deskthority

After discovering that the Razer Blackwidow is only 2KRO I was fairly disappointed with it, but after taking it apart and reading a lot of the projects here, I want to mod it into a tenkeyless (maybe keeping the macro row), NKRO (or at least 6KRO over USB) keyboard with backlighting. Since I am new to this and considering the amount of changes, I think it is a very ambitious project and I would appreciate any help I can get. Some of the parts I am not even sure if they are feasible.

The first step would be cutting the pcb, plate and bridging the traces which are cut and still have some required function. In case of the Blackwidow this might be problematic, since the controller sits in the corner of the numpad and all traces lead there. It might be difficult to separate the traces since they are very close together. If it is successful though, I would like to connect them to teensy to enable the other mods like making the keyboard NKRO. Programming the teensy shouldn't be that hard since plenty of people have done this before, plus I do know how to program fairly well. Is the smaller teensy enough for a tenkeyless (+ maybe 5 macro keys)?

At this point the board should be "operational" but without a proper case, NKRO or backlighting.

I figure the backlighting should be the easiest since the PCB already had the traces and soldering points for the LEDs, it's just missing the actual LEDs. Which leads me to my next question: What kind of LEDs do I need to use? These look promising (3mm and 5mm):

http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/1845 ... Detail=005
http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/1845 ... Detail=005

My guess is that the controller might also need to be changed to enable the backlighting, but it's got to go anyhow.

Next would be making the keyboard NKRO/6KRO by adding diodes. Since I am new to this stuff, I am not sure if it will really work the way I think it should but here it goes: I would drill 3 small holes into each trace leading to a switch from a column. The two outer ones would be bridged by the diode and the third would cut the connection of the original trace.

If all of this works I would tackle the case next and try to shorten the original blackwidow case, sand and paint to round out the mod. If this fails, I would try and create a case from wood and or acrylic glass.

Of course during all this I would also swap out all the keys (I am thinking panda or ergo clears for most of it) and maybe buy some nice doubleshots to round it out (but that is if everything else works out).

Any input/help is very appreciated!!!

The board won't be 6kro just by adding diodes. The microcontroller is not programmed to deal with more than 2 keys.

I know the original controller would still use blocking and prevent 6 or nkro. Hence the teensy. As far as I understood if I replace the controller with something programmable like the teensy, 6kro/Nkro should be possible.

TDub wrote:...considering the amount of changes, I think it is a very ambitious project and I would appreciate any help I can get. Some of the parts I am not even sure if they are feasible....

Indeed it is.
Don't get me wrong, you're planning to cut and reroute the PCB, swap the controller, add Diodes/Backlighting, mod the case or exchange it completely and swap the switches. I take it you'll change the caps as well as these are considered one of the weak points of the BW.
So what will be left after you're done with a Board that can easily release 40€ used on ebay, that hasn't the best reputation amongst enthusiasts but is a well known brand amongst reel gamerzzzz ?
Imo you're better off starting with a board that'll provide a slightly better base for the mod as in brings more of
the desired functions to the table OEM.
Like swapping the BW 1:1, possibly even at cost with a CM storm trigger http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/keyboards/Trigger/ which you just have to mod to tenkeyless and case to achieve your goals. Or use a standard OEM tenkeyless board and just add backlighting and some makros on the left. Afai learned adding some keys is way easier than reprogramming controllers.

Or say, a board that is cheaper to mod. Like buying a standard cherry for 10€ and mod the hell out of that.

Kint from a cost perspective you are definitely right. But i don't really care about the cost that much. I have a working tenkeyless (HPE 87), I don't care that much about the macro keys (not even sure I would keep them in the mod) or the backlighting that I would say I need to buy a new one. It's about having some fun and seeing what I can do. Especially programming the controller is something I am very interested in since I want to see what kind of tinkering I can do with a teensy. I also have 2 cherrys that I bought very cheap (one of them is the donor board for the clears), but I prefer the plate mounted over the pcb mounted switches. So essentially the reason for using the blackwidow was just that it's got a plate and I happen to have one lying around which is either getting sold or modded. Using one of the cherries would also be possible and easier since I don't have to cut a plate and the pcbs seem much simpler. Maybe ill do something poker/race sized with the cherry to start with. But the steps would remain similar since the cherrys are 2kro as well.

Razer is coming out with a tenkeyless and they seem to have sorted out the NRKO mess they previously had.

Anti-ghosting capability for 6 simultaneous key presses, 10 key presses in gaming mode

I always forget the BW is plate mounted. Just fire up the hacksaw then I'm pretty sure you'll get all the help the community can offer DT is very supportive

I want to order the diodes and LEDs today or tomorrow, anyone know if the LEDs I posted above would work? I think size wise they are about right but I don't know what kind of electronic requirements might be imposed on them.

Also I gave kints idea of modding the cheaper cherry pcbs another look. I have one of the space savers which I think could make a very cool and very uniuqe TKL or a kind of extended poker/pure.

They would look kinda like this:





The extra keys could be used for the some of the TKL keys, layer locking or macros.
Also the cherry case should be much easier to resize then the BW. Depending on how this turns out, i might just sell the BW afterall.

I can't help with the electrics of the LEDs, but the socket size is for 3mm. However since that's also where the diodes go standard OEM, you have to tinker how done best combined but you said all that already.

As for the cherry 1800 case, your first solution the TKL was done by CeesA before, so you should be able to find some impressions on that via the search. As for it's matrix it's a rather easy mod, 2 or 3 jumper wires afair. You can also hold out for a Raptor K1 which is the same same board, but featuring Nkey OEM via Diodes. They go for anything from 5-40€ on ebay.

Personally I'm no fan of the orphaned keys on the right. Also I do use the function keys, page/insert end etc a lot so I decided to go with the Compaq 11800 when I did a TKL mod and also close the gap of the num keys. You can find pics here: http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/ ... t2649.html

Cutting the F row hasn't been done before afair it's also more work since the PCB collects in the top area.
I also plan a hack for a 1800 next but that'll be just some keys moved in position /altered to my personal needs. The dropped arrow cluster/small num "0" is one thing that annoys me so I'll tackle that.

If you got a Teensy in the keyboard, you can still program an Fn layer. That way you don't have to miss the functionallity of the keys, however you cut up the thing.

Are you doing this for the personal accomplishment? If you're not, the '13 blackwidow is 10kro and comes in tkl
http://store.razerzone.com/store/razeru ... d.35156900

Yeah I know razor is coming out with that exact thing. But I am just doing this for the fun of it. I am especially looking forward to tinkering with the teensy.
Right now I will probably mod an old cherry first to try and see how it goes. If that works well I might still do the BW since unlike the cherrys its plate mounted which i prefer.

TDub wrote:I want to order the diodes and LEDs today or tomorrow, anyone know if the LEDs I posted above would work? I think size wise they are about right but I don't know what kind of electronic requirements might be imposed on them.

Also I gave kints idea of modding the cheaper cherry pcbs another look. I have one of the space savers which I think could make a very cool and very uniuqe TKL or a kind of extended poker/pure.

They would look kinda like this:





The extra keys could be used for the some of the TKL keys, layer locking or macros.
Also the cherry case should be much easier to resize then the BW. Depending on how this turns out, i might just sell the BW afterall.

I don't think you'll be able to shorten the board by that much. You'd be cutting so much circuit board you'd have to wire each switch directly to the teensy legs.

Actually it works quite well. I have already done the mapping of the traces I need to cut. Only one trace is cut repeatedly, all others only once. So for all traces except one I only have to wire to the teensy once. I did the trace for the last version with the two rows of extra keys on the right. This weekend I will hopefully have time to actually cut the pcb and rewire it.

Wow I'm surprised! well done mate

Actually I think it ended up being two traces that are cut, one multiple times the other only once. Lucky that cherry layed out the pcb so well! Probably cutting pcb and case tomorrow or sunday. Will report back once I have some progress.