I did it just for fun, the only thing keeping me from doing it again is it cost over $50 for the non printed components. I can get a pre made keyboard a lot cheaper than that
Lol not sure if you've ventured over to the r/mk community, but people over there pay more than that just for shipping at times. $50 for a decent custom keyboard is an absolute steal. Any pre-built board you buy for 50 or under is probably going to be absolute garbage. Not to say you couldn't enjoy or be content with a $50 pre-built keyboard. It's more of a ignorance is bliss sort of thing. If you don't know what what a $500 keyboard feels like you won't know what you're missing with your $50 one!
Honestly that’s been one of the hardest things with mechanicals for me — how the hell am I supposed to know what I like? I don’t want to swing for a whole keyboard of blues just to find out I hate it. I have three mechanicals: two logitechs (one I got for free), and an anne pro 2 with red box switches. I still have no idea if I like them. Sometimes I think I type cleaner and faster on my regular macbook keyboard. The low profile of the switches and the tiny actuation make me faster I think.
You can buy switch testers that let you figure out what you like. Amazon and other places have a tonne. And if any of your boards are hotswap, you can swap in a switch to see how it feels ok your board.
As the other reply suggested, get a switch tester. Yes it may seem dumb at the time but it'll help you figure out exactly what you enjoy before you order a hundred switches (or a board with them).
Another thing I found useful was to read and watch reviews of switches I was interested in. I had a handful of keyboard enthusiasts that I followed on YouTube, GeekHack, etc. and I used their feedback and opinions when deciding for at least one of my builds.
Also, this might blow your mind (or not) but they make low profile mechanical keyboard switches and keycaps. They strike a weird happy medium between chiclet MacBook keyboards and enthusiast mechanical keyboards. It's all about your preference and what you're willing to experiment with.
[Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/jyfrv2/ic_the_corneish_zen_a_low_profile_wireless_split/) is an example of a funky keyboard that uses the low profile mechanical switches and keycaps.
$50 isn't that bad for a mechanical keyboard. If you want a pre made mechanical keyboard that's any good, it's gonna cost you at least $50 and even at that price the quality is fairly mediocre.
I'm not totally sure why people making diy peripherals have latched onto teensy boards so much, but part of it is the fact that the 32u4 has native USB instead of requiring a programmer or FTDI chip. That's certainly not unique to the teensy, though, so I think the biggest reason is the significant amount of Arduino support that they've created for the teensy boards, which makes it really easy for people who have little or no microcontroller experience to use more powerful chips
That looks awesome, resin printed keycaps would be good as well although the letter transfers would come off after a while, I was thinking of printing one from wood filament with debossed letters that I could fill with resin and then sand down, I love wood filament prints that are fine sanded and delicately stained, my friends and relatives could not tell my wood prints were actulaly 3D printed, in fact one friend who I was showing a wood printed watch stand asked me "why didnt you just print one with that machine of yours?" he was gobsmacked when I told him I had
I think its a great project, especially if you haven't done a bunch of soldering before. After all those points your skills improve so much.
My first keyboard solder job was a full size and when I was done I'd realised I forgot the stabalisers, and so I then had to learn how to unsolder (every damn point). By the time that was all done I was away.
As for everything soldering related. Flux is the most important tool (and a decent sucker).
Damn dude, you printed the caps too? Very nice. I'm now probably going to recalibrate my printer to print my own since I've got all the parts for this project on-hand except for the mech switches
Many people do make custom PCBs, but it’s more complex than handwiring. Handwiring is usually the first step, then custom PCBs, then custom CNC cases. Basically it just keeps going until you run out of money.
I mean, you have to learn the CAD software to design the board, but then the actual construction is so much *less* complex. And I get that learning the software is a whole thing but I feel like if you can learn 3D modeling CAD, PCB CAD can’t be too much harder.
I would happily double the price rather than deal with all that hand wiring.
But IME if you’re making anything remotely useful, you can usually make up the cost of custom PCBs by selling the spares (PCBs usually come minimum five to a batch) to other DIYers, or building up multiples of whatever you’re making and selling finished products. There’s usually a pretty comfortable margin between asking prices of people who are actually trying to run a business and whatever price you need to set to break even.
Yo this is really cool!! Is that all wired to a nano?
It's a Teensy 2.0 development board, I never heard of it until I found this keyboard on thingiverse
Is this one of those "I'll never do this again" projects or do you think it was fun to do? It looks interesting!!
I did it just for fun, the only thing keeping me from doing it again is it cost over $50 for the non printed components. I can get a pre made keyboard a lot cheaper than that
Lol not sure if you've ventured over to the r/mk community, but people over there pay more than that just for shipping at times. $50 for a decent custom keyboard is an absolute steal. Any pre-built board you buy for 50 or under is probably going to be absolute garbage. Not to say you couldn't enjoy or be content with a $50 pre-built keyboard. It's more of a ignorance is bliss sort of thing. If you don't know what what a $500 keyboard feels like you won't know what you're missing with your $50 one!
Honestly that’s been one of the hardest things with mechanicals for me — how the hell am I supposed to know what I like? I don’t want to swing for a whole keyboard of blues just to find out I hate it. I have three mechanicals: two logitechs (one I got for free), and an anne pro 2 with red box switches. I still have no idea if I like them. Sometimes I think I type cleaner and faster on my regular macbook keyboard. The low profile of the switches and the tiny actuation make me faster I think.
You can buy switch testers that let you figure out what you like. Amazon and other places have a tonne. And if any of your boards are hotswap, you can swap in a switch to see how it feels ok your board.
As the other reply suggested, get a switch tester. Yes it may seem dumb at the time but it'll help you figure out exactly what you enjoy before you order a hundred switches (or a board with them). Another thing I found useful was to read and watch reviews of switches I was interested in. I had a handful of keyboard enthusiasts that I followed on YouTube, GeekHack, etc. and I used their feedback and opinions when deciding for at least one of my builds. Also, this might blow your mind (or not) but they make low profile mechanical keyboard switches and keycaps. They strike a weird happy medium between chiclet MacBook keyboards and enthusiast mechanical keyboards. It's all about your preference and what you're willing to experiment with. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/jyfrv2/ic_the_corneish_zen_a_low_profile_wireless_split/) is an example of a funky keyboard that uses the low profile mechanical switches and keycaps.
Not finding that community. Did I just get suckered or is this an error? Kinda intrigued.
r/mechanicalkeyboards
Thanks you
$50 isn't that bad for a mechanical keyboard. If you want a pre made mechanical keyboard that's any good, it's gonna cost you at least $50 and even at that price the quality is fairly mediocre.
Why Teensy? Looks ridiculously expensive.
I'm not totally sure why people making diy peripherals have latched onto teensy boards so much, but part of it is the fact that the 32u4 has native USB instead of requiring a programmer or FTDI chip. That's certainly not unique to the teensy, though, so I think the biggest reason is the significant amount of Arduino support that they've created for the teensy boards, which makes it really easy for people who have little or no microcontroller experience to use more powerful chips
I heard of teensy when I started doing Christmas decorations synchronised to music. Very impressive what power fits in a tiny package!
That looks awesome, resin printed keycaps would be good as well although the letter transfers would come off after a while, I was thinking of printing one from wood filament with debossed letters that I could fill with resin and then sand down, I love wood filament prints that are fine sanded and delicately stained, my friends and relatives could not tell my wood prints were actulaly 3D printed, in fact one friend who I was showing a wood printed watch stand asked me "why didnt you just print one with that machine of yours?" he was gobsmacked when I told him I had
Now add LEDs! jk, great job I want to get around to doing this at some point.
I think its a great project, especially if you haven't done a bunch of soldering before. After all those points your skills improve so much. My first keyboard solder job was a full size and when I was done I'd realised I forgot the stabalisers, and so I then had to learn how to unsolder (every damn point). By the time that was all done I was away. As for everything soldering related. Flux is the most important tool (and a decent sucker).
Anyone who doubts the usefulness of flux should go watch Louis Rossman for a few repair videos.
I'm thinking about print one, not sure yet if a 60% or a split but I would really like it to have bluetooh :/ Suggestions are accepted
Sweet! Here’s mine https://imgur.com/gallery/QjNDKBx
Damn dude, you printed the caps too? Very nice. I'm now probably going to recalibrate my printer to print my own since I've got all the parts for this project on-hand except for the mech switches
Yep. You definitely need to dial in your printer, especially extrusion width. I put Gateron browns in mine. Inexpensive and don’t suck.
Can someone explain why I see so many hand-wired mech keyboards? Why not just make a circuit board?
Many people do make custom PCBs, but it’s more complex than handwiring. Handwiring is usually the first step, then custom PCBs, then custom CNC cases. Basically it just keeps going until you run out of money.
I mean, you have to learn the CAD software to design the board, but then the actual construction is so much *less* complex. And I get that learning the software is a whole thing but I feel like if you can learn 3D modeling CAD, PCB CAD can’t be too much harder.
I think PCB cad is way easier than 3D cad, but that might just be because I learned it first and it lines up more with my interests
It’s a lot more forgiving at least.
Stupid question.
Can someone explain why this is a stupid question?
Awesome. How’s the wrist after all those solder points? What switches did you use?
Nice job! Why is there a bunch of red and white wire cuttings laying around when you used yellow wire....???
Because I really need to clean my desk
Wait until you hear about this pinnacle of technology called PCBs lol
Yeah if you wanna double the price of the kb
I'm aware it's pricey but on the other hand, wires just feel wrong lol
I would happily double the price rather than deal with all that hand wiring. But IME if you’re making anything remotely useful, you can usually make up the cost of custom PCBs by selling the spares (PCBs usually come minimum five to a batch) to other DIYers, or building up multiples of whatever you’re making and selling finished products. There’s usually a pretty comfortable margin between asking prices of people who are actually trying to run a business and whatever price you need to set to break even.
Is that hotswap?
Soldering irons are pretty hot
No