[IC] A true GH/DT custom keyboard kit - What do you want to see?

[hammelgammler]

I can tell you one benefit: A high quality metal case TKL with alps support. Enough said.
There are simply not many nice TKL that support alps.

[Wodan]

I can tell you one benefit: A high quality metal case TKL with alps support. Enough said.
There are simply not many nice TKL that support alps.

For a man with a scroll saw and a soldering iron, there are

Every full size ALPS board has a TKL inside that just wants out !

[derzemel]

I can tell you one benefit: A high quality metal case TKL with alps support. Enough said.
There are simply not many nice TKL that support alps.

here's an ALPS PCB + plate solution: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=80086.0

[Findecanor]

I think support for both plate-mounted Cherry MX and Alps is a given.

But how about supporting vintage SMK switches, such as the "Monterey blue"? The pin holes for them would have to be on the opposite side of the centre because they are too different from Cherry MX and Alps and can not overlap.

The drawback is that if you do support SMK switches then you would not be able to support PCB-mounted Cherry MX fully: if you would build a keyboard with PCB-mounted switches then you would want to solder also diodes or jumpers for extra stability -- and those would be in the way for the pin holes for the SMK switches.
You would have to make a choice between them.

[photekq]

Ehh.. How many people would actually be interested in using SMK? Maybe 5?

[seaworthy]

Alps switches with an HHKB layout would be great! TKL okay and 60% even better. Looks like a great project.

[Wodan]

I don't think vintage Alps stabilizers are compatible with any of the common stabilizer options today. Modern Alps have support for MX stabilizers. Will vintage Alps work with Costar stabs ??

[vivalarevolución]

Give us Alps compatibility and you better believe you got interest!

(Number of posts an otherwise delicious MX keyboard IC thread on DT takes to mention Alps: 1.)

Seconded! Or Thirded! I haven't read the entire thread!

[photekq]

Seconded! Or Thirded! I haven't read the entire thread!

You didn't need to read the whole thread! Just the one post below the one you quoted would've been enough..

[vivalarevolución]

Seconded! Or Thirded! I haven't read the entire thread!

You didn't need to read the whole thread! Just the one post below the one you quoted would've been enough..

Just wanted to emphasize the sentiment!

alps4lyfe

[Redmaus]

Plenty of cherry mx love already out there.

As I type on my SSK I could not imagine live without nav cluster. Please don't make this a board without arrow keys and pgdw, pgup, etc.

[Hak Foo]

I'd rather push all the programmable stuff onto a seperate bank of keys. My preference is 120%-- a fullsize with some extra banks of programable keys.

I guess nobody wants to make one of those big Orteks with an ANSI layout, do they?

[Findecanor]

Ehh.. How many people would actually be interested in using SMK? Maybe 5?

Would that be fewer than the number who would be interested in using Cherry MX with no plate?
Anyway, SMK would use the same plates as Cherry MX. If it could be done on the PCB without any problem, then why not?

[photekq]

Ehh.. How many people would actually be interested in using SMK? Maybe 5?

Would that be fewer than the number who would be interested in using Cherry MX with no plate?
Anyway, SMK would use the same plates as Cherry MX. If it could be done on the PCB without any problem, then why not?

Yes, certainly. Lots of people like Cherry MX PCB mounted including myself. But this will be plate mounted anyway.

Having MX, alps and SMK all on one PCB is not viable, unless you're going to make it just one layout. The holes overlap when you start supporting multiple layouts, and that's with alps/MX alone. Maybe another PCB could be done for SMK alone, but it definitely won't be seen on a main PCB>

[Redmaus]

I'd rather push all the programmable stuff onto a seperate bank of keys. My preference is 120%-- a fullsize with some extra banks of programable keys.

I guess nobody wants to make one of those big Orteks with an ANSI layout, do they?

I do but the cost for the PCB and the plate + case would be crazy. Plus you would need more switches.

[Hak Foo]

I'd rather push all the programmable stuff onto a seperate bank of keys. My preference is 120%-- a fullsize with some extra banks of programable keys.

I guess nobody wants to make one of those big Orteks with an ANSI layout, do they?

I do but the cost for the PCB and the plate + case would be crazy. Plus you would need more switches.

Ironically, after a year or so, the guy on GH who's trying to do a 122-size PCB project has just returned.

(https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=80 ... msg2088746)

He claims that if you can get quantity 20, the PCB is only about 50USD per unit for a 122-sized board. Note that this is obviously a different calibre of project than a Korean-style custom-- there's no LED-related whimsy and the controller provisions are "buy a Teensy++ and drop it into the cut outs"

[Redmaus]

No alps support unfortunately.

[DanielT]

I want a 60% , it is true there are a lot of 60% PCB's out there but almost no complete custom kits. Except for the Viper/Eagle I didn't see any true customs lately. There are tons of TKL's and other boards but 60% have been always just a PCB to replace a Poker PCB and also a few cases, many with some not so nice designs.
I want to see a full kit for 60% And MX, I like MX linear switches more than Topre, Alps or IBM stuff. I took break from my HHKB and now going back to that board I realized I don't enjoy it that much anymore, it's still very good but I like my Vintage Blacks more

[Madhias]

Or you make the same design with different sizes!

[photekq]

Or you make the same design with different sizes!

Maybe! But not all at once. Baby steps.

Speaking of the complete opposite of baby steps :

Does anyone have a good knowledge of CNC mills in terms of market values of machines and what goes into installing and maintaining them? I would love to hear from you. I have about £15,000 that could be put towards one but would like to know what I'm getting myself into. I have a decent understanding of CNC milling and have done a decent amount of it (and manual milling/turning) here at university, but the above is the (vital) knowledge that I'm missing. I have enough money to also possibly obtain an industrial unit in which the machine could be stored.

[vivalarevolución]

Also, regarding layouts, there is a guy floating around an interesting compromise of 60% and 65%: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=80330.0

Although we are talking about differences of a half unit, so I'm not sure if that is worth getting too fancy.

[photekq]

Also, regarding layouts, there is a guy floating around an interesting compromise of 60% and 65%: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=80330.0

Although we are talking about differences of a half unit, so I'm not sure if that is worth getting too fancy.

Keycaps! Forget trying to find good keycaps to fit that left side.

[photekq]

Thoughts on this layout?

[scottc]

My first thoughts are "/?"

[photekq]

My first thoughts are "/?"

A sacrifice! It would have to be put on the function layer, or used in conjunction with a short left shift. It's the only way to have dedicated arrows in a 60% form factor and with the fn and right shift in place.

[Madhias]

The / would be really missing.

[scottc]

I don't like it. Putting /? on a function layer really isn't great.

[Khers]

I agree, rather arrows in a function layer than /?.

[Phenix]

I don't agree. Please make dedicated Arrows! or make a 65% keyboard. Personally I want a 75% (so 65% with extra F-keys.)
If anyone else also like the idea - make it F1-F24 (cause vertical place is useless for me, just need my hands nearer to mice

[DanielT]

/ on function layer is a no no , as a Unix admin I use that key more than any. One think I hated with ISO DE was the position of /