Chinese USB Hall Effect Keyboard - Review and Impressions

Techno Trousers · 04 Nov 2016, 20:48

What a genius idea. You need to trademark "FleXMIT," I'm not even kidding.

Techno Trousers · 04 Nov 2016, 20:52

XMIT wrote:Ideally, if I had the time, I'd do something similar for Model F projects as well, but I don't see myself having hours to devote to PCB layout any time soon.

Once lot_lizard perfects the flat model MF plate, we're going to be counting on you to come up with a "FFleXMIT" PCB! I estimate you have until sometime around April of next year.

XMIT · 04 Nov 2016, 21:19

Techno Trousers wrote: ↑
XMIT wrote:Ideally, if I had the time, I'd do something similar for Model F projects as well, but I don't see myself having hours to devote to PCB layout any time soon.
Once lot_lizard perfects the flat model MF plate, we're going to be counting on you to come up with a "FFleXMIT" PCB! I estimate you have until sometime around April of next year.

If idollar ever resurfaces - or if lot_lizard has the original CAD files - adding a few extra pads to the FEXT shouldn't be that hard.

Chyros · 05 Nov 2016, 00:02

That would be amazing. I think that if that's doable that would make an outstanding platform to build on.

Phenix · 05 Nov 2016, 00:26

nice!
Is it (technical-wise) possible to cut off arrow cluster, and solder that part to the left? (so arrows lefthanded)??

andrewjoy · 05 Nov 2016, 00:43

XMIT wrote: ↑
keyboard-layout.jpg

Any chance we can get split backspace and split num pad + on that ? You know me and unix layout.

ulises3.14 · 05 Nov 2016, 01:23

I'm a sucker for oddball mechanisms, and thought the board itself is totally hideous (mainly because of the caps font) I would absolutely buy one of these. So let me know if there is a change.

XMIT · 05 Nov 2016, 02:00

Phenix wrote: ↑nice!
Is it (technical-wise) possible to cut off arrow cluster, and solder that part to the left? (so arrows lefthanded)??

Not easily, but, you could always use some of the programmable function keys to the left as arrows. Not an inverted-T cluster, but it could still work nicely.

XMIT · 05 Nov 2016, 02:01

andrewjoy wrote: ↑
XMIT wrote: ↑
keyboard-layout.jpg

Any chance we can get split backspace and split num pad + on that ? You know me and unix layout.

Not easily. That would require a separate PCB. The per switch circuitry - Hall sensor, LED, capacitors, voltage regulator - take a fair amount of surface area. It's not like Cherry MX or Alps PCBs where you just have a bunch of different holes. That's the design tradeoff: the PCB is more complicated.

geostation · 05 Nov 2016, 14:32

that's genius. i really hope the group buy goes well. flexmit needs a kickstarter

citrojohn · 05 Nov 2016, 16:47

Ooh, a modern battleship that's not scarce Unicomp or a hideous lamp-with-caps? Sign me up...

(PS: So this thread doesn't get off-topic again, just take it as read that all my posts of this kind end with "But not from Massdrop, please

".

)

citrojohn · 05 Nov 2016, 18:00

Hypothetical question: supposing someone wanted to have one keycap covering more than one sensor (eg a long space bar covering some of the bottom row keys), how easy would it be to "blank off" a sensor? Would it be as simple as removing the magnet and slider from the sensor that's not wanted, or would it be necessary to disable the sensor?

XMIT · 05 Nov 2016, 18:53

citrojohn wrote: ↑Hypothetical question: supposing someone wanted to have one keycap covering more than one sensor (eg a long space bar covering some of the bottom row keys), how easy would it be to "blank off" a sensor? Would it be as simple as removing the magnet and slider from the sensor that's not wanted, or would it be necessary to disable the sensor?

Yep. No magnet, no sense. This is very simple. You would of course still need a longer stabilizer, somehow.

citrojohn · 05 Nov 2016, 19:50

XMIT wrote: ↑
citrojohn wrote: ↑Hypothetical question: supposing someone wanted to have one keycap covering more than one sensor (eg a long space bar covering some of the bottom row keys), how easy would it be to "blank off" a sensor? Would it be as simple as removing the magnet and slider from the sensor that's not wanted, or would it be necessary to disable the sensor?
Yep. No magnet, no sense. This is very simple. You would of course still need a longer stabilizer, somehow.

Of course. It'd probably be most useful for designing one PCB to meet several different needs - maybe a Hyper7-like PCB could be made to support a standard space bar too, for instance, by including a redundant sensor. Depends how much space the sensors and their associated parts take up!

parablol · 07 Nov 2016, 17:51

zslane wrote: ↑That looks lovely.

Would be a fun board to cover with a G20 Semiotic keyset!

XMIT · 07 Nov 2016, 21:27

Every key set that I've tried putting on these boards so far works without any issues.

The first one I've hit that has a problem: the Magicforce Retro 108-key typewriter key cap set. The underside of the key cap is a square, instead of a circular mount like all other Cherry MX key caps I've seen. So, these won't work.

Maybe with some dremel-ing or retooling they could be made to work. They won't work as is.

Techno Trousers · 08 Nov 2016, 01:41

I don't know if it's helpful at all to you, XMIT, but surprisingly my wife nixed the idea of linear switches in a keyboard for her. So you have a potential sale of one full size and one TKL with sweet ergo clear-feeling Hall Effect switches in the future.

XMIT · 10 Nov 2016, 15:22

Twitter account created: https://twitter.com/XMITKeyboards

Not sure who uses that here, but, it's a way for folks to get support when the keyboards start shipping.

XMIT · 10 Nov 2016, 16:44

Hypersphere wrote: ↑@XMIT: How is the production schedule shaping up? Will we be able to "deck the halls" with your Hall-effect keyboards?

A Christmas shipping date has been my goal all along. If the drop goes live on Monday, is up for a week, production takes 4 weeks and shipping to the warehouse takes one week... we'll just Christmas by a couple of days. So it is extremely tight. We were on schedule but between needing to do another round of prototypes, the prototypes themselves being a week late, and some delays over at Massdrop (they just moved offices, give them a break!) things are behind.

So now I'm aiming for 12 days after Christmas, which, for some (including many of my relatives) is the correct day to exchange gifts regardless.

Memoren · 10 Nov 2016, 23:34

Will you post a video of a typing test on one of the prototypes before the drop ends?

XMIT · 10 Nov 2016, 23:41

Memoren wrote: ↑Will you post a video of a typing test on one of the prototypes before the drop ends?

Sure. For this I'd like to wait until I get the prototypes back. I only have one built board with upstroke damped switches at the moment and it's not true to any of the prototypes. There is a video on the first post in this thread but it is on a somewhat earlier prototype.

zslane · 10 Nov 2016, 23:42

For me, these switches are competing with MX pinks for potential end-game status (among linear switches, that is). The main point of comparison will be how quiet they are compared to each other. I know that XMIT said the latest HE prototypes were much better in this regard than the earlier ones, but I'm hearing very good things about both the down- and up-stroke damping on the MX pinks.

infodroid · 11 Nov 2016, 15:11

This is now on sale at Massdrop:

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/xmit-hall- ... guest_open

Wodan · 11 Nov 2016, 15:24

EPIC! 12$ shipping to Germany - I am AMAZED!

Ordered both Acrily variants

Dra · 11 Nov 2016, 15:32

Very nice, a shame that the 60% isn't offered with 70g springs, personally i'd love to see 100g or above at some point.

Wodan · 11 Nov 2016, 15:38

I can point you to the company where I get my Nerf Blaster modding springs. 7-8kg is a sweet spot there

Memoren · 11 Nov 2016, 16:42

it says estimated ship date if Feb 10 :0

XMIT · 11 Nov 2016, 16:45

Memoren wrote: ↑it says estimated ship date if Feb 10 :0

Yes it does. "Under-promise, over-deliver".

I'm hoping that things ship well earlier than that, but at this point, we are at the mercy of what the Christmas season does to the global shipping chain, and to Customs.

lot_lizard · 11 Nov 2016, 16:46

XMIT... Congratulations on getting everything up and running. Seeing the MassDrop email prompted me to come back and check the status, and it looks like you have been busy.

Do you mind doing a quick recap of the changes that the MassDrop version will have over the original prototype? If you have already earlier, I apologize. Maybe just the link to that post if that is the case?

XMIT · 11 Nov 2016, 16:57

lot_lizard wrote: ↑Do you mind doing a quick recap of the changes that the MassDrop version will have over the original prototype?

There have been a few prototypes. Things changed since the ones that you and about a dozen other people got in September:

Upstroke dampened sliders using a modified mold.
Updated ping-resistant 50g springs.
Updated translucent slider housings for more even backlighting.
Cherry style stabilizers standard across all models.
Updated tool path for better Cherry stabilizer compatibility across all models.
Discontinuation of ABS keyboard case.
Mini USB connectors for detachable cables.
XMIT Keyboards branding front and rear.
Low odor treatment for bamboo boards (no more Tung Oil).
New microcontroller (and correspondingly, new PCB) for future customization options.
Vastly improved key map on 60% boards.
Updated packaging: more substantial box with magnetic closures and XMIT Keyboards branding.
Printed manual.

I think that covers it.