custom KMAC Happy plate

[scumyc]

So I want to make a new plate for KMAC Happy because I like a weird layout and like metal cases with integrated plates.

I understand that plates usually get cut from .dwg or .dxf files, but I could not find any files of the KMAC Happy plate.  I decided to try making my own and I was hoping for some feedback.  This is my first time using CAD and I have never had a plate cut before.  I am used QCAD after reading posts by jdcarpe.

Basically, I have a KMAC Happy plate, a pair of calipers, and the GH CAD Resources Hub.

This is what I came up with
 scumyPlate .dwg (58.12 kB - downloaded 102 times.)

The intended layout


Cell pic of the KMAC plate


Does anyone see anything I've done wrong?  Is there even any chance a plate cut from this would fit my case?

[dorkvader]

I don't think that bottom row (specifilcaly to the right of the spacebar) will work on the KMAC happy PCB.

I looked up some PCB pictures and you'd have to hack it significantly to work. Much easier to forego the PCB entirely at that point and direct wire to a custom plate you put in your KMAC happy case.

PCB pictures: http://imgur.com/a/JBYLI#1
http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/index.php?mid=photo&page=4&document_srl=5441326

[scumyc]

Yeah hard wiring to a teensy 2.0 is the plan for right now.  I really didn't want to compromise on my layout enough to make it doable on KMACs pcb.  If I can get hard wiring to work, I'm hoping it will give me enough confidence to try making a pcb.

[dorkvader]

Yeah hard wiring to a teensy 2.0 is the plan for right now.  I really didn't want to compromise on my layout enough to make it doable on KMACs pcb.  If I can get hard wiring to work, I'm hoping it will give me enough confidence to try making a pcb.

OK well you may be interested in this topic:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40567.0

It contains a lot of good information about direct-wire.

Also, there's lots of controllers. I have had good success with Soarer's controller project. Mapping it should be pretty simple, what with the "easy" matrix produced through direct wire.