I'm trying to build a custom keyboard, and at this point I've got a layout I like and a DWG for the plate. I'm using costar (or costar-style) stabilizers, since I have some and I have no idea how to obtain cherry stabilizers.
People who have done this before: any advice on the layout of the holes? I've attached the DWG I have so far, but the information I have on how things must be aligned is based on lots of random information from various sources on the web. If someone were willing to take a quick look and see if something is obviously not going to work, I'd be very appreciative
For those who are curious about the layout, this is what it looks like:
I used a ruler to align the keycaps on my desk, so I could get a feel for how comfortable it would be.
Plate layout advice
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: CM QF Stealth
- Main mouse: Apple trackpad
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
- Attachments
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- plate1_subst_551.dwg.zip
- (14.88 KiB) Downloaded 93 times
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- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
I would recommend that you test your layout on graph paper, or in http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/
There you can check the dimensions more precisely.
There you can check the dimensions more precisely.
- matt3o
- -[°_°]-
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: WhiteFox
- Main mouse: Anywhere MX
- Favorite switch: Anything, really
- DT Pro Member: 0030
- Contact:
looks good to me, but I use metric system with slightly different measurements.
- scottc
- ☃
- Location: Remote locations in Europe
- Main keyboard: GH60-HASRO 62g Nixies, HHKB Pro1 HS, Novatouch
- Main mouse: Steelseries Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black
- DT Pro Member: -
Agreed. I've been printing my plate on paper and checking if everything lines up and it helps a lot.Findecanor wrote:I would recommend that you test your layout on graph paper, or in http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/
There you can check the dimensions more precisely.
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: CM QF Stealth
- Main mouse: Apple trackpad
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
Thanks for the recommendations. Now I'm even thinking about doing a prototype in cardboard or something once I get the switches. Then I can even get an idea if the stabilizers are positioned correctly.
- scottc
- ☃
- Location: Remote locations in Europe
- Main keyboard: GH60-HASRO 62g Nixies, HHKB Pro1 HS, Novatouch
- Main mouse: Steelseries Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black
- DT Pro Member: -
I did that with cardboard and it was very useful. Don't be too picky about things being slightly off in the cardboard model because it's near impossible (from my experience) to actually get something to print in exact measurements from a DWG. Good luck anyway!
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: CM QF Stealth
- Main mouse: Apple trackpad
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
The layout editor is pretty cool! I was actually planning to write such a tool if it did not already exist.
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/# ... e4c8d8a168
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/# ... e4c8d8a168