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 13414 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

[aoi]

Are you still selling these boards? I've been wanting to dust off my Model M for a while, today did some research and thought about how to go about it, and this is pretty much exactly what I had in mind. Super happy to see someone already did the legwork, because realisitically this would just end up being yet another project idea. Would love to get my hands on one of those. It is unclear how to contact you about buying one, however.

[nfc2]

Are you still selling these boards? I've been wanting to dust off my Model M for a while, today did some research and thought about how to go about it, and this is pretty much exactly what I had in mind. Super happy to see someone already did the legwork, because realisitically this would just end up being yet another project idea. Would love to get my hands on one of those. It is unclear how to contact you about buying one, however.

Had to create new account since I have been locked out from the old one... must contact admin to get some help.
In Europe I listed items on eBay and Wallapop.