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[jimirolln]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=94393.0
   

[TalkingTree]

Any particular reason for you to reduce the right modifiers by half a unit?

[jimirolln]

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[TalkingTree]

I'll think of something.
Sleep tight.

[jimirolln]

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[TalkingTree]

Ok, I've started something.

I need to know a few things:
1) Do you want ALPS support or Cherry MX alone?
2) Do you want LED indicators? If so, how many and where?
3) Any preference for the font on the silkscreen?

EDIT:
4) Do you want split shifts support?

[suicidal_orange]

I don't want to put a dampener on this given the obvious enthusiasm and effort already put in, but this board will only work with the included keycaps due to the strange key sizes.  The caps look great to me but they are far from universally appealing, and even if they were the mods will require custom moulds (expensive) or pad printing (not popular and the colour won't match)  Even ignoring colours are you thinking DSA, SA row 3 or G20?  I don't think SP have a 1.25 tab key in any contoured profile.

Finally, 3u spacebars.  You're going to need wires for them, 2.75u keys use 2u stabs but 3u have their own...

Before designing a case you might want to reconsider some of the decisions already made?

[jimirolln]

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[TalkingTree]

I don't want to put a dampener on this [...]

While I totally agree, I'd also think that without these modifications it would be yet another 60% keyboard. Perhaps something good could come out of this.

indicators for?

Num, Caps and Scroll lock.

i just looked through about a million fonts

I'll let you decide.

what are split support

Split 2u (or lager keys) into two or more smaller ones. Like so.

[jimirolln]

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[TalkingTree]

Should give you the idea.

[jimirolln]

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[TalkingTree]

what is the micro controller?

Atmel ATmega32u4. The only one I'm proficient with, firmware wise.

Is your factory offering assembly services for you?

[jimirolln]

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[TalkingTree]

need to design the hole layout and size per hole

Stick to the ISO metric standard, usually pok3r PCBs use M2 holes with a 7mm pad. I can place as many as you want.

the bottom row is off

You're most likely correct, I'm double checking right now.

enter the dimensions of the pcb and they will give us a quote

Right now the board is 271.22 mm by 93.22 mm, there are 78 SMT components and one through hole.


As for the font, I believe the Monofett won't do. Consider that silkscreens are generally very low resolution, that font's characters are too thin be actually visible. You might wanna choose a new one.

[TalkingTree]

The board is done, I've (hopefully) fixed the 3u keys placement and you should only decide on the font.
The source is here.

[suicidal_orange]

I don't want to put a dampener on this [...]

While I totally agree, I'd also think that without these modifications it would be yet another 60% keyboard. Perhaps something good could come out of this.

I agree - no point makkng yet another 60%.  This layout makes more sense than a standard board and personaly I like the caps but I still doubt it will sell with so many quirks (not least the lack of a 'traditionally' placed FN).  If >100 people buy the board the first caps will have a reasonable price based on MOQ.  How many of those people will want to buy a second keyset when the first will literally be useless as it doesn't fit any other board?  Optimistically I'll say 80, so less than 100 and a higher price.  The third set?  You'd be lucky to sell 50 and no-one would pay the price asked...

suicide made a good point about the stabs tho...i will look into 3d printed solutions as well as conventional manufacturing methods, maybe a new stand alone spring and stem combo stab is in order...the stabs of tomorrow will be invented today, or tomorrow.

You don't need new stabs as the ends are the same regardless of size, you just need a longer wire as they are further apart.  Alternately is the spacing such that two switches could be used?  That would make a very stable key...

[TalkingTree]

Alternately is the spacing such that two switches could be used?  That would make a very stable key...

Using two switches would make the key very stiff, besides, there won't be any leveling mechanism.

[suicidal_orange]

Alternately is the spacing such that two switches could be used?  That would make a very stable key...

Using two switches would make the key very stiff, besides, there won't be any leveling mechanism.

Spacebars are traditionally heavy, three brown/red springs is probably still lighter than a linear grey...

I was actually thinking one real switch and two without springs in place of the stabs - a stem is surely lighter than a stab insert plus the weight of the wire, so in my head it should work.

Edit: Tried it with a 7u space bar and some green switches -  the weight is fine but I see what you mean about the lack of levelling )  Not sure how bad it would be at 3u but maybe not such a great idea...

[jimirolln]

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[jimirolln]

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[suicidal_orange]

OK I'll play along though I have to say I will not be buying one of these as there's no ISO enter - having tried a HHKB I could not stop hitting backspace (the ANSI \ | key) for enter as well as backspace.  Sad but true.

Holes - not sure you need that many as when you hit keys you press down, you'd need to remove your caps too hard to need lots of screws and that's not possible as they don't put up much of a fight.

I've attached an overlay of the back and front of the board with your proposed holes - they will need to be bigger and while most work, some hit traces.  Only the one near the USB socket looks like it has to move more than a little bit so I'm sure TalkingTree will sort them out...



I know you said to forget the keycaps but you still ask about ABS vs PBT so I'll say it again - ABS isn't an option as only PBT can be dye sub'd.  ABS would have to be doubleshot and that means 30+ custom moulds which will cost way too much.  I think it's the font that will put people off, if you're going to have a casual font there should be bright colour(s) so the original was better - dull casual keys still wouldn't look right in an office and are less fun at home so you've lost practically everyone with the new version...

As the board has a standard controller and the pinout will not be a secret people can map the keys to whatever they like, so while a default layout is nice it's not really that important yet, you can work on it on your prototype while waiting for orders or while suppliers do their thing later on.

[TalkingTree]

pcba quantity: ?

That's up to you. In the prototype stage I'd say even one or two will do.

number of pads: ?

124 if I've done the math correctly.

number of layers: ?

Two.

number of unique parts: ?

79 including diodes (62), USB (1), resistors (3), capacitors (10), one crystal and one microcontroller.

thickness: ?

1.6 mm

number of thru holes: 1   ( i am confused by this...are these the case mount holes?...please explain )

Number of electrical component to be mounted through hole rather than SMT. It's actually the USB because it has through hole mounting supports.

there's no ISO enter

There is not indeed and there's no room to add one.

I went ahead and put 5 mounting holes on my own. I guess these would be enough for a 60%ish board.

[jimirolln]

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[jdcarpe]

The GH60 is open source hardware. You could always add the split spacebar option and call it the GH60-SS or something. You are free to modify the design as long as you release your new one, which you planned to do anyway. Mounting holes, multiple layout options, all taken care of already. Why reinvent the wheel?

Just add some backlighting and RGB underglow options, and you have yourself a winner!

[jimirolln]

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[jdcarpe]

Oh, the GH60 needs to be updated, for sure. It could definitely use some split spacebar love. That just wasn’t on our radar when we designed it.

[jimirolln]

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[Pwner]

Oh, the GH60 needs to be updated, for sure. It could definitely use some split spacebar love. That just wasn’t on our radar when we designed it.

if you do show it some love take the chance to shave .25 of the current space bar when you split it...so in production you can use the same 3u bar for both sides

will someone explain how these quote comments are supposed to work...i know i am not doing it right

When replying to a quote, make sure your reply starts after the last [ /quote]

[suicidal_orange]

Sorry, fixed the quote without thinking!  You can edit the post to see how it should look now

[jimirolln]

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[suicidal_orange]

Looking at the PCB specs (I've never had one produced but understand them) I don't think through holes should be 1, assuming they mean plated through holes.  I thought all switch holes were plated but one leg of each definitely has to be as half the matrix is on the front of the board where you can't solder...

Pad count - there are 5 holes on the USB traces and 4 grounds on the USB which are the same as switch pins so need to be included in the count, not sure about the screw holes and pads for the controller, diodes and crystal but I would guess they do too.

Unique parts would be 6 (USB socket, crystal, diode, controller, resistor (assuming all three are the same value) and capacitor) unless the 79th one makes an appearance and isn't a duplicate.

Finally on indicators - why not?  You don't have to use them but potential buyers may be put off if there are none.  JD's point about starting with the GH60 is a good one, shrinking the outer columns and changing the bottom row (controller probably has to move, split space bar) will give you lots of indicators.  Could remove the expansion header at the top to save a couple of pennies as it's yet to be used...

[jimirolln]

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[jdcarpe]

The GH60 is open source hardware. You could always add the split spacebar option and call it the GH60-SS or something. You are free to modify the design as long as you release your new one, which you planned to do anyway. Mounting holes, multiple layout options, all taken care of already. Why reinvent the wheel?

Just add some backlighting and RGB underglow options, and you have yourself a winner!

negative on the light show ghost rider...where is the gh60 repository

Oops, sorry, forgot to link you the repository...

https://github.com/komar007/gh60

[jimirolln]

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[jimirolln]

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[jimirolln]

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[emenelopee]

What's going on in this bizarre-o thread? Are posts are being deleted? Karma fishing? Youtube playlists? Is this about custom keyboards, cystom keycaps, cases, or all combined? Colour me confused.

[tex_live_utility]

i am going to check that out...realizing gh must stand for geek hack

to answer...the length of a standard 60 is 285mm...the length of the hack is 271.22mm

you are right tho...the source files could be modified
but this particular wheel needs some reinvention regardless...gh60 and all the 60 boards
the split space works so well on the 40...and currently the 60 standard is getting no split space love...its a shame, i know

That's not necessarily true. The new DO60 ships with 2x3u by default.

That said, the more the merrier, especially in this layout (which is really nice IMO). If it's affordable, I support it.

[meanagray]

A layout I had created just for myself. Anyone can take their cues or ideas off it.




http://bit.ly/2EqvHip

[jimirolln]

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[jimirolln]

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[jimirolln]

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[jimirolln]

What's going on in this bizarre-o thread?

this was not a peripheral project

[jimirolln]

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