PCB Choc tested?

Question

PCB Choc tested?

Closed this issue 3 years ago · 12 comments

Hi,

I'm eager to order and assemble my first split keyboard. I've ended up here after trying to make up my mind for a while. I was about to attempt to port the layout to choc switches but it would seem a fresh commit's been made. Is this a finished layout and has it been tested?

Most kind of you to share what you create! Please share if any help is needed.

/ Jona

Answer 1 · 2018-10-17T11:54:28.000Z

No. It's not been produced or tested yet. There are already some modifications I need to make to the PCB.

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On Wed, Oct 17, 2018, 03:10 Cwejman ***@***.***> wrote: Hi, I'm eager to order and assemble my first split keyboard. I've ended up here after trying to make up my mind for a while. I was about to attempt to port the layout to choc switches but it would seem a fresh commit's been made. Is this a finished layout and has it been tested? Most kind of you to share what you create! Please share if any help is needed. / Jona — You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABGLeO1yxtGxnzncpRL-EsWelSX9XuKtks5ulvP7gaJpZM4Xjd3P> .

Answer 2 · 2018-10-25T13:43:15.000Z

@Cwejman if you are interested in the chocolate switches layout, what features would you also be interested in? I am considering adding smd LEDs (either rgb or not).

Answer 3 · 2019-03-03T01:15:48.000Z

@jpconstantineau I'm also interested in trying out the choc layout. Any hints as to what PCB modifications are already known to be needed? I'm not interested in LEDs or other features (well, maybe Bluetooth at some point) - mostly just the switches themselves for a lower profile.

Answer 4 · 2019-03-03T01:32:35.000Z

I do have prototype PCBs on hand and am looking to sell them. My latest working ErgoTravel is the choc version and being much thinner (and ble too) it's an ideal travel keyboard. Email me at jpconstantineau@gmail. It's on the list of extras I have post GB.

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On Sat, Mar 2, 2019, 19:15 Matt Kelly ***@***.***> wrote: @jpconstantineau <https://github.com/jpconstantineau> I'm also interested in trying out the choc layout. Any hints as to what PCB modifications are already known to be needed? I'm not interested in LEDs or other features (well, maybe Bluetooth at some point) - mostly just the switches themselves for a lower profile. — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABGLeM8B_UUVgQVjBF5pQDMJ4qVL8_izks5vSyJEgaJpZM4Xjd3P> .

Answer 5 · 2019-04-04T11:44:02.000Z

@jpconstantineau are these the one you dubbed ErgoTravelLight on the Githubpage?

Answer 6 · 2019-04-04T11:46:52.000Z

Yes. I do have some on hand if you are interested.

On Thu, Apr 4, 2019 at 5:44 AM Tom Hemmes ***@***.***> wrote: @jpconstantineau <https://github.com/jpconstantineau> are these the one you dubbed ErgoTravelLight on the Githubpage? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABGLeCdf3Lbp3a8l9nme3DqwrJtB8p7Pks5vdeWCgaJpZM4Xjd3P> .

-- Pierre

Answer 7 · 2019-04-04T12:19:22.000Z

With some, you mean PCBs or complete buildkits? Very cool! Would these also work with the new Kailh X type switches? Or am I now pushing it?

Answer 8 · 2019-04-04T13:12:28.000Z

Humm Good question about those new switches. The footprint is not the same and the plate cutout is similar. Both switches uses a 14mmx14mm switch plate cutout. The locations of the pins is different. The choc switch has a hole for a LED. The X doesnt. By comparing the drawings here: http://www.kailh.com/en/Products/Ks/NotebookS/649.html and here: http://www.kailh.com/en/Products/Ks/CS/319.html Looks like the PCB would need to be updated to support those. Getting the switches and compatible keycaps would be the harder part....

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On Thu, 4 Apr 2019 at 06:19, Tom Hemmes ***@***.***> wrote: With some, you mean PCBs? Very cool! Would these also work with the new Kailh X type switches? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABGLeLxeYCILvpcDO0rm4jJkKGnvNha1ks5vde3KgaJpZM4Xjd3P> .

-- Pierre

Answer 9 · 2019-04-04T13:27:01.000Z

I thought I read somewhere that the X has LED built in? Well, I am not too interested in backlight for now anyways..

I think the X Switch can be ordered here; https://nl.aliexpress.com/store/product/Kaih-Low-profile-Notebook-X-Switch-keyboard-switch-for-laptop-tactil-type-Pretravel-1-2mm-clikcy/4670072_32985602923.html?spm=a2g1y.12024536.productList_12815140.pic_7

Hmm.. I am not familiar with drawing PCBs but I could give it a try. I saw you were using KiCAD software? Are there any other parts I should adapt that you know of?

Answer 10 · 2019-04-04T13:51:35.000Z

looking at the picture of the switch itself on aliexpress, there is a cutout at the bottom of the switch for a LED. They are not cheap at 1.30USD/switch... Keycaps available from Kailh are a bit boring... blank whites... For an ErgoTravelThin (?) you would need 6 packs of 10 switches and 2 packs of 50 keycaps. For a total of 107USD. That's almost twice the price of choc switches... You would need to use Kicad: 1 - create the switch footprint in the footprint editor 2 - replace the mapping between schematic and PCB for the switches to point to new footprint 3 - export NET 4 - Go to PCB editor 5 - import NET, replace footprints 6 - re-route all wires 7 - run design check/pour copper planes 8 - create Gerber 9 - send gerber to PCB fab. Perhaps someone already has the X switches footprint - done in a reversible way (we need it to be reversible since we flip the PCB upside down for the left/right halves)

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On Thu, 4 Apr 2019 at 07:27, Tom Hemmes ***@***.***> wrote: I thought I read somewhere that the X has LED built in? Well, I am not too interested in backlight for now anyways.. I think the X Switch can be ordered here; https://nl.aliexpress.com/store/product/Kaih-Low-profile-Notebook-X-Switch-keyboard-switch-for-laptop-tactil-type-Pretravel-1-2mm-clikcy/4670072_32985602923.html?spm=a2g1y.12024536.productList_12815140.pic_7 Hmm.. I am not familiar with drawing PCBs but I could give it a try. I saw you were using KiCAD software? Are there any other parts I should adapt that you know of? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABGLeKBggk_6qplnzzV0lZACW3wGoEYkks5vdf2lgaJpZM4Xjd3P> .

-- Pierre

Answer 11 · 2019-04-04T15:15:31.000Z

Thanks for this extensive overview! I agree that these are very expensive switches.

If using the Kailh Choc switches, what do you have laying around that I could buy? PCB or PCB with casing or full kit?

Answer 12 · 2019-04-04T15:17:59.000Z

Email me at jpconstantineau@gmail and we can continue offline... I have full kits

On Thu, Apr 4, 2019 at 9:15 AM Tom Hemmes ***@***.***> wrote: Thanks for this extensive overview! I agree that these are very expensive switches. If using the Kailh Choc switches, what do you have laying around that I could buy? PCB or PCB with casing or full kit? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#29 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABGLeHXon-MwEx01HhPJcG2MkU7sm9TQks5vdhcUgaJpZM4Xjd3P> .

-- Pierre