Mechanical Keyboards

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Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

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Nice73 my design (self.mechanicalkeyboards)

submitted 1 year ago by daninet to c/[email protected]

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The non english keycap market is really small and have always held me back from switching to mechanical. I didnt like any of the options. I found a video https://youtu.be/JR1BwcFyexQ where it is explained in great detail how to make your own keycaps with a "cheap" diode laser. This was the last push, I have ordered blank keys, switches, teensy and started designing in fusion. I have a large(er) format printer so i was able to print it in 1 piece. Bottom made of bamboo pla, plate is petg. I did the handwiring with magnet wire, I found this to be the simplest option. There is a single capslock led under CL key. Firmware is QMK, I have 1 extra layer only for FN and 1 macro for the youtube key.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wow, this looks amazing. I would love a more detailed writeup on how to do this; I think I would be able to do something like this, but there are too many details I have no experience of.

[–] daninet 2 points 1 year ago

I'm really happy to help you with any question. Start with the following:

create your own layout in KLE, it is simple and fun: http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/
Generate the backplate from the KLE output http://builder.swillkb.com/
Load the backplate dxf into your cad file of choice and start experimenting with a case around it.

for lasering the keycaps look on this guide: https://youtu.be/JR1BwcFyexQ for wiring kbfirmware can generate you the wiring https://kbfirmware.com/