Converting a Wheelwriter 30's keyboard to computer use

[pentaerythritol]

Hey everyone,

I'm totally new to this, and based on some light Google I figured this would be the best place to start.

I happen to have an IBM Wheelwriter 30, which has a very nice, clicky keyboard, likely buckling spring. I'm wondering if it's at all possible to make this thing run as a computer keyboard. The keyboard attaches to the rest of the typewriter via two ribbon cables, so I'm not really sure how this would be done. It can be removed, where it looks somewhat like this:


Additionally, if anyone knows how to get the keyboard off of this thing, please let me know. It seems to be hinged at the front.

If there's anything technical I need to know, please explain it as if I know nothing, because I really don't.

Thanks!

[dorkvader]

Sethstorm converted his wheelwriter. I will check and see if I can find the link.

The wheelwrtiers were the first to use buckling spring over membrane keyswitches. These were later used in the popular "model M" keyboard that IBM made for the PS/2.

I have taken my wheelwriter 10 apart a few times and will let you know about getting the keyboard off.

edit: welcome to geekhack! This will be a great project.

edit: here's some links with info:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=55676.msg1370434#msg1370434
http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/model-m-matrix-teensy-t8149.html

Basically you have to do the following
1. Get connectors. Either desolder the ones off the typewriter PCB or find spares like sethstorm did.
2. Get a microcontroller. Teensy is the easiest option.
3. Get some breadboard. Looks like everyone else used solderless breadboard and hook up wire. This will work.
4. plug the connectors into the breadboard and wire them up to the teensy.
5. Program the teensy with a keyboard controller firmware. I like soarer's firmware, but there are other options.
6. enjoy!

[pentaerythritol]

Alright, thanks for the help.

What type of connectors am I specifically supposed to use? I've been searching for flat flexible ribbon connectors with a 2.54mm pitch, in accordance with this post. Is there anything other than this or do they plug directly into the solderless breadboard?

Similarly, do I have to use the Teensy++ 2.0, or will the smaller models work just as well? I noticed that the wiring diagrams are all for the Teensy++, but there seems to be less than 25 pins used, so just getting a 2.0 and renaming the code would work, no?

So just to be sure, ribbon cables -> connectors -> breadboard -> wired to Teensy -> computer through USB, running Soarer's firmware, have I skipped anything?

[jonathanyu]

The keyboard of the IBM Wheelwriter 30 is very very good, and this is exactly the typewriter that I still use in my office