4 ms·

Until you realize you can design your own PCB at exactly the size and key count you want...

LoganDark 4y ago
I've been wanting to try this out recently, but have no idea where to start. I know the basic idea is to go grab KiCad (or preferably something else a bit faster, not Python-based), make something (??), send it off to JLCPCB or whatever, buy all the components you need individually and assemble them, etc. but that's about as deep as my knowledge goes. :/
- bschwindHN 4y ago
  > I know the basic idea is to go grab KiCad (or preferably something else a bit faster, not Python-based) Definitely start with KiCad, it's not slow. The majority of it is written in C and C++, but that shouldn't matter if the tool functions well and lets you design what you want to make. It's open source, and perfectly up to the task of designing a keyboard PCB. After the KiCad work, you generate what are called Gerber files. You zip those up, along with files that describe the parts you'll use, and where they get placed on the board. JLCPCB (or any other PCB fabrication shop) will create your boards, and optionally populate them with parts and solder them. In the mail you'll get your (potentially populated) PCBs. At that point, you add switches, stabilizers, keycaps, and hope your design works. Maybe design a case or a top plate for it as well if you want more sturdiness or a more "finished" look. The part you decide at the beginning is if you'll use an off-the-shelf microcontroller (most keyboards use what's called a Pro Micro), or if you'll have the microcontroller soldered directly on the board. If this is your first PCB, I'd recommend going the Pro Micro route. Leaving that circuitry to a tried and tested board means you focus just on the layout and wiring for your key switches. You can get away with just having the PCB shop solder on diodes for each key, you can solder them yourself, or design them as through hole parts to make the soldering even easier (I prefer soldering surface-mount parts to through-hole but I might just be weird). There are tons of guides out there on how to do this. I won't recommend a particular one because I didn't use any singular one when designing mine, but I will say that all the KiCad videos on the youtube channel Phil's Lab are extremely valuable and insightful when it comes to PCB design. Maybe dip your toes in by designing a really simple PCB. You'll quickly see it may not be as complicated as you might have thought. Keyboard PCBs are quite simple in the grand scheme of all the different PCBs out there, so I recommend just jumping right in and learning as you go.

I've been wanting to try this out recently, but have no idea where to start. I know the basic idea is to go grab KiCad (or preferably something else a bit faster, not Python-based), make something (??), send it off to JLCPCB or whatever, buy all the components you need individually and assemble them, etc. but that's about as deep as my knowledge goes. :/

bschwindHN 4y ago
> I know the basic idea is to go grab KiCad (or preferably something else a bit faster, not Python-based) Definitely start with KiCad, it's not slow. The majority of it is written in C and C++, but that shouldn't matter if the tool functions well and lets you design what you want to make. It's open source, and perfectly up to the task of designing a keyboard PCB. After the KiCad work, you generate what are called Gerber files. You zip those up, along with files that describe the parts you'll use, and where they get placed on the board. JLCPCB (or any other PCB fabrication shop) will create your boards, and optionally populate them with parts and solder them. In the mail you'll get your (potentially populated) PCBs. At that point, you add switches, stabilizers, keycaps, and hope your design works. Maybe design a case or a top plate for it as well if you want more sturdiness or a more "finished" look. The part you decide at the beginning is if you'll use an off-the-shelf microcontroller (most keyboards use what's called a Pro Micro), or if you'll have the microcontroller soldered directly on the board. If this is your first PCB, I'd recommend going the Pro Micro route. Leaving that circuitry to a tried and tested board means you focus just on the layout and wiring for your key switches. You can get away with just having the PCB shop solder on diodes for each key, you can solder them yourself, or design them as through hole parts to make the soldering even easier (I prefer soldering surface-mount parts to through-hole but I might just be weird). There are tons of guides out there on how to do this. I won't recommend a particular one because I didn't use any singular one when designing mine, but I will say that all the KiCad videos on the youtube channel Phil's Lab are extremely valuable and insightful when it comes to PCB design. Maybe dip your toes in by designing a really simple PCB. You'll quickly see it may not be as complicated as you might have thought. Keyboard PCBs are quite simple in the grand scheme of all the different PCBs out there, so I recommend just jumping right in and learning as you go.