Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[whentheclouds]

if keyboard were a subject, what knowledge would you need to possess in order to become 'proficient' at it?

[Melvang]

if keyboard were a subject, what knowledge would you need to possess in order to become 'proficient' at it?

Touch typing
How to properly plug in PS/2 keyboard
Basic shortcuts
Basic electronics relating to matrix construction and operation.

[noisyturtle]

if keyboard were a subject, what knowledge would you need to possess in order to become 'proficient' at it?

Engineering
Machining
Prototyping (heh, typing)
Artistic fortitude
Business acumen
Inherit geekiness

[BlueBär]

Which teensy 2.0 (or 2.0++) compatible custom keyboard firmware is LED-compatible? Looking for (at least) pulse mode and variable brightness.

I don't think there is one with a pulse mode, but TMK firmware has adjustable brightness. I'm sure something like pulse mode is not too hard to program yourself.

if keyboard were a subject, what knowledge would you need to possess in order to become 'proficient' at it?

Switch anatomy
Electronics and soldering 101
Keyboard and switch history

[CPTBadAss]

if keyboard were a subject, what knowledge would you need to possess in order to become 'proficient' at it?

I think the basics are:

Touch Typing
Knowledge of other typing layouts (QWERTY, Dvorak, Colemak, etc)
Basic knowledge of simple hand tools (screwdrivers, multimeter)
Basic keyboard shortcuts (CTRL-L, CTRL+SHIFT+ESC)
Soldering (Don't have to be good at it, just know what it is)
Basic researching skills (persistence, reading comprehension, how to search for things on Google)

[HoffmanMyster]

if keyboard were a subject, what knowledge would you need to possess in order to become 'proficient' at it?

Touch typing
How to properly plug in PS/2 keyboard
Basic shortcuts
Basic electronics relating to matrix construction and operation.

Is that hard?  Or do you just mean that it's not plug'n'play?

[Melvang]

Just the fact that they are not plug and play.  I have seen this be the problem for "Why isn't my Model M working?".  I see this coming up more often with the younger generations coming into custom/vintage hardware and PC's going away from PS/2 ports entirely.

Which teensy 2.0 (or 2.0++) compatible custom keyboard firmware is LED-compatible? Looking for (at least) pulse mode and variable brightness.

I might be wrong here but you might need a dedicated LED driver for this functionality.  Though how to integrate this into a stock key, I have no idea how the software would work.  Though I don't see much of an issue to wire it to a separate switch if said driver has hook ups for that.

[sakai4eva]

Just the fact that they are not plug and play.  I have seen this be the problem for "Why isn't my Model M working?".  I see this coming up more often with the younger generations coming into custom/vintage hardware and PC's going away from PS/2 ports entirely.

Which teensy 2.0 (or 2.0++) compatible custom keyboard firmware is LED-compatible? Looking for (at least) pulse mode and variable brightness.

I might be wrong here but you might need a dedicated LED driver for this functionality.  Though how to integrate this into a stock key, I have no idea how the software would work.  Though I don't see much of an issue to wire it to a separate switch if said driver has hook ups for that.

Mind pointing me to the right direction for that?

[BlueBär]

I might be wrong here but you might need a dedicated LED driver for this functionality.  Though how to integrate this into a stock key, I have no idea how the software would work.  Though I don't see much of an issue to wire it to a separate switch if said driver has hook ups for that.

Mind pointing me to the right direction for that?

Again, the TMK firmware has some code for backlight dimming, you should take a look at that.

[sakai4eva]

Thanks. I'll try to get into TMK again.

[SpAmRaY]

Anyone have any experience with vintage clear mx switches? Is there such a thing?

[CPTBadAss]

Anyone have any experience with vintage clear mx switches? Is there such a thing?

So I have read that there is a break-in period and wear with MX Clears which make them feel nicer versus new Clears. I don't have any personal experience with it though. And I've never heard of vintage Clears.

[Smasher816]

Thanks. I'll try to get into TMK again.

Feel free to post in the TMK thread. Hasu is generally nice and helpful and will probably give you some pointers on what files to look at and stuff. Though, sometimes it can feel like you are thrown into the deep end

[sakai4eva]

Thanks. I'll try to get into TMK again.

Feel free to post in the TMK thread. Hasu is generally nice and helpful and will probably give you some pointers on what files to look at and stuff. Though, sometimes it can feel like you are thrown into the deep end

Unfortunately, that's how I felt about firmwares. I managed to understand soarer's work thanks to Dorkvader, so now I'm loathe to try a new firmware because I feel overwhelmed every time I step into the thread.

[CPTBadAss]

Thanks. I'll try to get into TMK again.

Feel free to post in the TMK thread. Hasu is generally nice and helpful and will probably give you some pointers on what files to look at and stuff. Though, sometimes it can feel like you are thrown into the deep end

Unfortunately, that's how I felt about firmwares. I managed to understand soarer's work thanks to Dorkvader, so now I'm loathe to try a new firmware because I feel overwhelmed every time I step into the thread.

Unless you ask questions, you won't get any help. It's not easy for me either since I'm not inclined to coding.

[Vitaly]

Best place to buy cheap cherry mx switches (small amount 50-100 pieces for diy)?

[Puddsy]

Best place to buy cheap cherry mx switches (small amount 50-100 pieces for diy)?

Mechanicalkeyboards.com has them

[Vitaly]

Best place to buy cheap cherry mx switches (small amount 50-100 pieces for diy)?

Mechanicalkeyboards.com has them

Good price for switches.

[intelli78]

If you are capable of desoldering, it is often cheaper to buy and old Cherry POS board or similar and harvest switches from it. Depends what type of switch you are looking for.

[Vitaly]

If you are capable of desoldering, it is often cheaper to buy and old Cherry POS board or similar and harvest switches from it. Depends what type of switch you are looking for.

Think about clears for 40% keyboard.

[CPTBadAss]

If you are capable of desoldering, it is often cheaper to buy and old Cherry POS board or similar and harvest switches from it. Depends what type of switch you are looking for.

Think about clears for 40% keyboard.

I managed to buy a Cherry MX8100 which had Clears for $25 shipped. You could also get lucky and hunt for a Cherry POS board for that price.

[EpicSNES]

This isn't really related to keyboards, but kind of. How do people get their keyboard icons in their forum signature's?

[epzy]

This isn't really related to keyboards, but kind of. How do people get their keyboard icons in their forum signature's?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=19113.1250;topicseen

[CPTBadAss]

This isn't really related to keyboards, but kind of. How do people get their keyboard icons in their forum signature's?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=19113.1250;topicseen

This is also in the OP

[Vitaly]

I found that cherry mx switches have two mods: with diodes and with jumpers. Should take with diodes (if available) because it simplifies the work? And for what purpose jumpers in switch?

[Photekq]

I found that cherry mx switches have two mods: with diodes and with jumpers. Should take with diodes (if available) because it simplifies the work? And for what purpose jumpers in switch?

Jumpers are used to 'anchor' the switch down to the PCB I believe. Definitely not necessary.

[nubbinator]

I found that cherry mx switches have two mods: with diodes and with jumpers. Should take with diodes (if available) because it simplifies the work? And for what purpose jumpers in switch?

Jumpers are used to 'anchor' the switch down to the PCB I believe. Definitely not necessary.

Are you sure?  I'm pretty sure my G80-1813-HFU PCB has traces for the jumpers and they're not just there to anchor the switch.

[Photekq]

Are you sure?  I'm pretty sure my G80-1813-HFU PCB has traces for the jumpers and they're not just there to anchor the switch.

Yes, there are traces there. If you removed the jumpers from the switches you'd be breaking the circuit. So yes, the jumpers are part of the circuit, but the reason Cherry put them there in the first place is to anchor down the switch.

I guess another possibility is that Cherry wanted to be able to use the same PCBs in both their NKRO and 2KRO keyboards.

[Vitaly]

I found that cherry mx switches have two mods: with diodes and with jumpers. Should take with diodes (if available) because it simplifies the work? And for what purpose jumpers in switch?

Jumpers are used to 'anchor' the switch down to the PCB I believe. Definitely not necessary.

Are you sure?  I'm pretty sure my G80-1813-HFU PCB has traces for the jumpers and they're not just there to anchor the switch.

"jumper wires server couple purposes.  1: solder tie down of the other half of the switch, 2: PCB jumper for single layer boards where you need to hop over a trace to complete your matrix, " >> http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36337.msg683367#msg683367

I'm planned single sided pcb, but don't understand how jumper in switch hop over a trace?

[BlueBär]

Jumpers that are there to jump over a trace are usually not in the switches and just on the PCB itself. If you have a single layer PCB and you can't avoid two traces crossing each other you can use a jumper wire.

[Vitaly]

Jumpers that are there to jump over a trace are usually not in the switches and just on the PCB itself. If you have a single layer PCB and you can't avoid two traces crossing each other you can use a jumper wire.

I understand purpose of jumpers, just confused jumper in switch, anyway I didn't find clears and browns with diodes, will buy with jumpers and see why they MX1A-C1J[umper]W.

[CPTBadAss]

I didn't find clears and browns with diodes, will buy with jumpers and see why they MX1A-C1J[umper]W.

Just fyi, most people who buy lose switches end up buying the diodes too. I don't think it's very typical to have switched with diodes already in them.  I've personally never had any loose switches with diodes already installed.

[swill]

I didn't find clears and browns with diodes, will buy with jumpers and see why they MX1A-C1J[umper]W.

Just fyi, most people who buy lose switches end up buying the diodes too. I don't think it's very typical to have switched with diodes already in them.  I've personally never had any loose switches with diodes already installed.

Some of the second hand switches I bought that had been harvested off old boards had diodes in them. None of the newer ones I have bought did though.

[Vitaly]

I didn't find clears and browns with diodes, will buy with jumpers and see why they MX1A-C1J[umper]W.

Just fyi, most people who buy lose switches end up buying the diodes too. I don't think it's very typical to have switched with diodes already in them.  I've personally never had any loose switches with diodes already installed.

Some of the second hand switches I bought that had been harvested off old boards had diodes in them. None of the newer ones I have bought did though.

Thanks for answers. What diodes you can recommend? I think to buy this smd diodes 1N4148 http://www.ebay.com/itm/170817905272.

[CPTBadAss]

What diodes you can recommend? I think to buy this smd diodes 1N4148 http://www.ebay.com/itm/170817905272.

The 1N4148 will work fine. I typically order mine from Mouser but I'm not sure what's available to you in Russia.

[clacktalk]

I managed to buy a Cherry MX8100 which had Clears for $25 shipped. You could also get lucky and hunt for a Cherry POS board for that price.

Is this the cheapest board that's easiest to find if I wanted to harvest Clears?

[CPTBadAss]

I managed to buy a Cherry MX8100 which had Clears for $25 shipped. You could also get lucky and hunt for a Cherry POS board for that price.

Is this the cheapest board that's easiest to find if I wanted to harvest Clears?

That's the cheapest option I've come across.

[SpAmRaY]

I managed to buy a Cherry MX8100 which had Clears for $25 shipped. You could also get lucky and hunt for a Cherry POS board for that price.

Is this the cheapest board that's easiest to find if I wanted to harvest Clears?

Be careful they also come with browns so YMMV.

[hwood34]

Any idea what switches these might be?

[BlueBär]

Any idea what switches these might be?
(Attachment Link)

No idea. Is that transparent plastic? Can you take a cap off?

[hwood34]

Any idea what switches these might be?
(Attachment Link)

No idea. Is that transparent plastic? Can you take a cap off?

it looks transparent, I asked the seller. Here's the keyboards:

[jdcarpe]

Any idea what switches these might be?
(Attachment Link)

No idea. Is that transparent plastic? Can you take a cap off?

it looks transparent, I asked the seller. Here's the keyboards:
(Attachment Link)

Those might be hall effect?

HaaTa would probably know better than me.

[BlueBär]

I don't remember ever seeing any transparent switches this tall, so no idea.

[hwood34]

You'd think sellers would start taking the hint and posting pics of the switches right off the bat

[hwood34]

So what in the sam hell are these (sorry, apparently the seller has the worst camera in the entire world)? The second one look mx compatibleish

[BlueBär]

So what in the sam hell are these (sorry, apparently the seller has the worst camera in the entire world)? The second one look mx compatibleish
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Still no idea on the first one. Very tall, transparent housing and a metal slider doesn't ring a bell and I couldn't find anything in the DT wiki either.

I did find something about the other switch though: It is an unknown switch that is currently labelled USw LXBW01.
Here's the DT wiki article: http://deskthority.net/wiki/USw_LXBW01
And here is an imgur album of somebody who found some of these switches before: http://imgur.com/a/zgCm6

[sakai4eva]

Moar custom / prototype keyboard questions!

Which program would make modifying CAD files easiest?

Preferably something open sourced

[BlueBär]

Moar custom / prototype keyboard questions!

Which program would make modifying CAD files easiest?

Preferably something open sourced

For 2D CAD I can only recommend LibreCAD.

[sakai4eva]

Gracias. Gonna try that. If it works, then I won't be back

p/s: this info should be in the CAD thread

[CPTBadAss]

Moar custom / prototype keyboard questions!

Which program would make modifying CAD files easiest?

Preferably something open sourced

I highly recommend autodesk inventor for 3D and Autocad for 2D. I'm not a huge fan of the open source programs and those are what I've used at work. They're also commonly used in industry.