How to Build a Custom Mechanical Keyboard: An Easy Guide

Table Of Content

• Compact, portable gas stove eliminates wire mesh, making it easy to clean after camping outdoors!
• Columbia University shifts classes to remote-only after a wave of protests on campus
• Keychron C3 Pro
• Step 3: Get the Equipment Required
• The Sound Test
• Step 5: Lube Your Switches (Optional)
• Step 4: Fine-Tuning Your Custom Keyboard

For wired keyboards, you want a detachable USB cable so you don’t have to replace your entire device if the cord ever frays or breaks. We also valued keyboards that are easy to program and customize through software, whether it’s a manufacturer-specific app or popular open-source programs like VIA. Not everyone will go through the trouble to set macros, customize backlighting or remap keys, but it’s better to have the option if your mindset changes down the road. These can be adorable, but they usually involve removing the number row, which is a step too far for most people.

Compact, portable gas stove eliminates wire mesh, making it easy to clean after camping outdoors!

There’s zero flex to this thing, no matter how much I abuse it during testing. Each clack bounces back from a rock-steady base and even the plastic underside feels durable and secure. That sturdy design means the G Pro X 60 feels a little heavier than other options in the hand, but with the included hard-shell carry case it’s still easier to transport than other decks. It also means you won’t be worrying about knocking the whole deck around during gameplay either. The G Pro X 60 looks like pretty much any other 60% keyboard at first glance - save for the white G-styled escape key on my all-black model and a trim of shiny aluminum around the base plate’s edge.

Columbia University shifts classes to remote-only after a wave of protests on campus

Download eMachineShop’s free CAD to start with a keyboard design from our extensive library of parts and shapes. When you’re done customizing your keyboard, have it analyzed and quoted for manufacturing right in the software. There is a saying in the custom mechanical keyboard community where people are trying to reach their “endgame keyboard” which is basically the perfect keyboard that fits their needs. If you haven’t had a chance to build a custom keyboard, we recommend starting out by doing some basic mods to your keyboard so you can see the improvement for yourself.

Keychron C3 Pro

By setting the grid to 50mils, the mouse pointer will snap from point grid to point grid. Every component will be laid out on this grid, and IC pins will also be aligned on such a grid. This way you make sure wires will be connected correctly to the pins of the component without having to precisely aim to the pins. If you were to use a smaller grid, you’d do a lot of small misalignment and some pins would end up not connected. The design will use an USB-C connector and a protection circuit to prevent electro-static discharges to destroy the keyboard electronics. So I said earlier that I got some Salmon and Orange Alps SKCM switches that were desoldered from an existing 90s AEK.

We offer a great variety of keycap sets in various materials as well as colorways for you to choose from. Compatible with 1400+ keyboards and easily added to other QMK keyboards. Born out of a shared love of custom design & quality products, we create custom setups to match your vibes and style. You can’t find the perfect keyboard, the only option is to build MORE.

World's First Mechanical Keyboard with Built-In Autocomplete Lets You Type (and Code) 3x Faster - Yanko Design

World's First Mechanical Keyboard with Built-In Autocomplete Lets You Type (and Code) 3x Faster.

Posted: Fri, 20 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If you want to also start designing a PCB, I would suggest to read ai03’s tutorial (several times) and try to follow every steps. That’s a good way to get familiar with Kicad and its shortcuts. Since I was very rusty in this field, I needed a refresher on PCB design and keyboard inner workings.

Step 5: Lube Your Switches (Optional)

There’s a huge market for third-party keycaps in all different styles, from the playful to the professional to the proudly impractical. The majority of mechanical keyboards make it easy to swap in new keycaps, so it’s usually not a huge deal if you ever get bored with your device's stock set. Of the next-level mods that many keyboard enthusiasts get into, some are expensive, and some not. One of the simplest things you can do to improve your keyboard’s typing sound is also one of the cheapest. It's called the "Tempest Tape Mod," after the YouTuber who first implemented it in 2021. This mod involves opening up your keyboard, releasing the PCB from inside the frame, and coating the underside of the PCB with a non-conductive tape, like masking tape.

Step 4: Fine-Tuning Your Custom Keyboard

If you want to lube your switches, now would be a great time to do so. Basically, you need to pull apart every switch and apply lube to the lower housing, spring, stem, and upper housing. Having a switch opener makes your life a million times easier and saves time too.

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If your kit includes separate standoffs, screw them into place now. If your plate does not attach by another method, install switches in all four corners and in the center of the keyboard to hold it in place. If this is the case, disassemble the case to retrieve these parts. If these parts arrive separated, or the keyboard does not require disassembly for building, such as a tray mount or friction fit keyboard, proceed to the next step. Be sure to note whether your PCB and case use stabilizers that mount directly to the PCB via clips or screws or snap onto the plate. Enthusiasts tend to prefer screw in PCB-mounted stabilizers for their added stability but the most important thing is that they are compatible.

Depending on what you're looking to do, you often need to reference the tool's documentation, various YouTube guides, and an assortment of best-practice GitHub repos. I'm still carrying a torch for long form written how-tos, but what really lit a fire under me was the release of Ergogen v4. Grab some of our best-selling stabilizers, springs, and switch films for your next keyboard build.

The mod will make your typing experience much more enjoyable and in conjunction with lubing your switches, you’ll have an awesome feeling/sounding keyboard. Now that your keyboard is functioning, you can be content with a job well done or take it a step further and program it with a custom layout. If it uses its own software suite, download that and have fun remapping keys. If it uses QMK, an open-source software popular among keyboard kits, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Set the frame down on a clean, level surface and start installing key switches one by one, making sure to line up the pins with the holes in the PCB. When installing the switches, it's important not to use more force than necessary to set them in place. Any unnecessary stress can damage the pins on the switch or even the PCB itself.

If you've never made a PCB before, routing is the process of drawing traces to connect two points on a circuit board. All those lines criss-crossing a PCB are physical electrical wires. The Outline section allows users to define the shape of their keyboard. This is done by creating a variety of vector shape definitions. Creating a new Ergogen config is as simple as opening ergogen.cache.works and clearing the text on the left side of the screen.

Many PC gamers prefer them because they’re often light and fast to actuate, so they can register inputs quickly. They tend to be quieter than other switch types as well, but some may find them too sensitive. Helheim Designs, founded and run by two friends with backgrounds in illustration and engineering, we strive to bring quality keyboard kits that push the boundaries of a standard keyboard. At the end of this process, you'll have an unrouted PCB file.

Most open-source keyboard designs don’t have this diode either, probably for the same reason. To be noted that most of the Atmega32U4-based arduino board out-there don’t have the diode either. The ESD protection diode is just a standard diode (some recommend a Zener diode there). To add a label, press the Ctrl-H key and type it’s name (XTAL1), then place it onto the XTAL1 pin. You might need to rotate the label either during creation or afterward (with r).

They are a bit harder to find, but if you are interested in reading about the other material types, you can check out our full guide on case materials here. Acrylic cases are super interesting, they are made from a plastic that has the material properties of glass. They are super light and let the lighting effects shine through the case. For now, just get an idea of what your ideal keyboard will have in terms of features. If you purchased a kit, refer back to how it was assembled originally.