ;D

Good luck! :thumb:

Attached some laser cutter pics only because I just did it yetserday and I'm still excited

Man that's some cool work on that split setup. I've always wanted to try out a split but I'm too chicken to take a saw to my plate. Maybe I'll pick up another dumpster board somewhere and give it a try.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Tue, 29 March 2016, 00:49:36: (http://i.imgur.com/28Hq3hA.jpg)

Man desoldering is a royal pain in the ass. I might need to buy a desoldering iron to do the rest. It took me over 2 hours to do what you see here. Can't wait to get started wiring up the new switches.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FletchINKy on Tue, 29 March 2016, 05:54:35: Quote from: FlukeNukem on Tue, 29 March 2016, 00:49:36
Man desoldering is a royal pain in the ass. I might need to buy a desoldering iron to do the rest. It took me over 2 hours to do what you see here. Can't wait to get started wiring up the new switches.

I borrowed a solder sucker and it was still a huge pain. I wound up cleaning up the last bits by jamming a chopstick between the plate and prying the two apart while I touched the iron to the leads, slowly moving them further and further apart :eek: .... but it was like 2am at that point and I didn't care about the circuit board. You clearly have more patience than I do!

Keep going! It's going to be worth it!
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: Venatorious on Tue, 29 March 2016, 10:16:06: I loathe using solder suckers. No one likes having to desolder in such an awkward way. I need to get a desildering iron as well. The lead free solder in my kbp V80 ID impossible to work with when using a solder sucker.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Tue, 29 March 2016, 19:20:14: Okay so after my frustration with how slow things were going last night I was ready to try something different. Perhaps something drastic...
(http://i.imgur.com/PDw4vTd.jpg)
I took the board out to the garage and taped it down to my table saw. Then I took an angle grinder to the backside. In no time it had removed all the solder joints. As well as the solder mask, the traces and much of the PCB.
(http://i.imgur.com/IXfzgGb.jpg)
But hey, it took all of about 30 seconds :))
After that the pcb pulled right of and the switches just popped out of the plate. At this point I ran over to my local walmart and grabbed a rattle can. They had some orange rustoleum on clearance so that's what I got.
(http://i.imgur.com/yy1i67z.jpg)
Turns out it doesn't look half bad.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: StormyMonday on Tue, 29 March 2016, 21:46:04: Quote from: FlukeNukem on Tue, 29 March 2016, 19:20:14
Okay so after my frustration with how slow things were going last night I was ready to try something different. Perhaps something drastic...
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/PDw4vTd.jpg)

I took the board out to the garage and taped it down to my table saw. Then I took an angle grinder to the backside. In no time it had removed all the solder joints. As well as the solder mask, the traces and much of the PCB.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/IXfzgGb.jpg)

But hey, it took all of about 30 seconds :))
After that the pcb pulled right of and the switches just popped out of the plate. At this point I ran over to my local walmart and grabbed a rattle can. They had some orange rustoleum on clearance so that's what I got.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/yy1i67z.jpg)

Turns out it doesn't look half bad.

Too funny!!! :p

Desperate times call for desperate measures, eh?
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FletchINKy on Wed, 30 March 2016, 07:47:51: Now THIS is my kind of problem solving. Quick and dirty. Also, you've stolen my idea for a safety orange plate! ^-^
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Thu, 31 March 2016, 17:34:39: While I wait on UPS to show up with my switches/diodes/teensy I decided to clean up the case and maybe paint it. However I couldn't find a Tupperware container much bigger than a ham sandwich. So I stuck them in the washing machine.
(http://i.imgur.com/1tAt9Yx.jpg)
It's not deep enough to fully submerge them, but I can just come back in a couple of hours and flip them over. If you do this just make sure you prop the door open as soon as the machine is done filling up. I doubt the spin cycle would do the keyboard any favors.

P.S. those with very keen eyesight may notice an IBM model F case in there too. More on that later.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: jerue on Thu, 31 March 2016, 17:40:46: Nice log! Can't wait to see more!

I was just watching a tutorial video over on Deskthority about this very same project. There is someone on eBay selling 10 AT101W's for $100, but after watching the video, replacing them all with Matias switches seems like such a pain it couldn't be worth anything in the world :mad:
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: Venatorious on Fri, 01 April 2016, 02:32:19: I love the Dell AT's. They are the most moddable things out there are they are so common its fine if you mess up. Black alps aren't bad switches at all, they are just overshadowed by other switches in the alps family.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FletchINKy on Fri, 01 April 2016, 08:47:58: Quote from: jerue on Thu, 31 March 2016, 17:40:46
There is someone on eBay selling 10 AT101W's for $100, but after watching the video, replacing them all with Matias switches seems like such a pain it couldn't be worth anything in the world :mad:

I'm sorry Jerue, but I took your tip and bought that lot on ebay. I'm prepared to embrace the suck :))

Plan on making a couple more At101 Split56s https://github.com/FletchINKy/AT101_Split56 (https://github.com/FletchINKy/AT101_Split56), and then a couple regular teensified-- teensyfied-- teensy-ified (??) handwired At101w with the black alps it came with, then combine the case from my original with another, and make a Kinesis Freestyle-style (??) split keyboard that retains the original style of the AT101w, and then...?? I'll have like 6 more keyboards left after that... ;D
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Wed, 06 April 2016, 23:02:44: Well my switches and diodes came in and I finally had some time to put in a little more work on the board. I was looking at the diodes trying to figure out how to hold them in place to solder them. It's not perfect but this is what I came up with in five minutes using only stuff I had in my toolbox.

(http://i.imgur.com/4HJfeWC.jpg)
Alligator clips :thumb:

So now I have the diodes in. I also did a test run of a couple of columns. I'm using pre tinned 24ga copper for the columns. It's bare so I think I'll put a dab of liquid electrical tape where they cross over the diodes rows. Anyway for now this is where I'm at.
(http://i.imgur.com/slfnsKj.jpg)
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: Venatorious on Wed, 06 April 2016, 23:25:17: Any plans for a backlight since the matias switches are transparent? :p
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Thu, 07 April 2016, 22:42:28: Quote from: Venatorious on Wed, 06 April 2016, 23:25:17
Any plans for a backlight since the matias switches are transparent? :p

Not at this time, I just want to get it put together and working. I could always add some later but backlighting ain't really my thing.
Title: Re: Dell at101 Matias clicky + teensy build
Post by: FlukeNukem on Wed, 27 April 2016, 00:26:22: Well after a couple of crazy weeks at work I finally had some time to sit down and work on the keyboard some more. Tomorrow I'll try to get it hooked up to the teensy and flash it with tmk.

(http://i.imgur.com/hpxTTYk.jpg)