Phantom

This article requires additional photographic illustration — would be nice to have some photos of completed keyboards

Phantom Logo

Note: To learn how to build a Phantom, please look at the Phantom instruction guide.

Introduction

The Phantom is a community-developed design, for a tenkeyless keyboard with plate-mounted Cherry MX switches, intended to fit inside the case from a Filco Majestouch tenkeyless keyboard. Parts were produced/procured and sold together in a Phantom Group Buy during 2012, which did not include any case.

The keyboard was engineered by bpiphany (formely "PrinsValium") following the original idea of HaveANiceDay. Bpiphany owns the copyright of the PCB. There is text on the circuit board: "All rights reserved, but just ask I won't charge anything".

The unique qualities of the Phantom are:

Different layouts with the same PCB. Plates were made for ISO and ANSI, with and without Windows keys (and for a special "7bit layout"). The PCB supported more layout options than the official plates.
Fully programmable controller.
Custom-designed mounting holes in the switch plates, allowing most switches to be opened without desoldering so that e.g. the switch type can be changed.

The controller is a Teensy 2.0, mounted under the main PCB between the rows for function and numeric keys. Unfortunately, not all third party cases that can hold the innards of a Filco have room for this controller board.

The original group order was conducted during 2012. A few group orders for specific parts have been (are) organised afterwards.

Please read the Phantom instruction guides to know what to do with all those parts that could be ordered in the Phantom Group Buy.