kb45p - 45% prototype board (ALPS supported)

flabbergast · 11 Feb 2016, 12:11

About kb45p: a 45% PCB, usable either with Cherry MX or ALPS switches. Runs TMK.

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Update 2016-03-07: I have 4 PCBs left to sell, $22+shipping each. No plates left, so usable only with PCB-mount Cherry MX switches. PM me if interested.

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Update 2016-03-05: Finished keyboard here!

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Original post:

It seems that everyone and their sister are making/designing PCBs these days, so here's my attempt: kb45p, a 45% keyboard, with HHKB-like missing corner keys.

Since I tried Matias and vintage ALPS switches I no longer feel happy with Cherry MX ones. Hence ALPS!

(The photo is of course with MX.) More photos (other layout, PCB).

About the layout: it's inspired by golbat 40% and ne0phyte's thkb. The issue I had with thkb is that I hit the spacebar with my right thumb usually between B-N-M keys, for which the thkb is ill-suited. The point of golbat-like layout is that it's possible to use a "standard" keycap set to cover it - although with wrong legends, a few wrong profiles and an extra 1.75u shift. Links to the two options: split spacebar layout normal spacebar layout.

I'm not good with materials, so I opted to go with a sandwich-like case (a-la Plancks), i.e. a top plate and a bottom plate, tied together with standoffs. This is OK for handwiring, but I also wanted a PCB (for added support, since I want an aluminium top plate).

The current version of the PCB supports both ALPS and Cherry MX-like switches (with PCB-mount Cherry stabs). (The main reason for including also Cherries is that I can test the PCB without having a plate ready, and I expect it to be easier to sell the extra PCBs.)

The main controller on the PCB is STM32F042K6T7 ARM Cortex-M0 chip, 32kB flash and 6kB SRAM. It runs my fork of hasu's TMK firmware (based on chibios). The USB socket is micro. There's no LED support (remember, alps!), except one SMT LED on the bottom side close to the front, which should be visible. The current batch of PCBs is from pcbway.

The plan is:

Get a batch of PCBs and test that they work (with Cherries) - done
Run a small IC whether people want the extra PCBs and plates - done (see the post below)
Order more parts and plates and test the plates with ALPS - done
Sell the extras to interested parties. now (updated 2016-03-05)

The plates I want to get are from 5083 aluminium, no finish; the top 1.2mm thick and the bottom 1.5mm thick. From yorkshireprofiles.

Ah, you can get the kicad sources for the PCB and dxfs for the plates here.

Any comments/suggestions are welcome! Especially if you have some experience with (alu) plates or things like that.

The thanks go to BlueNalgene (who got me started on the plates), hasu (for TMK and kicad sources for his Alps64 PCB) and Matt_ and matt3o for their posts about plate materials.

flabbergast · 11 Feb 2016, 12:13

Spoiler:

Muirium · 11 Feb 2016, 13:00

Oooh now this looks interesting!

Are you taking orders for Alps plates in general, like a certain 60% I should really finish, too? Because there's a few people around here looking for 60% Alps plates I think. The more the cheaper and merrier?

flabbergast · 11 Feb 2016, 14:50

Well I first want to run these smaller ones, so that I see how does the result look like, before I'd try to organise something bigger.

KRKS · 11 Feb 2016, 14:54

I would've been on it instantly(I mean, Alps and 13u wide which is IMO perfect for a compact board) but

1) no numrow
2) split is in a place uncomfortable for me(I'd prefer it under the middle of B or maybe even Y)
3) not too hot on cash at the moment

Don't worry about me though since I'm gonna probably build my own board anyway. Good luck with yours!

flabbergast · 11 Feb 2016, 15:24

KRKS wrote: 1) no numrow
2) split is in a place uncomfortable for me(I'd prefer it under the middle of B or maybe even Y)
3) not too hot on cash at the moment
Don't worry about me though since I'm gonna probably build my own board anyway. Good luck with yours!

Thanks!
Numrow - I'll have to see whether I can live without it, but I wanted something genuinely smaller (also it's cheaper to prototype)

Space split - yes that's a personal preference. I found that this works for me, and e.g. thkb's split doesn't (kept hitting the wrong key all the time). BTW you can also do 6.25u space with this PCB

Good luck with your project! (The sources to mine are linked above (kicad), and also a lot (all?) of hasu's work is on github as well; that's been a tremendous help for me.) Let me know if you'd need some help

stratokaster · 11 Feb 2016, 16:11

At first I was very excited, but quickly realised that this keyboard doesn't have enough keys to support Russian or Ukrainian...

It's a pity.

vivalarevolución · 12 Feb 2016, 12:46

edit: found your link.

Great work, by the way. Really gives us Alps lovers a wonderful ultracompact offering!

Matt_ · 12 Feb 2016, 17:44

flabbergast wrote: The main controller on the PCB is STM32F042K6T7 ARM Cortex-M0 chip, 32kB flash and 6kB SRAM. It runs my fork of hasu's TMK firmware (based on chibios).

This is super interesting. The controller is cheap, and it looks like almost no external circuitry is needed except for decoupling caps & the reset button, right?

This is not the kind of layout I'd want to use but if not all the boards are spoken for I'd gladly get one to play with it. Do you have the controller soldered by the fab house or do you do the assembly yourself?

stratokaster wrote: At first I was very excited, but quickly realised that this keyboard doesn't have enough keys to support Russian or Ukrainian...

It's a pity.

With this kind of layout (40%-ish) everyone uses layers ("raise/lower") to access many keys anyway. You should probably be able to work out a mapping that suits your needs.

flabbergast · 12 Feb 2016, 20:30

External circuitry - STM32s need a voltage regulator (it's there on the PCB, between the 1st and 2nd rows). But they don't need a crystal, so it's still less number of external parts than AVR8. They also have a DFU bootloader in ROM, so they don't need any external rig to flash the bootloader before first use.

The button is not actually reset - it's a 'BOOT0' button, meaning that if it's pressed during the power-up, the MCU goes into the bootloader (this is a MCU thing, so this is always possible even when the firmware is messed up). There's no reset button (but the reset line is brought out to one of the pads underneath the spacebar). I intend to have a thread running in the firmware that checks the button state and jumps to the bootloader when pressed (which effectively makes it behave the same way as common on the atmega32uX-based keyboards).

Soldering - I'm doing it myself, with a usual soldering iron (and a lot of liquid flux

This is the first prototype, I didn't want to go for something more expensive, because it may have turned out that I've made a mistake somewhere. All the things are hand-solderable (the smallest thing being the pads on the USB connector). The passive parts are 1206, the voltage reg is SOT-23A. {I can thus also send an unsoldered kit if wanted.}

vivalarevolución · 13 Feb 2016, 02:36

stratokaster wrote: At first I was very excited, but quickly realised that this keyboard doesn't have enough keys to support Russian or Ukrainian...

It's a pity.

Solution: simplify the cyrillic alphabet, starting now. There is no need for excess letters in the world! Embrace Newspeak!

Matt_ · 13 Feb 2016, 13:56

flabbergast wrote: External circuitry - STM32s need a voltage regulator (it's there on the PCB, between the 1st and 2nd rows). But they don't need a crystal, so it's still less number of external parts than AVR8. They also have a DFU bootloader in ROM, so they don't need any external rig to flash the bootloader before first use.

The button is not actually reset - it's a 'BOOT0' button, meaning that if it's pressed during the power-up, the MCU goes into the bootloader (this is a MCU thing, so this is always possible even when the firmware is messed up). There's no reset button (but the reset line is brought out to one of the pads underneath the spacebar). I intend to have a thread running in the firmware that checks the button state and jumps to the bootloader when pressed (which effectively makes it behave the same way as common on the atmega32uX-based keyboards).

Soldering - I'm doing it myself, with a usual soldering iron (and a lot of liquid flux This is the first prototype, I didn't want to go for something more expensive, because it may have turned out that I've made a mistake somewhere. All the things are hand-solderable (the smallest thing being the pads on the USB connector). The passive parts are 1206, the voltage reg is SOT-23A. {I can thus also send an unsoldered kit if wanted.}

Thanks for the explanations, looks like you found a nice builder-friendly chip.

I'd rather get a pre-soldered PCB (minus the diodes), my SMT soldering experience is limited to 0805/SOT-23 packages (wich are rather forgiving) and I'd rather not mess the controller up

flabbergast · 23 Feb 2016, 11:46

All right, so although only 4 people seem to be interested, I've ordered the parts for the PCBs. So I should have some PCB (soldered or kits) available next week.

I'll order the plates next, and report any progress.

The timing apparently sucks now with the JD45 buy going on - it has a very nice case and also ALPS and HHKB-cutouts support. I'm pretty sure the quality will be way above the hand-made stuff I do here

Muirium · 23 Feb 2016, 12:00

Don't be too rough on yourself, every Alps custom is beautiful! You just need to know what you're looking for.

scottc · 23 Feb 2016, 12:12

Sorry flabbergast, I'd be up for it but I've already got two 40% keyboards that I'll never use!

flabbergast · 23 Feb 2016, 12:18

No worries, this wasn't a cry for help (yet)

vivalarevolución · 23 Feb 2016, 12:51

flabbergast wrote: All right, so although only 4 people seem to be interested, I've ordered the parts for the PCBs. So I should have some PCB (soldered or kits) available next week.

I'll order the plates next, and report any progress.

The timing apparently sucks now with the JD45 buy going on - it has a very nice case and also ALPS and HHKB-cutouts support. I'm pretty sure the quality will be way above the hand-made stuff I do here

Well, the JD45 is quite...pricey. For $180+shipping, it only includes a PCB, plate, and case. No keycaps or switches in that price. I decided that's not how I want to spend $180 in the keyboard world. So what you are offering is a better fit for us budget-minded folks.

vivalarevolución · 23 Feb 2016, 14:26

I do have one question. In the right shift area, why not just swap the location of the 1.25u key and 1u to have the standard location for those?

flabbergast · 23 Feb 2016, 15:49

I like to use the key to the right of the right shift as a Fn (HHKB-style). It's pretty much just a personal preference. Unfortunately when I designed the PCB I didn't build this option in (I mean 1u+1.25u vs 1.25u+1u), so we're stuck with this layout, at least for this iteration of the board.

jdcarpe · 23 Feb 2016, 20:48

vivalarevolución wrote:
flabbergast wrote: All right, so although only 4 people seem to be interested, I've ordered the parts for the PCBs. So I should have some PCB (soldered or kits) available next week.

I'll order the plates next, and report any progress.

The timing apparently sucks now with the JD45 buy going on - it has a very nice case and also ALPS and HHKB-cutouts support. I'm pretty sure the quality will be way above the hand-made stuff I do here
Well, the JD45 is quite...pricey. For $180+shipping, it only includes a PCB, plate, and case. No keycaps or switches in that price. I decided that's not how I want to spend $180 in the keyboard world. So what you are offering is a better fit for us budget-minded folks.

Well, GON's MobiK DIY kit is $285 plus shipping (but includes MX Clear or Black switches), so I thought I was offering quite the budget-friendly price at $180. Sorry.

scottc · 23 Feb 2016, 20:52

That's with Bluetooth though, right?

Am I the only one that finds GON's stuff excessively expensive? I mean, $300 ish for a 40% kit is kind of crazy, especially when the case isn't even made of metal. There's only so many components in such a small keyboard!

flabbergast · 23 Feb 2016, 21:43

I personally find the JD45 price fair (although a bit more than I am willing to put into one keyboard right now

)
Considering that CNC alu cases go for (sometimes quite a bit) upwards of $100, and PCBs for >$40...

jdcarpe · 23 Feb 2016, 21:46

scottc wrote:That's with Bluetooth though, right?

Am I the only one that finds GON's stuff excessively expensive? I mean, $300 ish for a 40% kit is kind of crazy, especially when the case isn't even made of metal. There's only so many components in such a small keyboard!

Oh yeah, USB only option is only $235.

And yes, at least the JD45 does include a CNC milled anodized aluminum case, instead of the polycarbonate case of the MobiK.

To OP: sorry about the timing. I've been working on getting the JD45 out for like a year and a half, and it was time to move.

flabbergast · 23 Feb 2016, 22:01

jdcarpe wrote: To OP: sorry about the timing. I've been working on getting the JD45 out for like a year and a half, and it was time to move.

No worries

Murphy and all that

Also I don't plan on making this "big", it's just that I wanted an ALPS 45%, and getting less than 10 of anything in this area costs the same as getting actually 10

Actually JD45 was an inspiration for me to make a KB like this. I think the final product (I mean JD45) is pretty great, and I hope that the sales go well!

vivalarevolución · 23 Feb 2016, 22:10

flabbergast wrote: I personally find the JD45 price fair (although a bit more than I am willing to put into one keyboard right now )
Considering that CNC alu cases go for (sometimes quite a bit) upwards of $100, and PCBs for >$40...

Considering the quality of materials and the work that went into the JD45, I don't think it's overpriced and I don't intend to bash. I know quality goods with quality design and quality materials cost money (did I mention quality?). But for me, right now, it's too much.

jdcarpe · 23 Feb 2016, 22:45

vivalarevolución wrote:
flabbergast wrote: I personally find the JD45 price fair (although a bit more than I am willing to put into one keyboard right now )
Considering that CNC alu cases go for (sometimes quite a bit) upwards of $100, and PCBs for >$40...
Considering the quality of materials and the work that went into the JD45, I don't think it's overpriced and I don't intend to bash. I know quality goods with quality design and quality materials cost money (did I mention quality?). But for me, right now, it's too much.

No worries. I know it's not cheap, because as you said, it's not cheaply made. Budgets are what they are, of course.

vivalarevolución · 23 Feb 2016, 23:11

jdcarpe wrote:
vivalarevolución wrote:
flabbergast wrote: I personally find the JD45 price fair (although a bit more than I am willing to put into one keyboard right now )
Considering that CNC alu cases go for (sometimes quite a bit) upwards of $100, and PCBs for >$40...
Considering the quality of materials and the work that went into the JD45, I don't think it's overpriced and I don't intend to bash. I know quality goods with quality design and quality materials cost money (did I mention quality?). But for me, right now, it's too much.
No worries. I know it's not cheap, because as you said, it's not cheaply made. Budgets are what they are, of course.

Yea, I talk about budget this and budget that, but let's be honest, I'll probably put in an order before the deadline is up. I mean, come on,

mastermachetier · 24 Feb 2016, 21:02

Hey does typing on it feel just using the pcb no plates ?

flabbergast · 24 Feb 2016, 21:18

mastermachetier wrote: Hey does typing on it feel just using the pcb no plates ?

I don't really know what to say - being so small, and without a case, it's very light and of course doesn't feel solid at all. And also I'm afraid to press keys very hard since the PCB rests straight on the desk. I'd say it's fun to play with, but can't really be used as a "main" keyboard.

flabbergast · 25 Feb 2016, 09:11

I am most likely pulling the trigger on ordering the plates today. Just enough for the people that expressed interest in them