What kinds of DIY boards are available?

[dragonxx21]

While i may not be considering a DIY board for a while, I'm still interested in finding out what kinds of boards are available in the market right now. Note: I'm talking about boards similar to the ErgoDox that comes with most of the required parts and just require assembly.

[pixel5]

I'm about to start a handwired 60% project. It will be using a teensy 2.0. If you have a plate, switches, and a microcontroller you can make a keyboard!

Other than that, the Phantom, GH60, GH75.

[damorgue]

Availability is a bit so so with several of the ones mentioned, as well as these, but there are several korean keybaords, the GH Pad, the "Light", The ErgoGP amongst others.

[dragonxx21]

So if you were to build a board from scratch (assuming you are using stock PCBs and not making one), what would you need? From pixel's post, I would need switches, a microcontroller (which I'm assuming is the teensy in his case?), and a plate to mount the switches onto. Would you need to design and produce your own case, or would you be able to purchase on premade? I'm sorry if it seems like I have no idea what I'm talking about, as I really don't.

[pixel5]

Things needed to make a keyboard:

PCB Route:
1. Switches
2. PCB
3. Plate (optional if your PCB supports PCB mounted switches)
4. Microcontroller (can be built into the PCB in some cases)
5. Case
6. Caps

Handwire route:
1. Switches
2. Plate
3. Diodes
4. Wiring (insulated and non-insulated)
5. Microcontroller (such as the teensy)
6. Case
7. Caps

Tools needed:
1. Soldering iron/station/gun
2. Solder
3. Screwdriver
4. Wire cutters
5. Any design-specific tools you need

[dragonxx21]

Things needed to make a keyboard:

PCB Route:
1. Switches
2. PCB
3. Plate (optional if your PCB supports PCB mounted switches)
4. Microcontroller (can be built into the PCB in some cases)
5. Case
6. Caps

Handwire route:
1. Switches
2. Plate
3. Diodes
4. Wiring (insulated and non-insulated)
5. Microcontroller (such as the teensy)
6. Case
7. Caps

Tools needed:
1. Soldering iron/station/gun
2. Solder
3. Screwdriver
4. Wire cutters
5. Any design-specific tools you need

What kind of notable differences are there between the handwired and pcb route?

[pixel5]

Things needed to make a keyboard:

PCB Route:
1. Switches
2. PCB
3. Plate (optional if your PCB supports PCB mounted switches)
4. Microcontroller (can be built into the PCB in some cases)
5. Case
6. Caps

Handwire route:
1. Switches
2. Plate
3. Diodes
4. Wiring (insulated and non-insulated)
5. Microcontroller (such as the teensy)
6. Case
7. Caps

Tools needed:
1. Soldering iron/station/gun
2. Solder
3. Screwdriver
4. Wire cutters
5. Any design-specific tools you need

What kind of notable differences are there between the handwired and pcb route?

From a usability perspective, I don't think so. But I'm about to find out!

[dragonxx21]

From a usability perspective, I don't think so. But I'm about to find out!

Well aside from usage wise, I meant how do they differ from each other? Are the switches connected differently in the handwire method?

[pixel5]

Do a search for Brownfox keyboard. Someone on deskthority did one very nicely.

[dragonxx21]

Do a search for Brownfox keyboard. Someone on deskthority did one very nicely.

From what I got, handwired switches are connected together through the diodes, and must be soldered together, and the switches are required to be plate mounted, whereas with the PCB, you solder the switches directly to the board. Is this a correct assumption?

Edit: I also noticed that all the components for PCB boards connect directly to the PCB, and in handwired boards, the switches are individually wired to the controller.

[pixel5]

Do a search for Brownfox keyboard. Someone on deskthority did one very nicely.

From what I got, handwired switches are connected together through the diodes, and must be soldered together, and the switches are required to be plate mounted, whereas with the PCB, you solder the switches directly to the board. Is this a correct assumption?

Edit: I also noticed that all the components for PCB boards connect directly to the PCB, and in handwired boards, the switches are individually wired to the controller.

That's basically right. There are a few PCBs that require a controller to be added, like the ergo dox and phantom (both use the Teensy 2.0)

[dragonxx21]

So there aren't any advantages to doing PCB over handwiring, or vise versa, at least none that you know of?

[pixel5]

So there aren't any advantages to doing PCB over handwiring, or vise versa, at least none that you know of?

PCB is definitely going to be a cleaner way of doing things. The wiring can get out of control if you let it.

[Hellmark]

So there aren't any advantages to doing PCB over handwiring, or vise versa, at least none that you know of?

Handwiring is cheaper for one offs. Phantom PCB costs $40 plus shipping, whereas handwiring is just a buck of wire and your time. Even bigger difference for custom PCBs.

[pixel5]

So there aren't any advantages to doing PCB over handwiring, or vise versa, at least none that you know of?

Handwiring is cheaper for one offs. Phantom PCB costs $40 plus shipping, whereas handwiring is just a buck of wire and your time. Even bigger difference for custom PCBs.

+$15 for a microcontroller like teensy.

[dragonxx21]

Quality wise, would a PCB shine over handwiring, or will they be similar if both are correctly done? And does handwiring depend on the type of build you are doing or will the method outlined here work with most builds?

[yasuo]

For handwired The main is plate
For PCB is PCB,you must making design PCB(you want) with KiCad

[dragonxx21]

For handwired The main is plate
For PCB is PCB,you must making design PCB(you want) with KiCad

Yes I realize this, but I was wondering if there were different methods for wiring the switches together.