M0110 Revival

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matt3o
-[°_°]-

17 May 2019, 16:38

I'm working on a new project... and I'm not sure where I am going with this.

So, I bought an M0110 case and built a new switch plate for it. I now working on the PCB.
IMG_20190514_112806.jpg
IMG_20190514_112806.jpg (689.48 KiB) Viewed 5337 times

The case is already retrobrighted and I also painted the plate black just because (none of it will be visible so...).

There are a few out-of-standard keys, notably the R1 1.5 backspace. Have a look

m0110.png
m0110.png (65.59 KiB) Viewed 5337 times

The PCB will support a split spacebar as well and I think I'm going to re-cut the switch plate for that.

Is anyone interested in plate and possibly PCBs? If so we could save a few bucks on production... but of course you nee an M0110 case... and here comes the bad idea...

Theoretically I could make a CNC'd case too. It would be very similar to the original M0110, just slightly smaller to spare on aluminum... and if we are going to redo everything maybe would could push it by 0.25 horizontally to reach a more standard layout. It would be close to a HHKB I reckon, just more retro looking and with multiple layout options. I dunno, just thinking out loud.

For now I will just try to make my modded m0110 and see how it goes. As per the keycaps I can use both MT3 (gray look) or SA Retro (brown look). I tried both and they both look sick!

User avatar
depletedvespene

17 May 2019, 19:03

Serious, if dumb, question: Apple M0110 keyboards used Alps SKCC switches. How clashingly low would MX switches look? (I suppose that SA profile keycaps would be mandatory for this). Would MX low profile switches even be above the case's waterline?


ALSO: since one of the design "features" of the M0110 keyboard layout is its symmetry, why go for an assymetrical split on the space bar? Why not go for a 3u/1u/3u formula? Or, given the availability issues of 3U keycaps, with a 2.75/1.5/2.75U split?

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

17 May 2019, 19:21

depletedvespene wrote:
17 May 2019, 19:03
Serious, if dumb, question: Apple M0110 keyboards used Alps SKCC switches. How clashingly low would MX switches look? (I suppose that SA profile keycaps would be mandatory for this). Would MX low profile switches even be above the case's waterline?
the case came to me without plate, but I already modded a m0110 and it doesn't quite work with standard cherry mx.
depletedvespene wrote:
17 May 2019, 19:03
ALSO: since one of the design "features" of the M0110 keyboard layout is its symmetry, why go for an assymetrical split on the space bar? Why not go for a 3u/1u/3u formula? Or, given the availability issues of 3U keycaps, with a 2.75/1.5/2.75U split?
I can't do that keeping the original layout, it could be done of course if I redo the whole case, but if we go for a "standard" layout (ei: 2u enter) we don't have the symmetry anymore.

edit: you could keep the symmetry reducing all modifiers size and make a 2x4u spacebars I guess. Not the easiest to source, but still feasible. Not sure I like this solution though
m0110.png
m0110.png (70.02 KiB) Viewed 5295 times

User avatar
depletedvespene

17 May 2019, 19:57

matt3o wrote:
17 May 2019, 19:21

I can't do that keeping the original layout, it could be done of course if I redo the whole case, but if we go for a "standard" layout (ei: 2u enter) we don't have the symmetry anymore.

edit: you could keep the symmetry reducing all modifiers size and make a 2x4u spacebars I guess. Not the easiest to source, but still feasible. Not sure I like this solution though
Uhhh... you've already made a modification to the original layout (on the M0110's bottom row, the space bar is 7.5U and the Option keys are 1U; you're using a 7.0U space bar and 1.25U Super and Fn keys); two 4U space bars wouldn't fit there unless you got back 1U of witdth.

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

17 May 2019, 20:03

yeah I can't really find a 7.5 spacebar :D

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depletedvespene

17 May 2019, 20:58

matt3o wrote:
17 May 2019, 20:03
yeah I can't really find a 7.5 spacebar :D
Indeed, and given that you have 12.5U of width to work with, there are several possible options to split the space bar while keeping the bottom row symmetrical (*):


Options for a 14.5/12.5U bottom row.
Options for a 14.5/12.5U bottom row.
bottomrows.png (94.27 KiB) Viewed 5246 times

In my entirely subjective opinion (YMMV; WDIKAA), the fourth row in my graphic is the best.


(*) Symmetrical to the entire board, not symmetrical to the home row keys, it must be noted.

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

17 May 2019, 22:48

if this is one off, I'll go with whatever I can support with the keycaps I have, that should be either 7u or 3+4u. If there's any kind of interest I can add support for as many layouts as possible.

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depletedvespene

18 May 2019, 01:38

Another serious, if dumb, question: M0110 keyboards are not too numerous, while M0110A units are more easily found (and tend to be cheaper, since they're not as demanded). Would the mystic of this project be ruined by going with an M0110A instead of an M0110? It could be an interesting turn of events to convert one of those into a similar 65%+num or into a pseudo-TKL.

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

18 May 2019, 08:33

anything could be done, but right now I'm trying to make the m0110 work. Semi-destroyed m0110 are inexpensive and if you are not in a hurry they can be found (you should not retrofit a working m0110!). But, as I said I could make an aluminum case which would be very close to the original. I don't think that would come cheap though.

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depletedvespene

18 May 2019, 13:47

matt3o wrote:
18 May 2019, 08:33
(you should not retrofit a working m0110!).
Of course not! But I haven't run into a dead M0110 so far, so...

(I do have an M0110A that is as good as dead, though)

matt3o wrote:
18 May 2019, 08:33
But, as I said I could make an aluminum case which would be very close to the original. I don't think that would come cheap though.
Third serious, if dumb, question in a row: how would that be different from the "Modern M0110" group buy from last year?

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

18 May 2019, 14:12

that was like a retro-HHKB, more than a modern M0110 if you ask me. Also AFAIK it was just the case not a complete keyboard

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

20 May 2019, 08:15

rather unrelated but while working on the layout I ended up with this:
bubblekeeb.png
bubblekeeb.png (49.44 KiB) Viewed 5045 times
don't know you, but I find it adorable :D I think I should make it

(alternative bottom row may apply)

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depletedvespene

20 May 2019, 13:37

It's not often that I see a 60% keyboard ("58%" would be a more precise moniker) that lacks BOTH the `~ AND the Esc key. Perhaps it would be a straight out necessity to make that 1U BS key into `~ and put Backspace on the left split space bar; more so, perhaps the left Shift key should also be split on the outer side to put another Fn key there.

Ob. disc.: as a lifelong vi user, I am legally required to hate this keyboard layout. Give me a few minutes so I can find more faults with it. :mrgreen:


EDIT: never mind that bit; sub-1U keys are the spawn of the Devil. Serves me right for not having my coffee before doing simple arithmetic.

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

20 May 2019, 18:03

ESC would be FN+1 (or vice-versa). `~ could be to the right of the right shift. c'mon man, it's a custom keyboard, with custom firmware you can do whatever you want. Plus you could place a plethora of 1Us to the bottom row.

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depletedvespene

20 May 2019, 19:11

matt3o wrote:
20 May 2019, 18:03
ESC would be FN+1 (or vice-versa). `~ could be to the right of the right shift. c'mon man, it's a custom keyboard, with custom firmware you can do whatever you want. Plus you could place a plethora of 1Us to the bottom row.
I know. It's just that moving Esc to the Fn layer seems like a violation of all that is well and good in this universe and its surroundings.

Also, don't think alternatives for the bottom row on your BubbleKeeb have not been popping and bursting inside my head all morning. ;)

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matt3o
-[°_°]-

22 May 2019, 12:46

Natural evolution would be
brownfox-redux.png
brownfox-redux.png (52.12 KiB) Viewed 4903 times
which is dramatically close to my very first custom (the brownfox) just without arrow cluster

heymark

28 May 2019, 10:59

1.25 + 12*1 + 1.25
1.25 + 12*1 + 1.25
1.25 + 11*1 + 2.25/1.25 + 12*1 + 1.25
1.25 + 11*1 + 2.25/2.25+10*1+2.25/2.25+11*1+1.25
1.25+1.5+7+1.5+1.25
how about this? i am in if you can do this.

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mcmaxmcmc

28 May 2019, 11:20

Interesting! I have another project in stock at the moment and I've been somewhat struggling to find the R2 1u \ key, at least for GMK caps anyway. I don't think something like DSA would fit the board too well, but you might also be having the same issue as me for the \ key, just a heads up. :)

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

28 May 2019, 11:25

heymark wrote:
28 May 2019, 10:59
1.25 + 12*1 + 1.25
1.25 + 12*1 + 1.25
1.25 + 11*1 + 2.25/1.25 + 12*1 + 1.25
1.25 + 11*1 + 2.25/2.25+10*1+2.25/2.25+11*1+1.25
1.25+1.5+7+1.5+1.25
how about this? i am in if you can do this.
R3 is like 28u?!
mcmaxmcmc wrote:
28 May 2019, 11:20
Interesting! I have another project in stock at the moment and I've been somewhat struggling to find the R2 1u \ key, at least for GMK caps anyway. I don't think something like DSA would fit the board too well, but you might also be having the same issue as me for the \ key, just a heads up. :)
yeah DSA would be probably the only option. I believe I have an SA \| 1u somewhere but I believe I don't have the companion 1.75u return

heymark

28 May 2019, 11:56

:roll: just mean that 2.25 can split 1+1.25

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

28 May 2019, 12:29

oh okay that makes sense :D

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