deskthority

Hello,

For sometime I have been working on an aluminium TKL design (here is the topic with the first edition of it)

I made a new topic now because I modified it extensively to fit the Winkeyless B.87 X2 PCB and the Winkeyless B.Pad PCB

I would like to ask for your assistance regarding this design. Can you take a look at the CAD files and the images bellow and tell me if you spot any issues?

The SolidWorks cad files can be found here.
I have saved the files in multiple formats (.STL, .STEP, .SLDPRT, .SLDASM) to try and cover any compatibility issues.

Thank you!

And now some images:

That thing looks huge! Any plan on supporting ISO with the plate?

I can't help on CAD, but you got all my respect, I know what kind of long work it is.

This looks really nice. Not sure I can afford it tho

Some of the switch footprints have only one hole for a mounting pin, sometimes the left or the right is missing.
If you want it to be compatible with most keycaps out there for backlighting, you should rotate the switches 180° so that the LED holes are facing up.
Remember that some Space Bar wires for PCB-mounted stabilisers are kinked in a way that would interfere with a plate above them.

On a bigger level: why rehash exactly what has been done already so many times? Why this particular spacing between key groups? Why such a fat front border? Why not allow a split space-bar? Why require different plates for ISO, JIS and ANSI when for instance Red Scarf 3 doesn't? What steps in the case design have you taken to prevent reverberation ("ping")? Why is the USB socket sunken into the case so much?

I like the sunken in look, but findecanor is right there is too much space in the opening.

Findecanor wrote: Some of the switch footprints have only one hole for a mounting pin, sometimes the left or the right is missing.
If you want it to be compatible with most keycaps out there for backlighting, you should rotate the switches 180° so that the LED holes are facing up.
Remember that some Space Bar wires for PCB-mounted stabilisers are kinked in a way that would interfere with a plate above them.

On a bigger level: why rehash exactly what has been done already so many times? Why this particular spacing between key groups? Why such a fat front border? Why not allow a split space-bar? Why require different plates for ISO, JIS and ANSI when for instance Red Scarf 3 doesn't? What steps in the case design have you taken to prevent reverberation ("ping")? Why is the USB socket sunken into the case so much?

The PCB is just a place-holder in my design (to make sure everything looks right together).
I am going to use a Winkeyless B.87R which has the LED holes on top and I'll also use the stabilizers that Winkeyless have in their store.
The plate is based on the ones that Winkeyless use with their PCBs

Why I went this design?
I initially wanted to go with the Kmac Mini design + this small numpad
Sadly, I do not think that anybody makes a Kmac mini pcb copy:



Next design on my list is the TKL + separate numpad on the left (I also wanted to try an keep compatibility up and costs down).
The fat border is there because I really like the way the KUL ES87 looks. But I'll do a quick version with a thinner front border and post it here

Most of the choices I made are based on the fact that I have a limited budget and I try to keep everything as simple as possible with the lowest cost possible. I also have little experience in design and with soldering. I first opened SolidWorks only a month ago and I only soldered 3 wires and a capacitor inside a VCR.

Redmaus wrote: I like the sunken in look, but findecanor is right there is too much space in the opening.

Most USB mini cables have the Male plug inside a plastic case that is 10mm / 8mm.
The hole in the cases is 11mm / 9mm to make sure I can use any usb mini cables

I just finished a version with the thinner bottom border and it actually looks better:



I also cleaned up a lot of small mistakes I did initially, especially with the plates.
In case you want to check them out, the archive with the updated CAD files can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zgj0f1lvgo5oa ... ad.7z?dl=0

What keyboard brand is that with a separate numpad on the left? Nice silver case and keycaps.

eldorange wrote:What keyboard brand is that with a separate numpad on the left? Nice silver case and keycaps.

That's a KMAC mini. It is a Korean custom

it's probably okay - the kmac mini layout isn't that great to use on a daily basis

That is a good layout! I never did understand why they put the num-pad on the right when most of us normal people who are right handed use the mouse/trackball there. Sure the first keyboards with a num pad did not have need of a mouse , but thats no reason not to change things .

Looks like a good project!

Disclaimer , that was a joke ( about the normal thing) lefties are just as normal as righties just backwards , never did understand the reversing of mouse buttons tho.

andrewjoy wrote: That is a good layout! I never did understand why they put the num-pad on the right when most of us normal people who are right handed use the mouse/trackball there.

Considering that the numpad was absolutely necessary when there was a need for mind-numbing endless number entry, it would probably be best to use it with one's dominant hand.
That said, I am left-handed, and my work requires a lot of number entry, and I use the numpad with my right hand as fast as the right-handed colleagues!

Disclaimer , that was a joke ( about the normal thing) lefties are just as normal as righties just backwards , never did understand the reversing of mouse buttons tho.

I protest! We are SPECIAL! I agree, reversing mouse buttons is one of the most stupid "we care for lefties" settings.

I thought it was because you use index finger better than ring finger

Nah. They just kept on adding stuff at the right hand side of the keyboard in those days. Oblivious to the mice to come…

You lefties have it good. I pretend I'm one of you whenever I use a full size board. It's the only way.

Phe! Lefties have it better! They can use mouse with left hand and have quick access to arrows, enter, Shft-Insert, Ctrl-Insert, Ctrl-Delete ... and the whole Numpad with right had!
That is the reason I started to use mouse with my left hand despite being right handed.

And do you want to get some real fun? Put on your desk, just next to the right side of the keyboard, a child turtle toy like shown below. Get some about the same size as a computer mouse. And follow the confusion when a co-worker comes to explain you something!

I really wish I had great CAD skills to make beautiful things, or even money to afford them It looks nice so far

derzemel wrote: Why I went this design?
I initially wanted to go with the Kmac Mini design + this small numpad
Sadly, I do not think that anybody makes a Kmac mini pcb copy:

These guys still make kmac minis!
http://www.kbdmod.com/product/detail.ht ... ay_group=1