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richfiles
275
Sep 25, 2015
Okay... I think I have that plate buy figured out... It's not a selection of existing plates, rather it's a selection of plates that other people have already added to the order, and you submit a prototype plate for them to add. I'm gonna go for it... Blue anodized to go with blue Danger Zone keys! :D
So, before I submit, I have a modified 75% +1 layout that appears to allow full sized modifier and shift keys... AKA, the Base key cap kit should populate this modified 75% and not require ANY odd sizes. It supports symmetrically placed 1.25u modifier keys, three on each side of the space bar, which is 6.25u. The left shift is 2.25u and the right shift is 2.75u. It has inverted T arrows next to the right shift and modifiers, and has F1-12, as well as Del, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, and 6 more 1u keys that can be made into whatever you like, three up in the top row, and 3 by the arrow keys.
Also, is the stem on the caps lock key centered with no stabilizer? I intend to use the stepped caps lock key. The plate was generated based on the stock Keycool 84 layout, with my modifications performed to it. I don't wanna order a plate and find the caps lock key is wrong.
Can I get a quick confirmation that this keyboard is in line with the key sizes of the base kit?
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Data
2004
Data
Sep 25, 2015
richfilesYes, although there are no media keys in any kit. (You could substitute from the Wingman Pack.)
richfiles
275
Sep 25, 2015
DataAwesome! I actually have a spare 0.25u of empty space in the bottom row, between the right modifiers and the arrows... It looks like the Goose pack's "wings" key and Danger Zone key are both 1.5u, while the basic kit modifiers are 1.25u. Is this also correct, cause if it is, I may slide my modifiers down so I can make my left modifiers 1.25u, 1.25u, and 1.5u, space, and then three 1.25u mods on the right, then the arrow keys, with no gaps.
That ought to work, correct?
And yeah, I'll be using other keys in those 1u locations, since I do have a yellow Esc, a red Eject, a yellow Enter (so i have both Return and Enter, even though they both say enter) and the D☆Z that can go in, even before I even consider the Wingman pack. Heck... The Arrows pack is looking more and more attractive, just to get those Up and Down keys for volume (not to mention, yellow keys will make the arrows stand out nicely). I rarely use media keys, but I might if I had them. I DO a lot of screenshots though, so Print Screen would be useful to me, and Mac OS can bind that to the Print Screen key. This is looking like the way to go! Of course, seeing it is probably best! :D
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lectral13
108
Sep 25, 2015
richfilesWhat size space bar is that?
richfiles
275
Sep 25, 2015
lectral13It's a 6.25u spacebar, I believe that is the stock space bar that comes with the base kit. Everything on that layout can be filled by the base kit, though I am personally buying the Wingman pack, Number Pad Pack, and Goose pack. I also did the render with the arrow key pack's yellow arrows, cause i'm now tempted to snag that one up too.
I submitted a plate order at the link below. They have a whole 13 hours left on their countdown!
http://leandren.bigcartel.com/prototyper-round-1
MindJuice
117
Sep 25, 2015
richfilesThis is a sweet layout! Are you building this yourself?
Some of the Keycool layouts are weird, like the ones with the oversized arrow keys. This is better.
lectral13
108
Sep 25, 2015
richfilesThat is a great layout, I almost asked to piggyback on your order but I still think that I am to new to mech keyboards to have a custom layout.
richfiles
275
Sep 25, 2015
MindJuiceYup! I submitted a request for the plate. I hope it works out, cause I think it's a sweet layout too! ◔‿◔
I'm new to mechanical keyboards, but am a life long DIYer. Been taking stuff apart and making stuff for the passed three decades. Had a soldering gun at the age of 5 (with parent's help). This is actually my first time ordering anything laser/water jet cut before. I've made far simpler aluminum panels before, by hand. The kind of thing you mount test equipment into... Little meters and thumbwheel switches and such, but I do that with a simple drill, hand nibbler tool, and a file.
Yeah... I want my thumb to not be sore and useless for the next year and a half after having nibbled an entire keyboard plate! I'd like to USE my keyboard when i finish it! I'll pay the cash to order the plate! XD
richfiles
275
Sep 25, 2015
lectral13I've never done a custom keyboard in my life! I've only ever bought retail ones, or used what came with the machine. I decided enough with that! :P
A custom layout ain't all that bad, and the wiring is not terribly complex. One of the more popular methods of wiring your switches is to use the leads of the diodes As your rows. Solder one end to one pin of the switch, then the other end, you bend to form a long chain of wire, made up by the previous diodes. This long chain of wires becomes one row. You then just jump a wire from top to bottom, in a line, to your other switch pin. Hook that to either a Teensy and program it, or steal the guts from a keyboard and match it's matrix, and you're good to go. It's a lot of little fiddly work, but if you take your time, and pay attention to what you're doing, it's not terribly complicated, just repetitive.
I picked up a wirewrapping tool from my local Radio Shack years ago. I use that thing for everything, and I'll probably use it for the columns of my matrix, if it fits around the pins.
Oh, and also, Matty101. This type of thing almost alway has a mad rush at the end. It's just like the last second bidding on an ebay auction. People make their decision closer to when the time to decide is about to run out... That being said, I'd be MORE than happy if the deadline were extended out a few more days so it landed after Friday next week, so it'd catch that next wave of paychecks to burn! :D
Considering the Goose pack and the blanks came into the party so late in the game, I'd be further cool with an extension to let people soak those up. I'm all for extension. With a delivery expected to be about 4 months out... I'd say, what's a week or even a few days, to maximize our buying power.
Hint, hint, Data... ;)
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