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I want to build a KB. Help me pls

StarsMars

I decided I'm going to put a keyboard together. I know a few things I'm looking to get out of it.

I know that I want a tactile switch.

I know that I want a hot swapable board and don't want to solder.

I've seen pictures of custom keyboards in a translucent purple case, something about like the purple N64. I love that.

 

Is there a good switch test kit for tactile switches or just a general good one? I'm curious about Glorious Panda switches.

I don't know anything about brass vs poly carb plates, foam padding, lube, o rings. I've heard the stuff mentioned but don't have a full grasp.

Not set on a particular size. I use my num pad but won't be lost without it.

 

Is there a solid guide or discord group to help me with some of this?

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1 hour ago, StarsMars said:

I decided I'm going to put a keyboard together. I know a few things I'm looking to get out of it.

I know that I want a tactile switch.

I know that I want a hot swapable board and don't want to solder.

I've seen pictures of custom keyboards in a translucent purple case, something about like the purple N64. I love that.

 

Is there a good switch test kit for tactile switches or just a general good one? I'm curious about Glorious Panda switches.

I don't know anything about brass vs poly carb plates, foam padding, lube, o rings. I've heard the stuff mentioned but don't have a full grasp.

Not set on a particular size. I use my num pad but won't be lost without it.

 

Is there a solid guide or discord group to help me with some of this?

This is sounding like a seriously expensive thing.  Is there a budget?

Not a pro, not even very good.  I’m just old and have time currently.  Assuming I know a lot about computers can be a mistake.

 

Life is like a bowl of chocolates: there are all these little crinkly paper cups everywhere.

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3 hours ago, Bombastinator said:

 Is there a budget?

Going to try and keep it under 300

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2 hours ago, StarsMars said:

Going to try and keep it under 300

So not really.  But kinda. Well you could be in range.

Not a pro, not even very good.  I’m just old and have time currently.  Assuming I know a lot about computers can be a mistake.

 

Life is like a bowl of chocolates: there are all these little crinkly paper cups everywhere.

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On 8/16/2022 at 7:04 PM, StarsMars said:

I decided I'm going to put a keyboard together. I know a few things I'm looking to get out of it.

I know that I want a tactile switch.

I know that I want a hot swapable board and don't want to solder.

I've seen pictures of custom keyboards in a translucent purple case, something about like the purple N64. I love that.

 

Is there a good switch test kit for tactile switches or just a general good one? I'm curious about Glorious Panda switches.

I don't know anything about brass vs poly carb plates, foam padding, lube, o rings. I've heard the stuff mentioned but don't have a full grasp.

Not set on a particular size. I use my num pad but won't be lost without it.

 

Is there a solid guide or discord group to help me with some of this?

instead of an nk65, I would recommend a gas67

for tactiles, do you prefer a rounded tactile bump or a sharp tactile bump

pc plate is softer than brass plate hence giving you a softer typing experience

pc plate is also less pingy than brass plate

you should always usually use foam to reduce hollowness and ping on cheap boards that are hollow

always lube your switches and stabs

don't use o-rings unless for burger mount

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1 hour ago, person123456789 said:

instead of an nk65, I would recommend a gas67

for tactiles, do you prefer a rounded tactile bump or a sharp tactile bump

pc plate is softer than brass plate hence giving you a softer typing experience

pc plate is also less pingy than brass plate

you should always usually use foam to reduce hollowness and ping on cheap boards that are hollow

always lube your switches and stabs

don't use o-rings unless for burger mount

Both are tempting.

I'm not sure if I prefer round or sharp. I'd like to get a test kit of various switches. Is there one you recommend?

Polycarb is sounding better. Can't say for sure without trying.

Do you order a piece of foam and then cut it to fit the case?

Is there a recommended lube?

What is a burger mount?

 

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17 hours ago, StarsMars said:

Both are tempting.

I'm not sure if I prefer round or sharp. I'd like to get a test kit of various switches. Is there one you recommend?

Polycarb is sounding better. Can't say for sure without trying.

Do you order a piece of foam and then cut it to fit the case?

Is there a recommended lube?

What is a burger mount?

 

most foam come included with the keyboard

for lube: i would recommend picking up some krytox 205g0 ( although it does reduce the tactility of tactile switches a little bit, if you can't accept that little bit of reduction in tactility, you might also want to consider tribosys 3204)

burger mount is when you sandwich o-rings between the mounting posts on a tray mount board and the pcb (probably not applicable in your case)

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On 8/22/2022 at 2:23 AM, lw88 said:

For lubing tactiles the way to stop that happening is by just lubing the stem rails on the sides, and not the leg, and then lubing the rails in the bottom housing, and the spring.

what if the tactile switch is very scratchy

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