Group Build prototyping phase

[matt3o]

I am a keyboard on a desk...

..watch how I click.

let's call them the Fireflies

[Muirium]

Right. It's not even in the design phase now, but I'm hoping to add a variant like this: (pay no attention to the legends, keys would be 100% programmable)

That one looks better laid out than the couple of ideas I came up with (while staying to standard Round 5 caps).



I still want to try your definitive SmallFry tribute layout with a smaller space bar though!

[jdcarpe]

unless you are vetoing it (which I would understand and respect) I'm still in for a tiny kb.

No way! If you want to do one, you won't see any complaints from me. Inara is super cool.

[matt3o]

unless you are vetoing it (which I would understand and respect) I'm still in for a tiny kb.

No way! If you want to do one, you won't see any complaints from me. Inara is super cool.

well let's join forces then, the tiny layout is all yours (you design it and we will obey) we could design the PCB for it and run the GB together with the others. But I totally understand if you want to run this on your own.

[bazh]

Love the Jayne but still think it's better to not have a space between F-row and alpha base and maybe we can have a pcb design that support 2-3 bottom layouts (1.25 and 1.5 and so) for people's tastes

[Madhias]

I like Jayne and Simon, but Simon is more a favourite, looks more "special" to me.

B-b-b-but: no ISO? Or with modding afterwards?

[matt3o]

ISO variants are all possible, but making ISO+ANSI+2 MODS versions would be really too much

[snoopy]

I would definitely buy an ISO Simon.

[Zaakessiron]

Hi Guys, my first post here, though i have been lurking for quite a few weeks before registring.

I gotta say I do like the Simon and Jayne layouts, I definitely need my Functions keys.

Since I dont have any Alps switches (or caps for that matter) at hand i would prefer if the board would have cherry mx compatiblilty. And as a Swede ISO layout is definetly something i am in the market for.

Looking forward to see which direction this is going, and will probably be getting in on this GB.

[Muirium]

Don't worry about the Alps talk. MX is a certainty. We're just talking about extra possibilities.

I've got a big order of these guys so I'm a little invested in MX, too!

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Round_5

(New day, new chance to annoy Snoopy…)

If you want them, get on Round 5 soon. Closing time is coming and then production begins.

[Icarium]

Alps would be pretty cool. Still have those Mathias switches lying around. Have symmetrical stagger with room for a trackpoint and 7bit bottom row been proposed, yet?

[Muirium]

If you have a few spares, and some of both kinds, try making a Matias damped clicky hybrid switch to see if you like it. The tactile "soft click" version has a damped slider, which I like, but the clicky one has the real click. I've only one switch of each, so I need a few more to make the full 4 variations to try side by side together.

Interestingly, 7bit sells Matias switches for 0.24 vs. MX at 0.65 so mods aren't exactly expensive.

[pasph]

ISO test, I actually like it very much

This or an mx-mini iso
and this


Make a pool?

[snoopy]

Don't worry about the Alps talk. MX is a certainty. We're just talking about extra possibilities.

I've got a big order of these guys so I'm a little invested in MX, too!

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Round_5

(New day, new chance to annoy Snoopy…)

If you want them, get on Round 5 soon. Closing time is coming and then production begins.

Uhh, what a nice board. Don't you have a spacebra for it? Would love to see it complete.

[damorgue]

and this

I agree with this guy, that keypad sure looks great. Lets name it since the others are named to give it a fair chance. Hands of blue?

[Muirium]

@Pasph: is that 6th row really important to you? 5 rows would sit quite nicely on the desk next to one of my designs. But 6 rows isn't as well behaved except for people with horizontal function rows and zero spacing from their main block, Choc Mini style.

Also, we're going to need to USB dock these things together!

Uhh, what a nice board. Don't you have a spacebra for it? Would love to see it complete.

Not those again! You hound.

http://deskthority.net/post142329.html#p142329

[matt3o]

Sorry... couldn't resist

[pasph]

@Pasph: is that 6th row really important to you? 5 rows would sit quite nicely on the desk next to one of my designs. But 6 rows isn't as well behaved except for people with horizontal function rows and zero spacing from their main block, Choc Mini style.

Also, we're going to need to USB dock these things together!

If we choose a 65% -> 5 rows numpad
if will be an mx-mini like -> 6 rows numpad

I will support everything iso and > of 60%

[Muirium]

An extended numpad, but whatever to do with all those keys? Hmm…

[mohitgarg]

This project looks good and can integrate with this project of mine on GH: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48326.50

Blox is more PCB oriented and creating a modular system, however the findings can be used, and the PCB designs as well, so to satisfy the need for different layouts.

[Muirium]

Interesting. And beyond my abilities!

I was just thinking about a USB hub in a master module (the 60%) and a USB connection between it and the numpad, flush on the side. Perhaps both sides, for easy swapping, as I like to do sometimes.

The downside of this simple system is that you couldn't separate mods from their alpha blocks. (Well, not on OS X and many platforms anyway. I think Windows fuses all connected keyboards together into one logical entity, which is why some USB NKRO hacks are Windows only.) But I wouldn't want mods on my numpad anyway.

[matt3o]

This project looks good and can integrate with this project of mine on GH: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48326.50

Blox is more PCB oriented and creating a modular system, however the findings can be used, and the PCB designs as well, so to satisfy the need for different layouts.

impressive project, thanks for the heads up, it's really hard to find interesting threads on GH due to the excessive noise. Indeed I lost your Blox project.

I'm just a quite practical guy. As soon as the GB starts I want things to move very quickly. See for example the GH60 project... oh boy! So I prefer a CNC'd PCB to a super fancy one if that means 2 months ETA instead of 1 year

Anyway I'm following your project, this GB is more for the case than for the PCB, so if the two projects are compatible and you can keep up with the fast pace that would be great!

As soon as the prototyping phase is finished I'll post on GH too of course.

EDIT: also please note that the PCB will look something like this http://casperelectronics.com/wp-content ... better.jpg

[rindorbrot]

[Muirium]

Speaking of cases: who's interested in making a plate and PCB to go inside a pre-existing or CNCed case? Those Tex ones are quite tempting…

[matt3o]

ok, it seems there's no real interest in a 60%, so I guess I could remove it. Even though a kb that fits an existing case (as Muir suggests) would be nice.

[jdcarpe]

well let's join forces then, the tiny layout is all yours (you design it and we will obey) we could design the PCB for it and run the GB together with the others. But I totally understand if you want to run this on your own.

Sure, I can design the layout options for it. Should be exciting to see this go from design to build in quick succession.

[Ichigo87]

ok, it seems there's no real interest in a 60%, so I guess I could remove it. Even though a kb that fits an existing case (as Muir suggests) would be nice.

GH60 already covers a lot of layout. If you want to keep full alphanumeric and original staggering, it is hard to do better than that.

We should try something more exotic and ISO compatible because this is the only place where people want more ISO than ANSI.

[matt3o]

my layout (River) don't think is covered by GH60

[Ichigo87]

my layout (River) don't think is covered by GH60

It's smaller than 60%, no? You have to add 0,5 unit to your keycaps on the right or you will see the PCB, so what is the idea behind this River ? You only want to save 0.5 unit ?

[matt3o]

that's how a 60% should be. period 1.5u \| key makes no sense.