My first keyboard project
Posted: 24 Jan 2015, 21:39
Well, I hope I am posting this on the right place. If I am not, please, forgive me for my clumsiness. Also forgive my English, as I am not a native speaker...
So, I love to type. I do not measure my speed or anything like that, but I get quite a good precision while doing this task. And I like to write. Therefore, I use keyboards a lot. I also like to game, so I press many keys a lot of times.
The thing is - I live in Brazil, and we get an awkward keyboard here. It has some special keys such as the รง, and this ends up messing the entire keyboard layout. My typing speed falls down quite a lot when I use a Brazilian keyboard. Four years ago I lived abroad and bought myself a Logitech Wave, which was quite amazing. It lasted for about 4 years, and now some keys are getting stuck. It is also way too bulky, roundy and does not look so pretty. Therefore, I need a new keyboard.
I am a designer. I love to create stuff. The thing that makes me really happy is to create things. I start with some flour, water and olive oil and end up with an amazing pizza. I start up with a blank page and after one hour I have a story. I start with wood and end up with a desk (I am building my new computer desk filled with goodies). So... why not building my own keyboard? One that will last (in theory) for many many years?
I will use mechanical switches. I am actually buying a sample of the Cherry MX to see which ones feels best for me. I want to mount them on a PCB, and have the keys 3D printed, so they can fit my exact specifications of design, colour and shape, and I want to make the case with laser-cut (and engraved) acrylic.
Now, for my questions:
-I have experience with 3D printing and laser cutting. Manufacturing the pieces that I can't buy will be rather easy for me. I know how the keyboard should work, and I actually feel quite comfortable using the one that is installed on my mac book (guilty, I know... I got used to it regarding key layout). I need, therefore, around 80 keys. No lateral keypad, no keys such as pause, print screen or all that stuff. Are there pre-designed PCBs I can use or I will have to design one myself?
-Which controller would be best for my application? I have friends who are way better on electronics than I am, so I have people who can help programming them and all that stuff. I just have to know what to buy...
-I noticed that some keyboards use a "spring" for longer keys. I noticed that others use three switches so you can press the spacebar on either side. Which one is the best solution?
SORRY for the long post! Thank you! <3
I will be more than glad (quite proud, actually :B) to share my progress with you. I am now more worried about the insides of the keyboard rather than its looks. I f you want, I can share the 3D printing files I will use for the keycaps.
So, I love to type. I do not measure my speed or anything like that, but I get quite a good precision while doing this task. And I like to write. Therefore, I use keyboards a lot. I also like to game, so I press many keys a lot of times.
The thing is - I live in Brazil, and we get an awkward keyboard here. It has some special keys such as the รง, and this ends up messing the entire keyboard layout. My typing speed falls down quite a lot when I use a Brazilian keyboard. Four years ago I lived abroad and bought myself a Logitech Wave, which was quite amazing. It lasted for about 4 years, and now some keys are getting stuck. It is also way too bulky, roundy and does not look so pretty. Therefore, I need a new keyboard.
I am a designer. I love to create stuff. The thing that makes me really happy is to create things. I start with some flour, water and olive oil and end up with an amazing pizza. I start up with a blank page and after one hour I have a story. I start with wood and end up with a desk (I am building my new computer desk filled with goodies). So... why not building my own keyboard? One that will last (in theory) for many many years?
I will use mechanical switches. I am actually buying a sample of the Cherry MX to see which ones feels best for me. I want to mount them on a PCB, and have the keys 3D printed, so they can fit my exact specifications of design, colour and shape, and I want to make the case with laser-cut (and engraved) acrylic.
Now, for my questions:
-I have experience with 3D printing and laser cutting. Manufacturing the pieces that I can't buy will be rather easy for me. I know how the keyboard should work, and I actually feel quite comfortable using the one that is installed on my mac book (guilty, I know... I got used to it regarding key layout). I need, therefore, around 80 keys. No lateral keypad, no keys such as pause, print screen or all that stuff. Are there pre-designed PCBs I can use or I will have to design one myself?
-Which controller would be best for my application? I have friends who are way better on electronics than I am, so I have people who can help programming them and all that stuff. I just have to know what to buy...
-I noticed that some keyboards use a "spring" for longer keys. I noticed that others use three switches so you can press the spacebar on either side. Which one is the best solution?
SORRY for the long post! Thank you! <3
I will be more than glad (quite proud, actually :B) to share my progress with you. I am now more worried about the insides of the keyboard rather than its looks. I f you want, I can share the 3D printing files I will use for the keycaps.