Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions

Resources you find we all should know

more_vert
Due to the nature of our hobby some resources, links are given.
Most of us do know Reddit, Geekhack or Deskthority to name a few, but every other day we may stumble upon something even at those sites outstanding and maybe helpfull for others, too.
So, tell us your secret tools, findings ... all of us should know.
I might start with a few things i like a lot.
Sharpkeys for simple remapping keys at windows os. For example, you never ever use capslock, make it another strg, HHKB style. All changes are written to the registry. https://sharpkeys.codeplex.com/
Experience the freedom of layers, function keys to your liking with every keyboard at windows os. Software needs to run in the background. http://martin-stone.github.io/touchcursor/
The very helpfull tmk usb to usb converter by hasu, take your layout, layers with you everywhere you go to use it with any keyboard given and beginn to wonder what amazing stuff is possible with the simplest keyboard given. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=69169.0 Nice review and help: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=74708
Enough for the moment, it's your turn :)
Vote
17
remove_red_eye
1.5K
Makami
4237

search
close
ifohancroft
17
Sep 12, 2018
Here's what I have gathered:
In short, the links above can be considered into the following categories:
1. Understanding how the matrix work and making your own PCB. 2. Developing the firmware. 2. Making the keyboard NKRO over USB without any hacks. 3. Understanding the different switches and their sizes and making your own keycaps. 4. Making the keyboard wireless, either natively or through external adapter. 5. Making your own USB cable for the keyboard.
Reddit Custom Keyboards Wiki: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/customkeyboards Hacking a Cooler Master Rapid-i's firmware: http://spritesmods.com/?art=rapidisnake Holtite sockets for hot-swappable switches: https://mehkee.com/products/holtite-sockets-for-switches?variant=41169608783 Holtite compatibility chart: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTEpMxu0-9QZoqANt2piXOzjxHSEIafLuUYjJIw1J0JFAH_xiA6n6MSeU7UlZ0oli9fbNn87rjUl_Ov/pubhtml?gid=986897710&single=true&pageId=112351633694425118450 Soarer's converter: https://klikkyklik.wordpress.com/2015/08/28/soarer/ GeekHack FAQ: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0#post_PPP How a keyboard matrix works: http://pcbheaven.com/wikipages/How_Key_Matrices_Works/ How to make a keyboard matrix: http://blog.komar.be/how-to-make-a-keyboard-the-matrix/ Arduino keyboard matrix tutorial: https://www.baldengineer.com/arduino-keyboard-matrix-tutorial.html How to make a pcb: https://github.com/ruiqimao/keyboard-pcb-guide Keyboard firmware: https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/how-to-build-your-very-own-keyboard-firmware-t7177.html Soarer's keyboard controller firmware: https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/soarer-s-keyboard-controller-firmware-t6767.html
Stuff related to Soarer's nkro over usb bitmap method:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0#post_PPP https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/question-about-keyboard-nkro-and-more-t6415.html#p123904 https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&client=firefox-b&ei=06daWq7AKMKtsgHN1aHIBQ&q=soarer+keyboard+converter&oq=Soarer+keyboard+co&gs_l=psy-ab.3.1.0i22i30k1l2.7649.8107.0.11060.3.3.0.0.0.0.105.310.0j3.3.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.3.308....0.wVfwttDwb-w https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&client=firefox-b&ei=_6daWuC-FcuosgGAxYVA&q=nkro+the+bitmap+technique&oq=nkro+the+bitmap+technique&gs_l=psy-ab.3...6851.7523.0.7851.5.5.0.0.0.0.114.513.2j3.5.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.114...35i39k1.0.TSBU-Mfivj4 https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/how-does-the-corsair-k65-achieve-nkro-t6256.html https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/blob/master/tmk_core/doc/USB_NKRO.txt https://www.usb.org/developers/hidpage/HID1_11.pdf - Currently not working but you get the idea that you need the HID v1.1 document for the USB protocol https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/xt-at-ps2-terminal-to-usb-converter-with-nkro-t2510.html https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0 https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/soarer-desparately-needed-t9322-30.html https://www.usb.org/developers/hidpage/Hut1_12v2.pdf - Same here but I believe here the version was 1.2
Switch mount size: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Switch_recognition Making your own keycaps: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=23722.0 What goes into creating a custom keycap set: https://www.massdrop.com/talk/475/what-goes-into-creating-a-custom-keycap-set Creating a wireless mech keyboard: https://hackaday.io/project/7646-ble-wasdmechanical-wireless-keyboard Bluetooth keyboard/mouse adapter: https://www.instructables.com/id/Bluetooth-Keyboard-Mouse-Adapter/ Making your own USB cables: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=44924.0
Vira
4117
Jan 25, 2017
I was thinking of making a post with a lot of resources all on one post clearly listed out. But since you have this, you may aswell manage it. You should put livingspeedbump's post link about keyboard layouts in here to so its a direct resource link for one that doesn't know. Just edit your post with a date stamp with everytime you put links in. Any one that provides a link, just credit and link it in on the main post so everyone can see. It saves the scrolling! Will provides some soon. Got a mix of stuff from mainly hunt buying and others etc etc.
Makami
4237
Jan 25, 2017
ViraTy for your feedback Vira.
The day MD is going to make it happen this discussion/"forum" to be a pleasing place with even a minimalist approach of being userfriendly at all, i'm going to do that. At the moment its just a waste of time for me, being just a big mess. The only good at the moment is helping people at the drops with their specific discussion, even that became a lot worse with this new endless scrolling system, not being able to get a chronological view ... .
I know they're working on that, we'll see whats going to happen. You had been very active and helpfull these days, what about updating your profile a bit with some more information :)
Cheers
UrVAITguy
484
Jun 13, 2016
Learn somethin' new every day. Thanks for that link about Sharpkeys! Finally I can put this scroll lock key to use!
Makami
4237
Jun 13, 2016
UrVAITguyYou're welcome, nice that you found something to help. Let me guess, is it mute now?
UrVAITguy
484
Jun 13, 2016
MakamiNah, my V80 has the FN for Pause as mute, and scroll lock as volume up. I'll need to think about what to map to it, since it has a status indicator like Caps Lock.
cbalcom03
283
Jun 12, 2016
Ok so I am a bit new to the community and if I wanted to remap some keys on a pok3r how would i go about that? Working from a macbook pro. Thanks
Makami
4237
Jun 12, 2016
cbalcom03I don't have a Mac, if it ain't possible to change to your liking under settings (?), have a look at https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/
cbalcom03
283
Jun 12, 2016
MakamiThanks for the link
kschang
192
Jun 11, 2016
Well, if you mean apps, there's always AutoHotkey and PhraseExpress...
Makami
4237
Jun 11, 2016
kschangGood morning,
nope, i havn't had apps only on my mind, whatever you may find helpfull and good to know for beginners, too. I like it a lot that the mk community is growing and getting bigger and being new to this materia some stuff not that interesting for the "old" ones may still be awesome for beginners, which we all had been once.
Nice guide for lubing MX Switches.
zndr
596
Jun 10, 2016
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/ I can't speak highly enough of. It's pretty widely known but still, always awesome .
evangs
1492
Jun 13, 2016
I'm flattered :) thanks for the kind words. On a positive note, the MiniVan will be dropping here on MD soon!
zndrAlso, all of the keyboards in my layout guide are on my guithub. Will link that when I'm at a PC next
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Mechanical Keyboards