Building a custom keyboard from the ground up

[pasph]

BrownFox layout is an mx mini with the bottom row 1,25-1,25-1,25-6,25-1.5-1.5-1-1-1 and without the 2° row?
Backspace is 1u?

[matt3o]

Blank PBT DSA: now that's three things I like. I could definitely redesign for that. Could you give me a list of all the keys, by any chance? I'm going to get creative.

Quite right about the space bar, I forgot you put the Teensy there. What's the suggested width?

Keys will be a standard 104 ANSI (+ maybe tsangan, 1.5 mods and 7u spacebar)

I'd say the minimum is 6u.

BrownFox layout is an mx mini with the bottom row 1,25-1,25-1,25-6,25-1.5-1.5-1-1-1?

mx mini with 1.5, 1, 1.5, 6, 1.5, 1.5, 1, 1, 1

but also what you suggest would be feasible.

Edit:

brownfox

bf.png (17.76 KiB) Viewed 8218 times

[pasph]

your layout is really beautiful but
6 spacebar not really that standard
1 backspace?

[matt3o]

your layout is really beautiful but
6 spacebar not really that standard
1 backspace?

fortunately I have quite a few 6u spacebars after DSA retro but a more standard layout is feasible.

backspace can be 1u, 2u, or 1.5u in place of \| key

Edit:
this is a "standard" alternative

bf2.png (17.56 KiB) Viewed 8211 times

[Muirium]

Hmm. A 6u spacebar it shall be.

Are the DSA retro brown blanks (all sizes between 1 and 2 units inclusive) you talked about before still available? I had a design in progress that relied on them (plus a 6u spacebar) exclusively. I might be better working from that.

Unless the PBT DSA GB is soon, soon. Anyway, I can always mix them, this being DSA!

[pasph]

Ok i can solder and i have a teensy, as long you can give me some guidelines and a firmware i think i can be in

[Muirium]

Good on you Pasph.

Right, this is my 6u space bar adaptation:

Custom 60% Layout 6

Picture 1.png (46.94 KiB) Viewed 8197 times

It's almost standard ANSI above row 1 except for the right hand shift, which is HHKB / Pure style with an extra 1u key to the right. Have you got the caps for this Matteo?

Are all the row 1 keys round profile on DSA or is it just the space bar? I can't tell from the PDF.

I'm going to get sneaky with function keys in the controller, instead.

[jpatters]

I'd be interested in getting a plate cut for a numpad, if that would be possible in your run. I'm going to be using Matias switches, and I have no idea where to begin with the CAD drawing so that the holes are the right size. I'd also be potentially interested in doing a version for Honeywell hall effect switches.

Numpad

392219533.054552.jpg (47.22 KiB) Viewed 8096 times

[Muirium]

If there's anyone who can use up a whole sheet, you're the guy!

From small numpads, great numboards grow.

[matt3o]

Good on you Pasph.

Right, this is my 6u space bar adaptation:

Picture 1.png

this is doable, but if you want to go all blank you can't use dsa retro.

I'd be interested in getting a plate cut for a numpad, if that would be possible in your run. I'm going to be using Matias switches, and I have no idea where to begin with the CAD drawing so that the holes are the right size. I'd also be potentially interested in doing a version for Honeywell hall effect switches.

problem with Matias is that we need a 1mm sheet plate, so we would need some orders just for that.

Ok i can solder and i have a teensy, as long you can give me some guidelines and a firmware i think i can be in

No problem for firmware and guidelines

[Muirium]

Left shift and return are indeed >2u. I'd rather not split them into smaller keys. I'm good so long as you've DSA caps for them, my preference being brown and with the correct legends! Got any matching spare right shifts that would fit, too?

F & J are relegendables for homing purposes, brown too if possible.

Good job you've a fair old inventory of spares to dig into. These are the standard ANSI keys, so should be easiest to swap out in future.

[matt3o]

I should have them with legends, I don't know what the kb looks like with a mixed blank/legended caps though

I would use a standard 6.25 (and reduce one of the keys to the right), so you are free to change caps at any time. Or at least you could start experimenting before I get the leftovers.

[Muirium]

Yes, you're right about mixing things up for a 6.25 space bar. All row 1 mods look quite nice as 1.25u then. And you have all the caps. Great. Sign me up for one of that please!

Keeping options open for switching in other caps (PBT DSA specifically) is important. That's how I'll address the mixed blank / nonblank problem. These are the kind of baby steps you take when starting from zero Cherry caps like me. working keyboard comes first.

[Muirium]

Confirmed layout for production!

Custom 60% Layout 6.1 Default Layer.png (48.65 KiB) Viewed 8125 times

Keeping it simple. Row 1 is 1.25 x 3. 6.25. 1.25 x 4.

Requires stabs for standard ANSI 6.25u space bar, standard ANSI left shift, and standard ANSI return.

Right shift is, of course, HHKB style. As is the top right corner, where there's two single keys instead of a standard 2u backspace.

One open Steely-style case and plate for this, thanks.

[matt3o]

LOVELY design. Sweet like a pie.

[Muirium]

Simple always winds up sweet.

Now I've finally stopped fiddling, you're safe to make it!

[matt3o]

There you go

muirium-60.png (4.65 KiB) Viewed 8121 times

[Muirium]

Cool. You fit me into whatever aluminium job you see fit. Because that's my next keyboard right there!

[matt3o]

I'll have the plate for the brownfox laser cut to verify keys and stabs spacing. If everything goes smooth I'll have a second round with as many plates as we can fit.

[Muirium]

Alright all you lurkers: time to come forward if you want a killer metal keyboard. The more the merrier.

[matt3o]

Alright all you lurkers: time to come forward if you want a killer metal keyboard. The more the merrier.

I'll post a (mini) GB as soon as we are ready.

[suka]

I'm considering a HyperNano adoption in metal to use them retros on, but have two questions:

1) Would you be willing do design the layout for me by shifting your rows around a little ?
2) How much will a typical plate like the muirium-60 above approximately be (just the plate for the switches alone)?

This is what I have in mind, with a minimal frame width of just 6mm away from any of the 14mm cutouts, no stabilizers. Doable?

Code: Select all

____________________________________________________________
|1.50  |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  1.50|
|1.25 |    |    |    |    | 1.5  |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |   |    |    |    |    |    |
|1.25 |    |    |    |    | 1.5  |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
------------------------------------------------------------

and that
______________________________________________________________
|1.50  |    |    |    |    | 1.5  |    |    |    |    |  1.50|
|1.25 |    |    |    |    |    |   |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |X|   |    |    |    |    |    |
|1.25 |    |    |    |    |    |   |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
--------------------------------------------------------------

[matt3o]

1) Would you be willing do design the layout for me by shifting your rows around a little ?
2) How much will a typical plate like the muirium-60 above approximately be (just the plate for the switches alone)?

1) no problem!
2) very hard to say... just 1 alu plate (out of a GB) would cost approx €45 I guess. A steel one would be cheaper.

Doable?

Code: Select all

____________________________________________________________
|1.50  |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  1.50|
|1.25 |    |    |    |    | 1.5  |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |   |    |    |    |    |    |
|1.25 |    |    |    |    | 1.5  |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
------------------------------------------------------------

and that
______________________________________________________________
|1.50  |    |    |    |    | 1.5  |    |    |    |    |  1.50|
|1.25 |    |    |    |    |    |   |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |X|   |    |    |    |    |    |
|1.25 |    |    |    |    |    |   |    |    |    |    | 1.25|
--------------------------------------------------------------

what's X?

[suka]

what's X?

The remaining half-key width of free space (LED location, maybe?) due to the 1/4 stagger.

edit: Just saw the pricetag - unless you really need to fill the free space on your large plate to get your own costs down that would be too much for me, so don't bother designing the dwg for now.

[matt3o]

what's X?

The remaining half-key width of free space (LED location, maybe?) due to the 1/4 stagger.

edit: Just saw the pricetag - unless you really need to fill the free space on your large plate to get your own costs down that would be too much for me, so don't bother designing the dwg for now.

the idea is to do a GB, one single plate should go 25-30 I guess.

[Paranoid]

Any chance you could easily include the Phantom style switch opening holes?
Also, are there restrictions on the keyboard layout regarding the case? Say if I'd like an extra column on the left, would it be easy to adjust the case?

[Muirium]

Matteo's making both 15 and 16 unit wide layouts. So you should be fine to do your design. I asked him about switch opening options, and he talked me out of that but it is doable.

I'm only considering trying mx green on my space bar, so it's not top priority for me.

[matt3o]

Any chance you could easily include the Phantom style switch opening holes?

not a problem. I should have it somewhere. Note that I use 19mm spacing instead of the suggested 19.05mm (never had an issue, tolerance is 0.1).

Also, are there restrictions on the keyboard layout regarding the case? Say if I'd like an extra column on the left, would it be easy to adjust the case?

no restrictions I could think of. it's pretty easy to adjust the case, but each new layout involves a certain degree of risk. If measurements/spacings of my brownfox are correct we use the same units to make more layouts so the risk is low, but still a risk

[Paranoid]

I see ^^ thanks! I hope I can get a design ready sometime in the near future. Got too much stuff going on at once

[matt3o]

case is in production...