N00b keyboard building guide

[Misterorjoe]

After searching for months for my perfect keyboard, I have decided instead to try my luck at building my own keyboard. I have no experience with micro controllers and limited experience with soldering, but I am not too concerned with the programming aspect. I am sure this has been addressed before, but I did not see anything in the stickies, so.. Thanks!

[tp4tissue]

After searching for months for my perfect keyboard, I have decided instead to try my luck at building my own keyboard. I have no experience with micro controllers and limited experience with soldering, but I am not too concerned with the programming aspect. I am sure this has been addressed before, but I did not see anything in the stickies, so.. Thanks!

wait for ergodox on mass drop, or source the kit pieces urself..

[Misterorjoe]

After searching for months for my perfect keyboard, I have decided instead to try my luck at building my own keyboard. I have no experience with micro controllers and limited experience with soldering, but I am not too concerned with the programming aspect. I am sure this has been addressed before, but I did not see anything in the stickies, so.. Thanks!

wait for ergodox on mass drop, or source the kit pieces urself..

The link on the site is dead for the MX switches. Where can I find some?

[riotonthebay]

After searching for months for my perfect keyboard, I have decided instead to try my luck at building my own keyboard. I have no experience with micro controllers and limited experience with soldering, but I am not too concerned with the programming aspect. I am sure this has been addressed before, but I did not see anything in the stickies, so.. Thanks!

wait for ergodox on mass drop, or source the kit pieces urself..

The link on the site is dead for the MX switches. Where can I find some?

Depends on the switches. For MX Clears, go to mechanicalkeyboards.com. For other stuff, try http://www.originativeco.com/. If you're in the EU, check out 7bit's group buy for switches on deskthority.net.

[Misterorjoe]

After searching for months for my perfect keyboard, I have decided instead to try my luck at building my own keyboard. I have no experience with micro controllers and limited experience with soldering, but I am not too concerned with the programming aspect. I am sure this has been addressed before, but I did not see anything in the stickies, so.. Thanks!

wait for ergodox on mass drop, or source the kit pieces urself..

Around how much would that end up costing?

[tp4tissue]

After searching for months for my perfect keyboard, I have decided instead to try my luck at building my own keyboard. I have no experience with micro controllers and limited experience with soldering, but I am not too concerned with the programming aspect. I am sure this has been addressed before, but I did not see anything in the stickies, so.. Thanks!

wait for ergodox on mass drop, or source the kit pieces urself..

Around how much would that end up costing?

source kit urself, if you're in a developed nation, $400,  if you're in the 3rd world, ~$250

[Misterorjoe]

Unless I am making a very simple mistake, it seems like it would be more like $200 ?

50 for the switches, 50 for the electronics, and 50 for the PCB, plus the case (i can get that for nothing.)

[terran5992]

Some where about there. You have to account for keycaps as well

[kyb]

Unless I am making a very simple mistake, it seems like it would be more like $200 ?

50 for the switches, 50 for the electronics, and 50 for the PCB, plus the case (i can get that for nothing.)

That's about right. And that's the common case with DIY boards because: economies of scale.

You as a private person simply can't get the parts cheaper without buying obscene amounts of them.

(PS: Cases usually are the most expensive part if you don't resort to things like acrylic layering. So be happy that you can get it for free.)

[Misterorjoe]

Unless I am making a very simple mistake, it seems like it would be more like $200 ?

50 for the switches, 50 for the electronics, and 50 for the PCB, plus the case (i can get that for nothing.)

That's about right. And that's the common case with DIY boards because: economies of scale.

You as a private person simply can't get the parts cheaper without buying obscene amounts of them.

(PS: Cases usually are the most expensive part if you don't resort to things like acrylic layering. So be happy that you can get it for free.)

Where do most people get there cases when there isn't a mass drop occurring ?

[nzhao20]

They post a WTB on the classifieds or buy an expensive one from a GB or buy it from mkb.com or some other retailer, all of which range from 50-200 dollars.

You also have to check whether the PCB is SMD presoldered, and if you're going through the hassle of making a custom keyboard, you probably want it plate mounted.
I think its more like- 40-50$ PCB, 10$ stabilizers, 50$ switches, 20$ plate, 70$ case (unless you get it for free), 20-30 dollars for cheap keycaps, solder would cost you around 10 bucks for all the switches+soldering equipment.
This would get you something that is on par with like a 100-120 dollar board.

I, for one, see no reason to build a custom keyboard if you aren't going to make it something that significantly differentiates itself from the retail competition.

If you want a custom keyboard for like around 200 there is a korean custom with ergo clears for that price, which i'm surprised no one has bought yet.

[Misterorjoe]

They post a WTB on the classifieds or buy an expensive one from a GB or buy it from mkb.com or some other retailer, all of which range from 50-200 dollars.

I have looked around to see if I could find one. Where are they?

And would this PCB work?
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=537

[nzhao20]

Wait...you're trying to build a dox? -.-
You should just wait another month for a massdrop. If you build a dox, it will cost you 300-400 dollars without massdrop.

[Misterorjoe]

Wait...you're trying to build a dox? -.-
You should just wait another month for a massdrop. If you build a dox, it will cost you 300-400 dollars without massdrop.

Is that how long it will be? I couldn't find any info on it.

[Pacifist]

Wait...you're trying to build a dox? -.-
You should just wait another month for a massdrop. If you build a dox, it will cost you 300-400 dollars without massdrop.

Is that how long it will be? I couldn't find any info on it.

usually

there have  been like 4 or 5 drops so far

[kyb]

Where do most people get there cases when there isn't a mass drop occurring ?

The cad files are freely available. Shapeways & co. will happily rip you off

The most economical thing to do would be laser cutting acrylic plates imho. Or if you know someone with a CNC router/extruder

[Misterorjoe]

Where do most people get there cases when there isn't a mass drop occurring ?

The cad files are freely available. Shapeways & co. will happily rip you off

The most economical thing to do would be laser cutting acrylic plates imho. Or if you know someone with a CNC router/extruder

Wait...you're trying to build a dox? -.-
You should just wait another month for a massdrop. If you build a dox, it will cost you 300-400 dollars without massdrop.

Is that how long it will be? I couldn't find any info on it.

usually

there have  been like 4 or 5 drops so far

I can wait a month or so if thats all it would be. I was thinking it would be over a year.

[Pacifist]

Where do most people get there cases when there isn't a mass drop occurring ?

The cad files are freely available. Shapeways & co. will happily rip you off

The most economical thing to do would be laser cutting acrylic plates imho. Or if you know someone with a CNC router/extruder

Wait...you're trying to build a dox? -.-
You should just wait another month for a massdrop. If you build a dox, it will cost you 300-400 dollars without massdrop.

Is that how long it will be? I couldn't find any info on it.

usually

there have  been like 4 or 5 drops so far

I can wait a month or so if thats all it would be. I was thinking it would be over a year.

its not going to be a year. Probally 3-4 months top

[Misterorjoe]

Where do most people get there cases when there isn't a mass drop occurring ?

The cad files are freely available. Shapeways & co. will happily rip you off

The most economical thing to do would be laser cutting acrylic plates imho. Or if you know someone with a CNC router/extruder

Wait...you're trying to build a dox? -.-
You should just wait another month for a massdrop. If you build a dox, it will cost you 300-400 dollars without massdrop.

Is that how long it will be? I couldn't find any info on it.

usually

there have  been like 4 or 5 drops so far

I can wait a month or so if thats all it would be. I was thinking it would be over a year.

its not going to be a year. Probally 3-4 months top

What affects the amount of time that it takes? And how can I check to see how much longer it will be?

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

They start a new drop soon after the previous finishes. You could email mass drop support to see if they have an estimate for the next drop.

[tp4tissue]

Where do most people get there cases when there isn't a mass drop occurring ?

The cad files are freely available. Shapeways & co. will happily rip you off

The most economical thing to do would be laser cutting acrylic plates imho. Or if you know someone with a CNC router/extruder

Wait...you're trying to build a dox? -.-
You should just wait another month for a massdrop. If you build a dox, it will cost you 300-400 dollars without massdrop.

Is that how long it will be? I couldn't find any info on it.

usually

there have  been like 4 or 5 drops so far

I can wait a month or so if thats all it would be. I was thinking it would be over a year.

its not going to be a year. Probally 3-4 months top

What affects the amount of time that it takes? And how can I check to see how much longer it will be?

no amount of discussion will make the drop sooner..  LOL..

just hang tight.. it's sure to come.

[Misterorjoe]

They start a new drop soon after the previous finishes. You could email mass drop support to see if they have an estimate for the next drop.

Thanks! I'm pretty new to all this.

[tbc]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52851.0 - soldering kit gb

maybe relevant?