lectroniceI've started to build myself a Levinson (40% ortholinear split keyboard) and I'm really enjoying the whole process. Except soldering burns maybe.
Soldering diodes and resistors on the Levinson PCBs was the easy part. I think I've finally understood how to use a soldering iron (and I also think the one I use is crap).
Building a 40% split keyboard, part 3: among various other components, I had to solder that awfully tiny thing called a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and it was a long and painful process. Twice, of course.
That special moment when you've finally soldered everything on your keyboard and suddenly notice you've forgotten the one resistor that would require to de-solder all 24 switches to be installed properly and light up that single missing LED: priceless.
Adventures in mechanical keyboards land update: switches (Hako violet, lovely smooth, light and tactile) have been installed. Entering the hazardous "let's flash the micro controllers and solder them if they work" phase.
Keyboard micro controllers flashed, tested and soldered. It's alive! In fact I had no idea if everything worked or not until I soldered both controllers, especially with this strange mirrored master/slave system, but apparently it does.
More keyboard building adventures: everything is now set up and working. All I need is to add keycaps, then customize the hell out of my layout, because as a French user, I need access to a bunch of annoyingly accented characters.
My 40% split keyboard is now fully working and almost complete (I'm waiting for some RGB LEDs to arrive). It's been a blast to build, and it's a joy to use! That feeling when claiming power over technology I use daily, no matter how simple, is hugely satisfying.
Upgraded my keyboard with some 16.5 and 2 mm silicone bumpers. I wasn't sure about the height but the inclination seems just right for me. And it's indeed way better than blu-tack to keep the keyboard in place.
I'm about to solder a strip of RGB LEDs to my keyboard and I've no idea what I'm doing because the only guide is for another model with a different PCB. Where would be the fun if I had exact instructions, though?
Keyboard underglow LEDs update. Here's what I've soldered to my split PCB: two strips of six SK6812 addressable LEDs, with a few awkwardly bent wires and a bit of guesswork.
More keyboard underglow adventures. These LEDs are much more powerful than what I expected and kind of brutal to look at directly. But they work, no doubt!
Split keyboard underglow update: seems like it works! I still need to do some programming in order to get color settings I like. There are weird default modes like Christmas blinking lights and Knight Rider red scanner...
I've finally understood how to tweak the underglow code of my keyboard and I think I might set the house on fire without a soldering iron.
The problem with my keyboard underglow is it's so bright it reveals all the tiny specks of dust that lie not only on the bottom plate, but also on my whole desk. On the plus side, maybe I'll do the cleaning more often.
I've finally received the Teletype Z-Series keyset I ordered a while ago and it looks really good, I can't wait to try it out on my keyboard.
gaeel@lectronice Let me know what they're like to type on
They seem super awkward to me, but I've noticed a few keyboards with them on, so maybe they're okay?
They seem super awkward to me, but I've noticed a few keyboards with them on, so maybe they're okay?
@gaeel Well, after using this keyset during the afternoon, I'd say I like it better than my previous XDA keyset. It doesn't feel especially awkward, even if gaps between keys are indeed wider. I love the texture, and the small concavity of each key reminds me of a fidget cube.
I shall mention a few keys bear some light scratches due to plastic removal, and they aren't perfectly aligned because I didn't solder my switches with a lot of precision. Still pretty cool in my opinion :)