Alright, so I decided to dive into the world of custom keyboards. It all started when I saw some crazy beautiful keyboards online and thought, “Hey, I can probably build that!” How hard could it be, right? Famous last words.
The Beginning
First, I had to figure out what I even wanted. I spent hours just scrolling through pictures and forums. I knew I wanted something smaller than a full-size keyboard, so I was leaning towards a 75% or even a 65% layout. This part was super fun – just dreaming about the possibilities.
Gathering the Parts
Then came the hard part: actually getting all the stuff. Here’s a rough list of what I needed:
- Case: I chose an aluminum case. I just felt that I need it.
- PCB (Printed Circuit Board): This is the heart of the keyboard. I went for a hot-swappable one, so I wouldn’t have to solder the switches.
- Switches: Oh boy, the choices! I went with some tactile switches.
- Keycaps: I got a simple PBT set.
- Stabilizers: These keep the larger keys (like the spacebar) from wobbling.
- Cable: Of course, I got the basic one.
- Tools: switch puller, keycap puller. That all.
Getting all of this took a while. Some stuff I ordered online, and I had to wait for shipping. I also found out some parts were out of stock, so I had to find alternatives. It was a whole process.
Building the Keyboard
Finally, the building day arrived! I laid everything out on my table, put on some music, and got to work.
First, I put the stabilizers onto the PCB. That involved clipping them in and making sure they were nice and snug.
Then I tested to put the switch on the PCB.
After the switches, it was time for the keycaps. This was probably the easiest part, just pushing them onto the switches.
Then I plugged in the keyboard and started to test the keys.
The Result
I was very happy that all keys worked well! It’s a great experience!