This repository will host all the source code, CAD files, and diagrams I will be using to build my second custom keyboard (you can find my first one here).
Similar to my first keyboard, I want to first do some research on what layout I am looking for, draw it up on my computer, and then do some experimentation. Unlike my first build, I would like to make this keyboard ortholinear (non staggered), and start exploring the realm of layered functionality instead of limiting my layout to predefined standards like qwerty. Interesting layouts exist like dvorak that seem cool to learn, and could possibly be better.
Ideally, I would like to utilize my 3D printer somehow in this build to dust off my PLA reels and would want to explore some woodworking in this keyboard, possibly utilizing some sort of joint system like any of these.
The plan to implement the keyboard will probably go in this order:
- Design Keyboard Layout
- Decide on switches
- Design PCB, if needed
- Design Case in CAD
- Fabricate Keyboard
Software:
Hardware:
After some internal discourse, I am currently looking at following a keyboard layout:
This keyboard utilizes another layer, that can only be access by pressing the fn button on the right of the spacebar. This will allow me to have all the buttons on a full keyboard while retaining the size I want in this build. So in simpler terms, any function that is found on the bottom right of the key in the diagram can only be access when holding the Fn button.
I plugged in the raw JSON of this layout into Plate Creator, and produced a 2d version of the file that will turn into my plate layer.
Settings:
Output:
This now will be used in my CAD designs. Note that in my settings I only wish to use costar stabilizers and dont want the notches for easy access to the internals of the switch. I want to lower the cost of fabricating the switch layer, due to budgeting reasons, and simple geometry is a factor when you design a metal plate to be fed into a CNC.
My case will revolve around utilizing cherry switches, a metal 1.5 mm switch layer, and some sort of cable interface. For my cad modeling, I will be using drawings based on the layered json files, produced by [Keyboard Layout Editor]{http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/}. My 3D assemblies also include models from these resources:
- [Keycaps]{https://github.com/dankwookiee/Kieeboard}
- [Cherry Switch]{https://grabcad.com/library/cherry-mx-switches-mx-1}.
One of the more important aspects of this build for me is to produce some sort of keyboard that is both beautiful in design, and easy to take apart. For this reason, I would like to look into some sort of cool wood joining. After perusing this book, I have found an interesting joint I feel would be cool to implement:
So after a couple of hours of CAD, I came up with this:
Adding a keyed version of the middle piece would render this:
Now that I have done some CAD on my design, I can use the size requirements from it to build a PCB. I have not made a PCB from scratch before, so I will be refering to this guide in order to do it.
More will be coming as I keep designing the keyboard. I hope you have found any information you need so far, and please do not hesistate to reach out if you have any comments or questions on this guide/project :)
- Nick