Was the use of the M.2 slot compliant with usual M.2 pinouts? Seems like an interesting choice. I dug a little, but didn't find much.
You can find more details about M.2 Module here: https://makerdiary.com/collections/frontpage/products/nrf528...
M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
31–40 of 47 posts
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#32I would love to see more enthusiast scissor-switch keyboards. I learned to type on a mechanical keyboard, and I've tried all sorts of modern mechanical keyboards over the years. But I feel like laptop-style scissor switch keyboards are more precise and comfortable. Personally, I make more typing errors on a mechanical keyboard. My current favorite keyboard is an HP Wireless Elite V2.
> But I feel like laptop-style scissor switch keyboards are more precise and comfortable.
I agree. The best keyboard I have ever used was a SteelSeries-branded keyboard in a MSI GT70 Dominator Dragon laptop. The keys had great depth/travel, took a fair bit of pressure to press (only a bit annoying after super long sessions), and coupled with the pressure/feedback, the tactile feel was just amazing. I started with Cherry Reds for a number of years before I realized that the switches were the reason my typing sucked. With Cherry Blues my accuracy got much better but still not perfect, and the switches just felt cheap to press and the clicking noise also sounded cheap/plasticky. Recently I switched to Matias Alps quiet clicks which are reminiscent of that SteelSeries keyboard but still not quite as good - the keycaps don't attach perfectly to the switches so they rattle a bit, and the switches just don't feel as good. I'm going to try some low profile switches once I've convinced myself that it's worth spending another $100-150 on a keyboard which probably won't be that great... Unfortunately I've grown used to a split keyboard with my custom keymap and I love it a lot more than the normal keyboard layout so I'm stuck with shitty switches.
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#33Is there an off the shelf MicroPython board that can be used to make something like this using wired switches in a Dactyl / Manuform style keyboard. I see a lot of bespoke keyboard boards using socket style microcontrollers as well.
At the bottom of the page there's a link to an article on hand wiring this keyboard: https://makerdiary.com/blogs/mechanical-keyboards/a-hand-wir.... That article in the list of materials lists 'Pitaya Go': https://github.com/makerdiary/pitaya-go. From that page I also found to https://makerdiary.com/collections/frontpage where you can buy one. And the code from the hand wiring post: https://github.com/makerdiary/python-keyboard.
It's a bit expensive at $30 but seems a lot better than the Pro Micros normally used with QMK, and the shop has other form factors which are cheaper. With WiFi on the chip too this could potentially push forward the frontier of cool keyboards.
I wonder how hard it would be to make a split keyboard with these. Probably you could do I2C over a TRRS cable.
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#34I wonder how all these maker sellers get along with Bluetooth SiG certification. Edit: I mean, the product is presented very well. There was a clear investment in time and money. And because of that, this question was the first thing that came to my mind.
They likely use off-the-shelf bluetooth modules which are already certified, and just talk some kind of higher-level protocol over it which sits above the SiG certification.
Many think this is true (even I did) but it's not. You have to certify the product anyway, even if you use an off-the-shelf module.
The only difference is that you can "certify with test" and "certify without test" (and price changes, starting from 5K a pop). Even evaluation boards and for prototyping, so I guess a end-user keyboard has to be certified[1].
[1] https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/1352...
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#35I would be interested to know what are the real advantages of using Python, instead of the well-established QMK, and what is the purpose of having a M.2 bay (unless that's where the Bluetooth module plugs in). The PCB looks cool though, and BLE 5.0 is relatively uncommon nowadays (most keyboards rely on older, thus cheaper, Bluetooth enabled SoCs), but apart from that, I see little appeal for someone already invested…
> what is the purpose of having a M.2 bay
To plug an NRF52840
https://makerdiary.com/collections/frontpage/products/nrf528...
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#36What's the point of hand-wiring?
"The Quality Goes In before the Name Goes On. From Zenith, the last TV manufacturer to adopt printed circuits.[1] Not a successful business strategy.
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#37I would love to see more enthusiast scissor-switch keyboards. I learned to type on a mechanical keyboard, and I've tried all sorts of modern mechanical keyboards over the years. But I feel like laptop-style scissor switch keyboards are more precise and comfortable. Personally, I make more typing errors on a mechanical keyboard. My current favorite keyboard is an HP Wireless Elite V2.
I’ve been very happy with a dell premier wireless (717 not the 616 or whatever) scissor keyboard and mouse combo purchased 3 years ago. I don’t care for the mouse at all (don’t use it). I like the key feel much better than HPs offering that I have also used.
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#38One of the things the Planck Rev 6 PCB made me realize is how important hotswap is for me personally. First, I have _dozens_ of interesting mechanical keyboard kits which are un-built because I simply don't have the convenient time & place to set up my soldering equipment. Second, some of the kits I've managed to build have bricked on me due to unexplained microcontroller problems, and while I have an expensive desol…
Maybe a dumb question but why don't more mech keyboards have hotswap? That seems like a great feature I don't remember ever coming across in the few times I've bought them.
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#39One of the things the Planck Rev 6 PCB made me realize is how important hotswap is for me personally. First, I have _dozens_ of interesting mechanical keyboard kits which are un-built because I simply don't have the convenient time & place to set up my soldering equipment. Second, some of the kits I've managed to build have bricked on me due to unexplained microcontroller problems, and while I have an expensive desol…
Maybe a dumb question but why don't more mech keyboards have hotswap? That seems like a great feature I don't remember ever coming across in the few times I've bought them.
I'm getting the feeling that hotswap in this context doesn't refer to being able to plug/unplug the keyboard from the computer while the computer is on[1], since I've never seen a keyboard that wasn't able to do that. So, this may be a dumber question, but what's being referred to as hotswap in this context?
Re: M60 – Open-Source USB&BLE, Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Python
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe a dumb question but why don't more mech keyboards have hotswap? That seems like a great feature I don't remember ever coming across in the few times I've bought them.
I'm getting the feeling that hotswap in this context doesn't refer to being able to plug/unplug the keyboard from the computer while the computer is on[1], since I've never seen a keyboard that wasn't able to do that. So, this may be a dumber question, but what's being referred to as hotswap in this context? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_swapping
> A keyboard being hot-swappable means the PCB (which, simply put, is the circuit board inside the keyboard) has special sockets so that you can click switches into place and pull them out without ever needing to touch a soldering gun.
From a Google search :-)