What are all the parts of a keyboard you need when building one?

[Vozella]

Just asking so I know what to look for.

[SpAmRaY]

case, controller, PCB (optional) and/or plate (optional), diodes, stabilizers, switches, leds (optional), key caps

Solder, soldering iron, wire, USB cable


You'll learn much more by reading through some threads here.

[user 18]

If you want a backlit board, you need a PCB and a controller that support backlighting (if you're using a PCB, if you're handwiring using a plate, LEDs get very messy and I would recommend against doing so). You'll then need resistors and LEDs.

If you're using just a plate, you should probably look for one that does not have easy-open cutouts, to reduce the chance of pulling a switch out when you're changing keycaps.

When looking at diodes, make sure you get the physical form factor (through-hole or surface mount) that is supported by your PCB. If you are hand-wiring (no PCB), you'll want through-hole diodes, as they come with leads and can be wired directly to switches.

[Vozella]

If you want a backlit board, you need a PCB and a controller that support backlighting (if you're using a PCB, if you're handwiring using a plate, LEDs get very messy and I would recommend against doing so). You'll then need resistors and LEDs.

If you're using just a plate, you should probably look for one that does not have easy-open cutouts, to reduce the chance of pulling a switch out when you're changing keycaps.

When looking at diodes, make sure you get the physical form factor (through-hole or surface mount) that is supported by your PCB. If you are hand-wiring (no PCB), you'll want through-hole diodes, as they come with leads and can be wired directly to switches.

I was going to go with a plate, but can one actually make their own PCB? I thought only companies could do that.

If easy open cutouts are worse, why do easy open cutouts exist? What are they for?

Also, what are diodes? I don't understand it from what Google's telling me.

[Vozella]

case, controller, PCB (optional) and/or plate (optional), diodes, stabilizers, switches, leds (optional), key caps

The keyboard I'm going to build has an unusual size. How do I make my own? Actually, do you need a case?

[SpAmRaY]

case, controller, PCB (optional) and/or plate (optional), diodes, stabilizers, switches, leds (optional), key caps

The keyboard I'm going to build has an unusual size. How do I make my own? Actually, do you need a case?

Technically a case is optional or the plate can be the case.

[neverused]

I suggest you read through Matt3o's threads, especially the brown fox thread

See:

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/building-a-custom-keyboard-from-the-ground-up-t5761.html

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/brownfox-step-by-step-t6050.html

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/how-to-build-your-very-own-keyboard-firmware-t7177.html?hilit=firmware

Also look at swill's tool too. Read read read

[user 18]

I was going to go with a plate, but can one actually make their own PCB? I thought only companies could do that.

If easy open cutouts are worse, why do easy open cutouts exist? What are they for?

Also, what are diodes? I don't understand it from what Google's telling me.

It is possible to etch your own PCB, but it's harder to do complicated traces by hand. You can also design a PCB and have a fab house manufacture it, although it will be expensive for a small run of boards.

Easy open cutouts are better if you use a PCB -- the tradeoff is a loss of stability for the ability to open the switches without desoldering. If you use a PCB, the added stability from the PCB more than makes up for the loss of stability in the plate. If you don't have a PCB, it is important to have maximum stability from the plate; this means no cutouts.

Diodes are semiconductors that allow current to flow in only one direction. Modern keyboards are wired in a matrix, to reduce the number of I/O pins required on the controller. For example, a keyboard with 64 keys can use as few as 16 pins on a controller (8 input, 8 output, 8*8 = 64). Using diodes in the matrix essentially prevents the controller from detecting keystrokes on keys you have not pressed. I remember having a good resource for this somewhere, but I can't find it now :/

E: Not what I was thinking of, but it might help understanding diodes: http://www.dribin.org/dave/keyboard/one_html/