TMK Alps 60 Keyboard by Hasu

[DanielT]

As this was started on GH I don't think a lot of people here were aware of this project.
This is the link to the original thread on GH https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=69740.0

Long story short, Hasu wanted to make 60% Alps PCB compatible with classic Alps keyboards so that it will be easy to source caps and cut the plate down to 60% size. So there were 9 PCB's available and I got one, PCB Nr.7
This is the PCB:

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The controller is an ATMega32U2, all the parts required for controller to work and the controller were soldered by Hasu, he also uploaded a default keymap. What I had to do was solder diodes, cut the plate and solder the switches.

First step was to prepare the diodes, I used a piece of wood cut down to size so I could bend all the diodes :

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All diodes soldered in place:

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With the diodes soldered I tested each switch with some needle tweezers to make sure that everything works.

Now the hard part, as a donor I used a NIB black Dell keyboard Alinh had, de-soldering the switches was a pain but that was not the hardest part.
I had to cut down to size the steel plate, for that I used a Dremel and some cutting disks, I think I broke around 10 of them but it worked in the end The disks were not meant for cutting 1.5mm steel but I didn't had the time to order something else. Anyway, the end result looked good :

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I managed not to destroy any of the stab mounting holes. For the screw holes I used a carbide drill and it worked well.
This is what was left of the Dell plate :

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After cutting and sanding the plate I made a test to see if everything fits and it did to my surprise :

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Final step was to solder all the switches and test if all the switches work, and surprisingly it did

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This is how it looked on the back :

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For the case I have used a stock Poker X case :

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For the firmware is just classic TMK everybody knows it so I won't cover that part. You have a reset switch on the back in the same position where the Poker DIP switches are placed, I must say it's a nice touch:

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And the final product :

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Conclusions:
Except for the short 1.75u Right Shift and Pinky Fn that I miss so much the board is great, I managed to put a layout that it is easy to use, I'm typing since yesterday on this keyboard and it feels really nice. I know people hate the black Alps, but I like them, they feel interesting. I didn't had any issues with the PCB, everything worked as it was supposed to.
It was the first time I got a chance to test and evaluate a prototype and it felt great This small project had a lot of firsts for me, modding a plate, Alps switches, TMK firmware and the end result is a fully functional keyboard that looks and feels better than a commercial one

For soldering I used an Antex XS25 soldering iron with 1mm tip and 0.5mm 60/40 soldering wire. The Antex soldering iron was much better than the cheap one I used in the past, it allowed me to make much cleaner soldering points, a great tool all together. I bought this one directly from their web site, they have fast and cheap delivery, and their products are of very good quality for a good price.

[seebart]

Classic black Alps in a modern package. Nice mod DanielT! Glad to hear you like Alps. Closest thing I have is my Monterey K110, but that's vintage and no mod. Good work.

[DanielT]

Thanks It was a fun build, I've always wanted to test Alps, but I like 60% and I want my layout not whatever the vendor decided it was a good layout. So this was the perfect occasion to have a custom programmable Alps 60%.
Hasu did a great job with the design of the PCB, and if there will be a second run I recommend people to get one it's awesome

[andrewjoy]

Shame you could not find some super cool alps like blues or salmon alps

that looks amazing tho , where did you get the caps ?

[seebart]

yeah it's well known by now 60% is your fave factor. Since there are no commercially available 60 boards with Alps as far as I know this is great. Except with my HHKB2 I never go smaller than TKL.I believe I saw an early Filco TKL with Alps a long time ago somewhere. Not sure if I remember that correctly? Yeah Filco Zero TKL:

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Filco_Zero

I'd love to get one of those.

[DanielT]

The caps are from the black Dell, not the best but they feel nice. Maybe at some point I will swap the switches, I only have to replace the 2nd leaf and the slider, not a big deal. I had to work with what I had available, and that was a Dell owned bu alinh who sits next to me And I enjoy the black alps, actually I like alps a lot. I didn't want to start spending too much getting this keyboard done, and I'm happy with the choice I made.

My only keyboard bigger than a 60% is the SSK. I have also a G80-1800 but that one is not mine it's my wife's keyboard
There are some ALPS 60% boards, I think v60 has a version with Matias switches, but if it's not programmable it's not interesting for me.

I would love the caps off that Filco for my keyboard

[Ray]

Even though it started on GH, that's no reason for legs, feet or shoes in the pics

On a serious note, that board looks gorgeous. One of the more interesting looking 60%s since the cap shapes just look different (more classy imho) than the cherrys and hhkbs. I also like the idea of recycling the plate.

[DiodeHead]

Thats a very good project to put my matthias on .

[002]

This looks awesome, Daniel. Nice work! I love the little tribute to the man himself inside the case

[scottc]

Very cool stuff. I'm jealous! This is a great little board.

I got my first Matias board recently, the Quiet Mini with their damped, tactile switches and I'm quite impressed. I bet the clicky ones are even better. They're fairly cheap too, so maybe you could swap those in if you get tired of the boring black Alps.

[DanielT]

This looks awesome, Daniel. Nice work! I love the little tribute to the man himself inside the case

Thanks I felt I had to put his signature inside the case of board Nr.7.

@scottc: quit calling black Alps boring, I love them

[seebart]

Yeah really Scott shame on you!

[scottc]

This looks awesome, Daniel. Nice work! I love the little tribute to the man himself inside the case

Thanks I felt I had to put his signature inside the case of board Nr.7.

@scottc: quit calling black Alps boring, I love them

Sorry! It's entirely likely that my black Alps were just gross and newer ones are better. You know Alps don't age well, and both of my Dell ATs had been "aging" in a skip for a while when I found them!

[DanielT]

My Dell was NIB so I had only the finest

[seebart]

Yeah the Alps in my used Dell AT are nappy too. But the NIB whites in my Focus are muchos nice.

[XMIT]

Heh, this looks just like the Matias Quiet Click equipped V60 that just came in from Massdrop yesterday.

I really like the Matias switches, with Alps Salmon being my favorite of the vintage Alps switches. I just wish we had better key switch options. I think Signature Plastics can make a bunch of their caps with Alps mounts? Maybe we can organize a Tai Hao group buy?

[scottc]

Heh, this looks just like the Matias Quiet Click equipped V60 that just came in from Massdrop yesterday.

I really like the Matias switches, with Alps Salmon being my favorite of the vintage Alps switches. I just wish we had better key switch options. I think Signature Plastics can make a bunch of their caps with Alps mounts? Maybe we can organize a Tai Hao group buy?

I'd be up for this. My Matias Quiet Mini is in need of some love.

[DanielT]

I would be interested in some doubleshot caps with Alps stab mountholes too, I remember that Tai Hai is able to do that. I wonder how big the numbers are for the MOQ. I would love some classic colorways from Tai Hao.
SP had molds for alps mount, but they use cherry mount for the stab