keyboard Creating my own custom keyboard, but I need to create a custom PCB, how to get help?

[Sondre The Highlander]

Hi, 
 

I am in need of a new keyboard and have been delving into custom keyboards. I have come to love the idea 98% southpaw with the arrow keys. By stroke of luck I see that "Joshajohnson"  has already built one and made it available on Github: https://github.com/joshajohnson/entropy.
However it is not using iso layout, which I personally find to be essential if I am going to spend a substantial time and money this project (I realy like chonky enter). So with the files available I have edited them such that they are using iso layout, but I seem to be doing something wrong. I have error on my result, and I also have errors before I start editing the file. I have never touched KiCad before so I don't know what I am doing. How can I get help with this project? Is there discord servers for custom keyboards or people who are enthusiastic about PCB design?

TLDR: I want to build custom southpaw 96% with iso layout. I have a non iso Project on Github I can use as reference, but KiCad is to advanced for me. How do I go about this?

[Thomas4]

Just 2 oft he many sources available:

 

https://www.pcbtoolexpert.com/complete-guide-to-pcb-design-for-beginners/

 

https://fixthephoto.com/best-free-pcb-design-software.html

 

For more, jut enter PCB design in your web browser, I quit counting at about 100 hits.

[minibois]

42 minutes ago, Sondre The Highlander said:

Is there discord servers for custom keyboards or people who are enthusiastic about PCB design?

The Keyboard Atelier is a Discord for custom designed keyboards (including PCB and case design): https://ai03.com/designer-resources/ (it's the link on the right).

There are also heaps of different tutorials and other information resources out there, including ai03's keyboard PCB guide: https://wiki.ai03.com/books/pcb-design/page/pcb-guide-part-1---preparations

Or from Keyboard Atelier community member harky: https://guide.zykrah.me/

Or Sleepdealr's RP2040 (different MCU) guide: https://github.com/Sleepdealr/RP2040-designguide

And much much more, some not even specifically keyboard related (because PCB information is relevant, whether it is for this PCB or not).

 

After a few projects and some informational threads I've made on this forum about keyboard's and specifically their PCB's I know my way around a keyboard too.

The DRC errors you often run into with keyboard PCB's can usually be ignored, as they are actually just non-issues (such as 'overlapping pads', like you'd have on the rotary encoder/switch in the top right of the board). Without knowing what the errors are, it's difficult to say what's going on.

You can post a screenshot of the DRC errors and I could give some guidance as to what they mean and why they're there?

 

I suspect some of the errors you have are legitimate, because I do see some issues in the PCB screenshot. The traces for the ISO Enter appear to be going through a hole on the board and/or are not connected and the diode top right of the ISO Enter is going to interfere with the stabilizer.

[Sondre The Highlander]

2 hours ago, Thomas4 said:

Just 2 oft he many sources available:

 

https://www.pcbtoolexpert.com/complete-guide-to-pcb-design-for-beginners/

 

https://fixthephoto.com/best-free-pcb-design-software.html

 

For more, jut enter PCB design in your web browser, I quit counting at about 100 hits.

I wish I could spend my time learning pcb design, however my health does not really allow me to do so.
As I showed in my picture I am already using KiCad
  - https://fixthephoto.com/best-free-pcb-design-software.html

[Sondre The Highlander]

1 hour ago, minibois said:

The Keyboard Atelier is a Discord for custom designed keyboards (including PCB and case design): https://ai03.com/designer-resources/ (it's the link on the right).

There are also heaps of different tutorials and other information resources out there, including ai03's keyboard PCB guide: https://wiki.ai03.com/books/pcb-design/page/pcb-guide-part-1---preparations

Or from Keyboard Atelier community member harky: https://guide.zykrah.me/

Or Sleepdealr's RP2040 (different MCU) guide: https://github.com/Sleepdealr/RP2040-designguide

And much much more, some not even specifically keyboard related (because PCB information is relevant, whether it is for this PCB or not).

 

After a few projects and some informational threads I've made on this forum about keyboard's and specifically their PCB's I know my way around a keyboard too.

The DRC errors you often run into with keyboard PCB's can usually be ignored, as they are actually just non-issues (such as 'overlapping pads', like you'd have on the rotary encoder/switch in the top right of the board). Without knowing what the errors are, it's difficult to say what's going on.

You can post a screenshot of the DRC errors and I could give some guidance as to what they mean and why they're there?

 

I suspect some of the errors you have are legitimate, because I do see some issues in the PCB screenshot. The traces for the ISO Enter appear to be going through a hole on the board and/or are not connected and the diode top right of the ISO Enter is going to interfere with the stabilizer.

Thank you ever so much! Tough it might still take ages, I have at the very least saved a week of researching what I don't have experience with

I have only been on the discord as of now(as I am going to bed), but I am already having options to try rather than searching aimlessly; thank you. 

I will absolutely pick you up on the offer to give me a little help; images listed
  - I have managed to make the iso conversion(newer edit) without any errors that do not show on the original
  - However I am not able to complete the convection as it requires adding a new button; which I believe needs a new netlist(which I don't know how to create)
  - I am also verry unsure if the connection points to the chip is correct?

[minibois]

8 hours ago, Sondre The Highlander said:

- However I am not able to complete the convection as it requires adding a new button; which I believe needs a new netlist(which I don't know how to create)

You'd need to add an additional key and diode to the schematic (.sch file) next to the left Shift key, to account for the \ key present there on the ISO layout. Then you need to assign a footprint to that key (1u MX) and a different footprint to the left Shift (1.25u MX) and run the traces for both.

8 hours ago, Sondre The Highlander said:

- I am also verry unsure if the connection points to the chip is correct?

Overall it just seems like your DRC probably has different constraints than the original designers vision. Perhaps you could find a way to contact them in regards to the antenna too?

[Bananasplit_00]

As someone who has designed several keyboards at this point:

Start with making a small macropad to get familiar with using KiCAD for keyboard design. Then go back to this.

 

You are also going to need to modify or write your own QMK files because the matrix will be different