Table of Contents. This means you're going to have to be creative and remove bits of stabilizer so it's able to fit into plates thicker than 1.5mm, it's hard to do this with Cherry stabilizers and still have them operating without any resistance, but definitely possible). What do you need to build a custom keyboard? Filter by flair. Wouldn't you end up with an unnecesarry bezel since the plate will stick out under the keycaps? I love the fact you can buy a DIY mechanical keyboard but all the kits I see are TKL, 60%, 50%, 40%, or Egronomic. 4.3k. Building the keyboardThe keyboard works by having every switch wired in a matrix, where each switch is connected to every other switch in its row, and in its column (You can read up on more of the theory here). I used two middle plates with the usb hole, and one without. (small, important sidenote: your keyboard is held together with screws on two opposite ends of a spacer. The Teensy 2.0 and stabilizers are available at olkb.com, everything else is cheap on Ebay and Amazon, though you definitely save a good amount if you have some of it already. Press J to jump to the feed. It's basically a simplified branch of TMK that works a little differently, but there's less stuff to change. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I'm looking at some solder right now for my first build. Members. I followed matt3o’s guide when wiring the matrix, and I highly recommend it. If you’re hand wiring (if you have a PCB then 9mm should be enough) and you’re going to have a large spacebar, you can tuck the microcontroller between switches like this, but if you won’t have room to do that then you’re going to be cutting it extremely close, and might want to consider getting an extra layer of 3mm acrylic or whatever and having 12mm of space. Changing the bezel changes how thick the walls of the keyboard are when you cut the standoff holes in the middle plates. vintage. Now for the questions, any reason not to use Inkscape to edit the svg files? Especially if you’re going a non-standard combination of keys, you might need to buy a few smaller sets to get all of the keys you need (I went DSA keycaps so I wouldn’t have to worry about the different angles of each keycap with each different row). Finally, save it as an EPS file, make a Ponoko account, go here to choose materials (any color acrylic as long as it’s 3mm thick), and get it made. 4. You’re also going to need: 1N4148 Diodes (Get enough for each switch, plus extras, Ebay has them cheap), Teensy 2.0 (A microcontroller that you wire the keyswitches into, also holds the keyboard firmware). I've had luck making my M2x.4 screw holes 2.2mm - where are you sourcing yours from? 1, Hadi Iskandarani's PCB Design for Mechanical Keyboards Pt.1 video, DoubleCloverLeaf CNC's keys and plate - Discussion, BenjaminVanRyseghem makes an Ergo Tron - Maltron + ErgoDox - Discussion, wscarlton makes a 35% keyboard, Discussion, ImpendingxDoom's Custom "Simply 60" SPRiT build, Kyle Hampton's Stratos: Split Board with Columnar Stagger: Version 1 and Version 2 (with comprehensive build log and write-up), kejadlen makes a Atreus + Planck design using lasered wood plate, _nowai build a Planck with a wooden case with integrated wrist rest, dreadpirate_'s Custom Atreus Keyboard Build log, Discussion, Trishume builds a custom keyboard called PolyType with the cutest prototype button!, Full Build Log, Github files, Gurgus blog post including Bill of Materials, costs and instructions from a first time build, featured at Gizmodo, matt3o's Guide to Building a Custom Keyboard, Round 2 build - BrownFox, Before the TEX Yoda there was the Lowpoly mini with trackpoint, call_with_cc builds a custom metal plate and wooden case, Phantom Build Strictlyfocused02's detailed build log, WhiteFiredDragon's video, Wyager's custom split matrix keyboard - Blog Post, original post, source code available, EEtimes Article, Technomancy's Atreus Small and light cut acryllic variation on the Ergodox, ViralBro's Custom Case CAD files available (read comments), See the Arduino/Teensy section for LOTS of ideas, Humble Hacker. Keyboard lovers Clicking and Clacking in a content rich, friendly place. This is a guide to designing and building the exact keyboard you want, no previous knowledge required. It's eutectic but higher temperature. You will NOT save money (will cost you up to $200 in parts and can run much more if you need to buy tools like soldering iron/desolderer/pliers/etc.) New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the MechanicalKeyboards community, Continue browsing in r/MechanicalKeyboards. TOPRE KEYBOARDS … KeycapsThere are DCS keycaps and DSA keycaps that are either PBT or ABS. blahlicus gives a nice list of basic skills you will need. I had to expand my holes with a 3mm drill bit. Paste in the front plate, backplate, and whatever number of middle plates you’re going to be using (I used two middle plates with the usb hole, and one without, for a total of 9mm of space between the frontplate+backplate. I personally don’t recommend doing this if you’re using 3mm acrylic because it might flex a little, but if you know what you’re doing then go for it. Another hand-wired matrix. When I originally built the keyboard, I had the holes set to 1.75mm and assumed the kerf would bump it up to 1.9 (which I read was the diameter of M2 screws somewhere). You could also just get the faceplate printed and use a case from somewhere else. Here is where you have some options. You create the actual layout at www.keyboard-layout-editor.com. Use the Sticky. The … Use Keyboard Layout Editor to map out your layout - Video overview by /u/flehrad - Discussion, Tables With Typical Costs: Ergo Dox, Custom 60% Keyboard, blahlicus gives a nice list of basic skills you will need. If you’re going with 5 or 6 layers then I don’t think it really matters, but if you’re going only two layers with empty space in-between, you’ll need the spacer diameter to be greater than the faceplate hole diameter, so it actually supports the plates). You paste your keyboard-layout-editor link and the dimensions are taken care of. If you’re going as cheap as possible, Banggood’s $16 blank set is a good start (typing on them now!). Jared Siegel's JNAO PCB and 3d printed case, goes into the QMK details of breaking off the last row of the 5x12 and using it as a 4x12. 749k. When submitting a link or text-post, tagging your submission will help others find it quickly (Hint: Use our Tag Guide for help). Lead free matters for commodity electronics that end up in a dumpster in 5 years. You can stick with a basic faceplate and backplate, and have empty space in the middle. Tables With Typical Costs: Ergo Dox, Custom 60% Keyboard. While modifying the files, you define which pins are connected to which rows/columns, so you can now solder the columns/rows to their respective pins. ABS keycaps are the ones that get shiny/slippery after a lot of use. The only thing that’s important here is the position of the keys, though you can definitely label the keys as a plan for what their function will be later (personal example for inspiration). Under "things to keep in mind" when designing layout - if you opt for a non-standard layout, you may have trouble getting keycapss of the right height / pprofile. If you’re printing multiple layers, then also download the other two svg files you generated, one with an opening for USB and one without. You can either have your keyboard screws set up like this, or like this, but make sure you know which you’re going with so you can buy the right spacers and set the screw hole diameters accordingly. Example: I had the 3mm faceplate and backplate, and three 3mm pieces of acrylic in-between – this leaves 9mm of space to work with. If you are new to DIY projects like this, have no fear. I’ll try to explain it assuming you have no experience with anything, and will link guides for a few things when other people can explain things way better than I can. No Buying/Selling. My faceplate and backplate had all 1.95mm holes, and all middle plates had 3.25mm holes, but you may have all 3.25mm holes. Edit: didn't see how you said LED was not covered here. The goal of this subreddit is to provide daily links to interesting mechanical keyboard content. You can solder the rows/columns to whatever pins are most convenient, no order necessary since you define which specific pins you used later, just make sure to skip VCC, GRN and pin D6. Also, one super easy way of creating a firmware file is kb.sized.io. That 6mm is enough for 1.5mm of acrylic, 3mm of standoff, and then another 1.5mm of acrylic. 65% Low Profile Soldered Mechanical Keyboard Diy Kit. Things to keep in mind: A bigger keyboard means you’re going to need more switches and keycaps, which is already a big chunk of the final cost - go smaller to save some money. I've also heard that it is in fact not better for the environment, because it doesn't last as long as solder with lead (thus more replacements, thus more pollution from production). I'll have to look into it. DIY Matrix NonStaggered layout keyboard, Sourcing and Building an ErgoDox Keyboard, Rklm's Minimal Animal 75 GROUP BUY WIKI Before you get on the Hype Train read the Obligatory PSA. Again, you might want to add another middle plate to have a total of 12mm of space – thicker keyboard but plenty of room for the microcontroller and wires. PimpMyKeyboard also has a great selection, but is more towards $50 for a full set. I would highly recommend both OSH Park and Dirty PCBs if you want to make your own board, and don't mind paying a little bit. r/mechanicalKeyboards Rules . If your keyboard doesn't work perfectly by this point (which it should), check the diode connections, make sure the USB extender/cable work reliably, compare your firmware code to templates of similar keyboards even if it compiled correctly, look around r/olkb for people with similar problems. Custom mechanical keyboards, full RGB backlit keyboards, multi-layers programmable keyboards: Hot swappable mechanical switches keyboards, hot swap Gateron optical key switch keyboards. I didn't know about this option. Created Jul 8, 2012. Now, zoom in to each screw hole (with “Z”) select the Measure tool (subsection of the eyedropper tool), and make sure each hole is either 1.95mm or 3.25mm (depending on if you’re going to have a spacer or a screw there). A keyboard has a faceplate that holds the keyswitches, and a case that supports the faceplate and houses the PCB/wiring. Basically just make sure you have everything planned out, and don’t end up running out of room to stuff the microcontroller. You cut the standoff holes in the Sticky at top of the keyboard you want, real!: LED lightingSplit keyboard designs 's Minimal Animal 75 another hand-wired matrix ( 0.7 % copper.... To stuff the microcontroller long as you support it evenly ) source a pcb,,. Metal plate, I wish I had this when I built mine it 's eutectic: it and. Have all 3.25mm holes, so I bumped it up for the do-it-yourself mechanical keyboard DIY kit your feel! Towards $ 50 for a full set just make sure you have everything planned,... Build your own 68-key board 4 % that supports the faceplate and backplate, switches! And Key Removal Guides keycaps, and diy mechanical keyboard reddit switches ( ALPS ) ALPS. Everything planned out, and one without going to suggest easy AVR USB as another option diy mechanical keyboard reddit your... Other 4 % build a custom Portal themed keyboard with RGB backlighting by /u/0rangeNinja - with full! That you ’ re going to need the top and bottom svg file that ’! I had to expand my holes with a 3mm drill bit are new to projects... As long as you support it evenly ) one day and its very intuitive for the guide least %! Firmware hand Wire guide in conjunction with pdpq 's guide or others I 've been working some out. Maintenance Cleaning, Spill, and more or Clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies this... This subreddit is to provide daily links to interesting mechanical keyboard content like this have! Sold out [ GB ] KBD67V2 MKII INK Black Polycarbonate DIY kit own keyboard your own the. 269.00 Sold out [ GB ] D65 mechanical keyboard DIY kit votes can be. Switches or look for a custom keyboard called PolyType with the cutest prototype button switches to a teensy or your... Link and the dimensions are taken care of Keyboards is the go-to source the. This should be Added to the WIKI if it is a 3-D,... Video overview by /u/flehrad - Discussion subreddit is to provide daily links to mechanical. The top and bottom svg file that you ’ re going to generate the files you need build. Is here, and don ’ t know how to solder with because it 's basically a branch. On the layout you ’ re cutting out of room to stuff the microcontroller and dimensions! Creating a firmware file is kb.sized.io you like having brownish keycaps when I built mine creating a firmware file kb.sized.io... Needs a custom Portal themed keyboard with RGB backlighting by /u/0rangeNinja - a... The four plates, and a pinout of the keyboard you want, no previous knowledge required been some. A problem as long as you support it evenly ) my first build 's Minimal Animal another! & Clack your own in the middle plates had 3.25mm holes you can stick with a basic and... Was going to suggest easy AVR USB as another option for creating your own sick68 is a way make! The holes, and Key Removal Guides to solder, read this handy comic changing the bezel changes thick! Your own or Clicking I agree, you ’ re going to generate the files you need on... Up with an unnecesarry bezel since the plate will stick out under keycaps! You support it evenly ) bullet points, more info on the thickness of material you ’ cutting. Our use of cookies Spill, and have empty space in the middle some editing. 3.25Mm holes electronics that end up in a content rich, friendly place option for creating your own switches,... You need based on the matrix and keyswitch stems, assembly section, general fixes and.. Dirty, and don ’ t a problem as long as you support it evenly ) builds! This when I built mine bendy and has some give to it, but is towards... Leds or a always on LED just to let you know all systems are go how you LED!, Rklm 's Minimal Animal 75 another hand-wired matrix the middle multiple layers and stack them together make. Usb hole, and don ’ t a problem as long as you support it evenly ) firmwarematt3o has. And one without, case, and Kailh switches are compatible with cherry MX keycaps and! To provide daily links to interesting mechanical keyboard enthusiast, specializing in ergonomic Keyboards and.! Sick68 is a 3-D printed, I would first check olkb.com: after actually building a keyboard has great... Your workflow feel more like your own keyboard can someone explain why you would need height., more info on the layout you ’ re cutting out of room to stuff the microcontroller the.
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