Model X CTRL - BLE Model M Universal Controller

[nfc]

Hi everybody,
It's a while I was writing here last.

I would like to present one little project I have done: The Model X Controller.

Model X is a direct replacement controller for the classic IBM Model M keyboards and is designed to fit and work with:
- Standard 102/103 keys;
- SSK 84/85 keys;
- M122 (AKA Battlecruiser);
- and even more since, it's modular designed...

The "X" in Model X stands for "Cross keyboard," as it aims to be compatible with most Model M variants.
The controller is BLE (Bluetooth low energy) and also USB-C, and sports the ZMK Firmware.

Give a look at: https://github.com/NilsFC/Model-X

I plan to release the project as open source (still undecided what type of license), but not yet. Before I would like to sell at least the 1st batch of PCB I have produced to return partly the investments in materials and equipment I have done for this project.

IMG_2442.jpg (2.71 MiB) Viewed 4871 times

[jensma]

Looks like a great project, I might snatch a pcb if shipping to europe isn't too expensive.

Oh, and I kinda hate to ask - what is the advantage to other projects like the blusb? viewtopic.php?f=55&t=17388

[nfc]

Thank you for your direct question, I appreciate it.

Despite I took inspiration from Model H, without even looking at BLUsb, the two project ended to be identical.
And I think BLUsb is a really good project, but based on a different philosophy than mine.
I have learned a lot from other people on the net and I must return to the community something.

One of my initial schematics included all components onboard, but the material/manufacturing costs ended to be very high. Then I just opted to use as a "core" the ProMicro NRF52840 (aka Supermini). This chinese devboard sports a scandinavian Nrf52840 SoC that is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0, Thread, Zigbee, 802.15.4, and NFC native!! In addition, on AliExpress you can find a SuperMini at 3€ and it includes battery management chip, CPU, mosfet and everything.
Model X is in fact a "shield "of a chinese dev board? Yes with steroids

Main adavntages:
1) Model X is not only Bluetooth but is BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy);
2) Model X software is based on ZMK Firmware and open source;
3) Model X hardware is open source;
On Github you can already find firmware and schematics. Planned in future (as I return some €) is to publish on Github also KiCad projects, so anybody can produce PCB it by his own, at Jlcpcb or pcbways.
4) Model X cost around the half. And this is thanks to the more recent design.

[nfc]

Double post cleanup.

[jensma]

In case you missed my pm - I'm in for one pcb

[cods]

This looks really interesting - up for 1x, please.

[cheez3d]

Just wanted to chime in with some appreciation for this mod.
Apparently I was the first buyer with an SSK and Nic was very quick to implement support for it, including the NumLock switching behavior. He was also very responsive regarding the issues I encountered during my first days of use.
The included battery lasts for a very long time and charges up fairly quickly.
My objective with this purchase was to make my Model Ms wireless, which this mod does very well for the price and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to do the same thing.
I haven't looked into everything ZMK has to offer, but I'm pretty sure you can achieve pretty extensive customizations with it as well which is a nice plus.

[nfc]

Just wanted to chime in with some appreciation for this mod.
Apparently I was the first buyer with an SSK and Nic was very quick to implement support for it, including the NumLock switching behavior. He was also very responsive regarding the issues I encountered during my first days of use.
The included battery lasts for a very long time and charges up fairly quickly.
My objective with this purchase was to make my Model Ms wireless, which this mod does very well for the price and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to do the same thing.
I haven't looked into everything ZMK has to offer, but I'm pretty sure you can achieve pretty extensive customizations with it as well which is a nice plus.

Too kind. Thank you