ErgoDox build ...

A colleague of mine at GeekHack.org asked me to build one ErgoDox for him - he didn't like to solder SMD components.

After one month I could build his little keyboard:

I'm waiting for his pictures with the Keycaps ...

Open Source Cherry/Alps Keyboard - GH65

Hi guys, long time no see you. There's a while since my last post - that's because I've been working into a few projects that I need to finish to keep my spirits up (my quadcopter for instance). I said that I need to finish a few projects? Now I do have to finish more one! I got kinda envious of my friend Gilson's printer and then I started another project (one Prusa I3). Yes, my procrastination list is still huge! Thanks to you Gilson!

One month or so ago Matt3o asked me if I could design a PCB for an Keyboard layout he had in mind at that time (picture 1). You can see more about his topic at the GeekHack forum - there are also a few awesome pictures of his keyboard there.

Picture 1, Matt3o Layout

After almost 3 weeks I came up with the 2 PCBs below:

Picture 2, complete PCB - GitHub Kicad files here

Picture 3, PCB with headers to attach the Teensy 2.0 board - Github Kicad files here

Matt3o ended up using direct wiring into his keyboard (I think he got impatient waiting for my design) and we didn't used these PCBs for real. Would be good to have a complete review before you do decide to order it into a fab house (OSH for instance).

Open Source Alps Keyboard - GH60

If you do know what ALPs Switches are you do also know that there aren't many open source projects out there for this old fella - that's why the guys at the GeekHack forum came up with the idea to build one PCB to this little prehistoric switch.

The credit goes for Michal Trybus (Komar007 @ Geekhack), I just got his rev b project files and changed the switches used on it to fit the ALPs footprint. You can get more info regarding the original GH60 project at here and if you do want to know more about the Alps version at here.

This project is still up and running, right now we are just waiting the best moment to start the beta-testing and group buy action.

GH60 ALPs PCB, Github Kicad files here.

GH60 ALPs PCB Back side

Mechanical Keyboards

What do you think about a guy who's willing to spend US$ 300,00 on a single keyboard key? Yes, a keycap, that little square thing that you press to get chars into your text editor in order to write your marvelous texts (this one excluded, please, my English sucks and I'm shy anyway).

Right now everybody is talking about the Pope's ring, don't know why. Even you, I doubt you haven't heard about it. This dummie ring is just a piece of gold (metal, diamonds, etc), used to adorn one ancient finger. Useless stuff, however, I'm sure that this loveable ring costs more than this stupid keycap ...

Have you ever heard about keycaps that glow in the dark? Better than the ring (I could melt the ring to make some keycaps though).

Don't complain about the keycap and I'll shut my mouth. Who cares anyway?

The thing is that keyboards are awesome devices to start working in the microcontrollers world - they are cheap and I bet they are everywhere in the universe where there is intelligent life. A keyboard is basically a microcontroller tied to a matrix of switches arranged according to your keyboard design. A few switches wired into an array matrix, a few leds, the microcontroller and the software to read the switches, it's as simple as that.

You will see that there are a huge community out there designing and building really cool keyboards. Take a look:

WARNING: the content below is highly addictive for geeks.

GeekHack Forum

Geekhack projects summary

DeskThority Forum

Only three links but the amount of info there is bound to thrill you! Lots of awesome pictures too ...

This ring is only US$ 255 bucks.

I still haven't finished my "USB Devices" tutorial because I bumped into all this keyboard stuff (as I have said: it's addictive!).

Revised on 14/08/2013