tkl

handmade uk iso tenkeyless

download files

the plan

since the stalks on my Corsair K68 RGB started to wear out, i've been wanting a new keyboard, preferrably handmade, and without a numberpad for extra mouse space.

i couldn't find any premade PCBs in ISO for not a stupid amount of money, and handwiring my own is a much cheaper option than getting PCBs cut.

parts

my first handmade keyboard was shit - it used gateron blues, a (badly) 3D printed chassis [sick68] and a teensy 2.0. i forgot to buy stabilizers, but the concept was sound and it worked.

chassis

isometric view of the keyboard chassis

the chassis is designed in four parts, as my Anet A8+ 3D printer takes ~ 6 hours for each part. I decided on a two-tone white and black finish, and utilized the glass bed of my printer to create a mirror finish on the top surface.

the bottom casing is at a 3.5 degree angle, for more comfortable use. the top place sits on runners inside the bottom casing. the parts can be "welded" together using a soldering iron.

view of the 3.5 degree angle
a dimension view of the key holes

i designed the entire model using Fusion 360 - i'm not too familiar with the software but did set out the sketch in such a way i can modify the positions of the keys later without too much hassle.

download .stl

electronics:

a TKL ISO board with a full function row has 87 keys, 6 rows and 17 columns - the way a teensy works as a keyboard is by scanning each row and column to check for connections, so to hook up every key i'll need to use exactly 23 pins.

a grid view of each key

this image is flipped, as you have to solder each wire onto the back of the board, not the front

a wiring diagram of the board

this is the wiring diagram for the board - each row and column is hooked up to a different pin

the teensy wired to each switch

software

the teensy 2.0 can be turned into a keyboard controller using EasyAVR. you just need to supply it with a json file of the keymap, and it'll generate a .py file, or a .hex you can flash. i've provided the .hex and the .py if you'd like to edit the layout.

download .hex & flash tool

gallery

the MT3 susuwatari keycaps i chose create a very nice contrast against the white case for the keyboard. the red enter + escape keys give it a very vibrant splash of colour too.

i'm very happy with the end result, and have plans to make another keyboard in this sort of style.

keyboard

youtube

email me ~ birb@birb.cc