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My First Keyboard Build

davecooper.org

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Re: My First Keyboard Build

#32

Post by gurgus »

VLM wrote: post #30
DanBC wrote: post #11

About the column wiring: You can buy ptfe sleeving and single core uninsulated wire. PTFE won't melt. Here's one example, it comes in a bunch of sizes and usually in 5 m lengths. Really great write-up btw!

I'd extend the insulation remark that the cognitive load should be spread. So a hundred identical simple diodes should have insulation slipped on all of them and then the somewhat more cognitively challenging job of individual column wiring can just be bare wire. Another suggestion is I've never built a keyboard but I've done weird LED arrays and one trick to pre bend all the leads the same way, involves a chunk of s…

Wow awesome ideas! Also thanks for the bending ideas too - it would definitely help make things much easier on the eye too!

Re: My First Keyboard Build

#34

Post by melling »

sparkie wrote: post #33
melling wrote: post #28

Has anyone built a DataHand or something else that "reinvents" the keyboard? This is already two decades old. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand

There's an ongoing effort by someone to recreate it: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41422.0

Seems to be going slowly. This would be a great Kickstarter project. I'd buy one. Wonder how to gauge the actual Kickstarter interest before putting in the effort?

Re: My First Keyboard Build

#35

Post by ctz »

moron4hire wrote: post #16

Excellent build quality, but I was surprised by these two statements on things you need: A decent soldering iron. You will thank yourself later. Also note: you will burn yourself many times throughout the build. Might as well do it with a fancy iron! LEADED SOLDER – I started the build without leaded solder and oh dear… If you have a "decent soldering iron", then lead-free solder shouldn't be a problem. Also, if you…

> Also, if you live in the EU, leaded solder will be extremely difficult to come by.

Source.

I live in the EU and 60/40 is still the most common solder for hobbyists, and is sold everywhere.

Re: My First Keyboard Build

#36

Post by zokier »

Probably one of the first projects I'll make once I get my electronics workspace set up is a small keyboard based on TL1240 switches.

Like OP, I have found the state of free CAD software bit disappointing, moreso for libre ones. So far my favorite has been the free 2D version of SolidEdge, but it has its quirks and like the name implies it doesn't do 3D at all.

Re: My First Keyboard Build

#37

Post by pcl »

With a diode matrix, is it possible to distinguish multiple simultaneous key presses? And if not, how do you handle modifier keys? Looking at your photo, it would seem that they're wired into the matrix in the same fashion as the rest of the keys.

Re: My First Keyboard Build

#38

Post by zck »

If you're interested in soldering together a keyboard, but not having to design everything from scratch, it's worth checking out the Ergodox: http://ergodox.org/ . I built one a month ago, and I'm enjoying it a lot. It's a two-piece keyboard with straight key columns, and six buttons for each thumb. You can order the parts on massdrop, when they start another order: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox?s=ergodox

It's not perfect, mind you: the thumb islands are three buttons wide, and my thumb rests on the innermost button. And I have hands larger than average; I don't know how someone with smaller hands would find the board. Also, because of the layout changes, some keys (the square braces, enter, - and =) have to be moved somewhere else; the buttons you're used to pressing just aren't there.

There are some tiny parts; if you buy it, get a head-mounted magnifier with a light, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/SE-MH1047L-Illuminated-Multipower-Magn... . I don't know how I would've been able to surface-mount the tiny diodes without it.

Obviously, the downside to having a keyboard with radically different placements of buttons is that going to other keyboards becomes difficult again. I haven't solved this problem, but might end up buying a second one for work.

Re: My First Keyboard Build

#40

Post by sparkie »

inclemnet wrote: post #24
audunw wrote: post #8

If I were to build a keyboard I would definitely take a couple of ideas from typematrix. First of all, staggered keys make absolutely no sense(unles it's actually a typewriter). It takes a week to get used to a straight layout, and it feels more natural. It's not a problem to switch between staggered and matrix layouts either. Second thing I would copy is having enter and backspace between the two halves of the keybo…

> and it feels more natural I've always wondered about this - I don't disbelieve that some people feel this way, but is it really a general consensus? And is there a reason we should expect it, I don't see why staggered keys make fundamentally less sense.

Staggered keys make less sense because they were designed for the typewriter - not the human. Ergo keyboards are designed specifically with the human hand in mind - to reduce finger and hand movement, and place them in comfortable resting positions.

I would say it is a consensus among people who have used non-staggered layouts for a sustained period - the benefits are definitely noticeable to someone with RSI too.

People are satisfied with their keyboard layout because it's good enough for them, and they've not experienced using other layouts enough to compare the benefits. It's very much like PGs "blub paradox", in which the a typist becomes familiar enough with his keyboard that other, allegedly better keyboards seem like only minor improvements - not worth the effort to switch. For most people, this is probably the case - it's only if you're typing for several hours a day that there will be tangible benefits to hand-optimized layouts.

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