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Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

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Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#31

Post by dec0dedab0de »

Majromax wrote: post #26
dec0dedab0de wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not a lawyer, but as I understand it the license is a matter of copyright, and the copyright only applies to the design files. So as long as you're making that keyboard for yourself then you should be good to do anything you want with the keyboard, because it is no longer using the license at that point. Now, what is interesting is if someone were to blatantly violate the license and start manufacturing commercial ke…

> Not a lawyer, but as I understand it the license is a matter of copyright, and the copyright only applies to the design files. So as long as you're making that keyboard for yourself then you should be good to do anything you want with the keyboard, because it is no longer using the license at that point. What if I take the design, print it, include the thing in a staged photo, and sell prints of the photo? What if…

What if I print the design, then use a 3D scanner to recreate a file from the physical artifact?

Hmm, without patents it would definitely be fine to scan an existing one and recreate it. I think this would be fine too, but any time you are clearly going out of your way to skirt the law is a red flag. The thing is, I don't even think technical designs are copyrightable outside of their aesthetic value.

What if I take the design, print it, include the thing in a staged photo, and sell prints of the photo?

What if I skip the printing and use the design files as a basis for a rendered photo or animation?

If it is indeed covered by copyright, then these would likely be violations, though I guess it depends on how prominent it is in the staged photo.

...this stuff is fun to think about.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#32

Post by ch_123 »

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #21

I have an IBM Model M, but after prolonged sessions of coding, my finger joints are aching. Are these Keychron keyboard have better switches or what are the experience using these mechanical ones?

Quite likely - the buckling spring switches in Model M are quite stiff as far as keyboards go. Brown switches are a good choice if you want a light switch with some amount of tactility.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#33

Post by post-it »

Majromax wrote: post #26
dec0dedab0de wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not a lawyer, but as I understand it the license is a matter of copyright, and the copyright only applies to the design files. So as long as you're making that keyboard for yourself then you should be good to do anything you want with the keyboard, because it is no longer using the license at that point. Now, what is interesting is if someone were to blatantly violate the license and start manufacturing commercial ke…

> Not a lawyer, but as I understand it the license is a matter of copyright, and the copyright only applies to the design files. So as long as you're making that keyboard for yourself then you should be good to do anything you want with the keyboard, because it is no longer using the license at that point. What if I take the design, print it, include the thing in a staged photo, and sell prints of the photo? What if…

You're asking some pretty niche copyright questions that even a lawyer would have to spend time searching for case law for. It may be more expedient to look for that case law yourself.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#34

Post by dddw »

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #21

I have an IBM Model M, but after prolonged sessions of coding, my finger joints are aching. Are these Keychron keyboard have better switches or what are the experience using these mechanical ones?

Some would call buckling spring style (which inm keyboard use) surperiour to all the mx style switches. It is definitly on the more tactile end, so having aches doesnt surpise me. The variety in MX switches is bonkers. A well known switch collector called Theramingoat has over 4000 different ones. So if you get a hotswap board (keychron is not a bad place to start, but you can find better value-board for the same money nowadays), you can definitely find a switch of your liking. Check out milktooth, you can get a sample pack of different switches to try. And return the ones you dont like.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#35

Post by delecti »

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #21

I have an IBM Model M, but after prolonged sessions of coding, my finger joints are aching. Are these Keychron keyboard have better switches or what are the experience using these mechanical ones?

There is (deliberately) not much consistency or uniformity on the switches in mechanical because keyboard nerds are such a picky bunch. I got the Keychron Q11 specifically because the switches could be changed out. I replaced the Brown switches it came with with some "Zilent V2" switches with a much higher activation force.

It can be a dangerous rabbit hole if you let it, but if you're just looking for an approximation of the Model M but that requires less force, then something with "Brown" switches might be up your alley. This one in particular has a similar aesthetic, comes with Brown switches as an option, and at a pretty good price.

https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-c2-pro-8k-qmk-via...

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#36

Post by delecti »

burnt-resistor wrote: post #20

The only problems I have with the Q6 Max are: - It's way, way too heavy. Heavier than my Northgate Omnikey Ultra. Like it's more adept as an improvised weapon as much as any keyboard ever was. - Didn't come with all black enter and escape caps (they were red orange), requiring purchasing an expensive complete replacement set. Minor areas for improvement: ~ Battery life could be better. ~ Charging takes a long time an…

Can't speak much to most of your complaints (I like my keyboard heavy, planned to change all the keycaps and switches, and didn't get a wireless keyboard), but you can download an offline version of Via to configure it. https://github.com/the-via/releases/releases

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#37

Post by cosmic_cheese »

I have their Q60, which is a retro-themed HHKB layout 60% board. Paired with a set of beige-Mac-themed MT3 Extended 2048 keycaps, out of my collection it's one of my favorites and sees some of the most use. It goes head to head with pricier one-off hobbyist boards.

I wonder how suitable these CAD files would be for either CNCing or resin-printing a translucent fruit-colored plastic case for a different flavor of retro. That'd be really cool.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#38

Post by nhecker »

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #21

I have an IBM Model M, but after prolonged sessions of coding, my finger joints are aching. Are these Keychron keyboard have better switches or what are the experience using these mechanical ones?

I can give a third vote to the rough comparison between a keyboard with brown switches, and a Model M. I've got both, and like both.

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#39

Post by TimBurman »

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #21

I have an IBM Model M, but after prolonged sessions of coding, my finger joints are aching. Are these Keychron keyboard have better switches or what are the experience using these mechanical ones?

I've had three keyboards with red switches, two from Ducky that were Cherry switches and one from Lenovo that may be another company's switches, but feel the same. None failed on their own but I spilled drinks on the first two and they were never the same. Maybe check out some of the lighter switches, even reds are way lighter than my old 1990s model M. https://www.cherry.de/en-gb/products/switches

Re: Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

#40

Post by pc86 »

post-it wrote: post #33
Majromax wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Not a lawyer, but as I understand it the license is a matter of copyright, and the copyright only applies to the design files. So as long as you're making that keyboard for yourself then you should be good to do anything you want with the keyboard, because it is no longer using the license at that point. What if I take the design, print it, include the thing in a staged photo, and sell prints of the photo? What if…

You're asking some pretty niche copyright questions that even a lawyer would have to spend time searching for case law for. It may be more expedient to look for that case law yourself.

If you need to be an attorney to figure out if you're allowed to take a picture of something, we've already jumped the shark.
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