a bluetooth custom hot swappable keyboard with rgb lighting, a slide potentiometer, rotary encoder, an oled screen, with duplex matrix scanning using just a xiao nrf52840 plus! Edit for resubmit: I made a new repo and got the assembled step file in!
I worked on my readme, added the main screenshots of rendered keyboard, pcb, schematics, and stuff. I still need to add the actual files for it to be truly done, but I still need to find a way to work with ZMK firmware.
I added some more polish, the keys will also be green ish as well, I have sourced them already from aliexpress. I also made some knobs for my slide potentiometer and my rotary encoder. I also started to write my firmware. I can only use zmk firmware, which has like no documentation, because it is the only one that supports bluetooth with the nrf52840 and also supports the rest of the things.
I finished the casing completely pretty much. I only need to add polishing detailings and coloring, but the main parts are complete. I added areas for the switch and oled screen, so they won’t be damaged if the keyboard falls over. I have also started thinking of designs for both the rotary encoder knobs and the slide potentiometer knobs.
Top casing is getting polished and is still in progress. My drawings are so cooked for it. I also added the slight area in the rotary encoder that cleans it up a little bit, I just need to add sections of casing to the xiao microcontroller, the oled, and the switches.
Today I worked on getting the usb thingy to be able to connected and look kinda nice. I also added a ton of holes for the screws and inserts that will be added for the keyboard during assembly. Since I am using a bottom mount, the screw first comes from the top to connect to the insert at the bottom (ex the left one), and I left space for the head when its screwed in as well. And the right one shows how the plate and everything is connected to the bottom casing, with the insert at the top, and leaving room for the head to not interfere with the bottom of the keyboard as well.
I have finished the bottom casing, its at a slight angle so the keyboard is tilted towards the user! I have started adding keycaps, and I plan on using cherry keycaps, like with the custom slants as well (r1,2,3,4). The holes and areas are all for heat inserts to attach and I am excited to finish the top casing and start adding fun details!
I do not like fusion, its so complicated for the simplest things. I added more holes for the heat inserts to go, and plan on using m3x10 for the screws. I also need to figure out how to reflect these holes to the other side because I do not want to do it over again cause it takes so long.
I finally got the hole and back casing aligned, so that it will fit somewhat well and will be stable once the screw is in there. I am still not too sure how I am gonna attach the keyboard, I am thinking of heat inserts since I used it for my macropad.
Fusion is sooooo confusing. I added screws to my design which are still uploading and added an area for attachments to be made. I have chosen a top mount way to attach the plate, pcb, and case. I am mostly trying to find a way to make my keyboard look neat and well done.
I finished the plate of my keyboard! I still need to add mounting holes for when I am going attach the pcb and everything to the actual keyboard. I decided on using a white, pastel yellow, and mint green color scheme for the actual casing. I am also thinking about having a case that can fold over and protect the keyboard for travel and things. But so far, I added the components in and am gonna start casing soon!
I had some trouble with the oled screen schematicing, since I just realized that it needed to connect to a specific gpio pin, which took a while to reroute and everything since I exported it all already. I am also still wondering how my oled screen will stay up, since its only soldered on one side. I also had to adjust my plate (and am still in the process as you can tell) since I moved the keys a little bit while editing the pcb. I still need to add the place for the slide potentiometer and switich and rotary encoder. I also need to find a way to place my battery, since this is gonna be a bluetooth connectable keyboard.
YAY, I sorted out most of the errors (some I just decided that the clearance was enough argh), and I have added mounting holes for the soon to be designed case! I still have not decided between either top mount or bottom mount, but so far, either would work with my mounting holes. The plate generating is gonna be a lot harder, since I moved my keys around after I used the kcbplacer plugin.
I finished the routing! Yay that took so long. Keyboard is almost complete. But, I have so many errors I will need to sort out later. That is a ton of errors. I’ve also been looking at keyboard mounting methods, and am leaning towards top mount or bottom mount.
I am so close to finishing routing now. I am currently still wondering how I am gonna put my battery in, since some people put a place in their pcb and some do not. I also need to start thinking about how big I want my pcb to be around my components and everything. So far, I just need to finish routing and then make the keyboard case!
I do not like routing. I decided to start routing first with my leds on the back of the pcb, since I’ll mostly have the front pcb have key switch wires. Everything just seems so messy right now. I also think I need a place for the battery, which I added in the pcb as you can see, but I am not entirely sure it is meant to be there.
Rename it to daisboard 75, since it is a 75% keyboard. I added the 3d files of everything, so now it looks decent in 3d view. I still have not started routing sadly, again, I will do that later. I pretty much only need to route, its gonna be so painful with the keyswitches and led’s underneath.
Things are starting to shape up a little bit with my keyboard. I am so far avoiding routing since I know that is gonna take so long, but I have my layout down and pretty much only need to start routing it.
I finally moved on from the schematicing of things and am now at the pcbing part. I am trying to use a keyboard plugin to organize the keys, but I am having some trouble with the switches and diodes not matching up too well. Thats for next time!
I finally finalized the components that I want in my keyboard, and am gonna try to finish my footprints next time.
Started and added parts to schematic.
