Replacement Keyboard Project Update

cheshirenoir · Post by **cheshirenoir** » Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:52 pm

Hey fine folks,
An update on the keyboard project. I've actually made some progress!
I have built a little tester rig consisting of a breadboard, a single DPST button and a length of jumpers. I can confirm the design I made for a replacement keyboard actually will work, and I have even found a few bugs on it.
More importantly, I found switches we could actually use to build a mechanical keyboard with.
https://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/CK/ ... 52BQ%3D%3D
I'm going to buy a bag of these shortly and order a PCB from my PCB fab and see what I can make.

Cheers!

Chesh

Post by **MADrigal** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 2:06 am

That's really exciting! Please dont forget to share photos of your project

Scouter3d · Post by **Scouter3d** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:09 am

Hi Chesh, great work!
if you create a PCB maybe you could add 2 additional standard (Ataritype) DB9 Joystick connectors (as seen on the Laser 2001, Salora Manager)
Greetings, TOM:0)

cheshirenoir · Post by **cheshirenoir** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 1:01 pm

Hi Tom,
Adding some sort of joystick adapter is definitely on my "to do" list, but I think the "version 1" will be just a keyboard, and a small one at that.

I just finished all the routing tonight, and I'm pleased to report that I managed to complete it without having to add a single via. It certainly makes me appreciate the effort of all those original designers who managed to do this all without a copy of KiCAD to make it easier.
Here's a PDF render of the PCB as it currently stands.
https://github.com/cheshirenoir/Creativ ... ardPCB.pdf
Next step is to add standoffs and the like, and get one made up.
It's going to be tiny!

Chesh

Post by **MADrigal** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:42 am

Thats absolutely EXCELLENT!!!

cheshirenoir · Post by **cheshirenoir** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 5:07 am

Oops. Should mention - My GitHub with everything so far is here: https://github.com/cheshirenoir/CreativisionKeyBoard
I'm working on the final touches before I place an order.

cheshirenoir · Post by **cheshirenoir** » Mon Mar 22, 2021 1:30 pm

Well, it's going to be about $45 for the BCBs and the same for the buttons. I'm afraid this'll need to wait until June before I'll have that sort of cash on hand, folks.
Chesh

Scouter3d · Post by **Scouter3d** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 7:46 am

Hi Chesh,

today an idea struck me ;0)

why not build a "simple" PS/2 or USB keyboard adapter based on an Atmega chip?
Similar projects for other Retrocomputers exist and could be modified (C=Key for the commodore 64, interface for ZX81...)
as all the pins are accessible, it could be a simple plug and play interface...

Cheers, TOM:0)

@username@ · Post by **@username@** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:43 pm

Good thinking Tom! Very easy to do with arduino, and the chip is very cheap!

Libraries already exist for USB and PS2.

Scouter3d · Post by **Scouter3d** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:38 pm

Hi @username@,

I could do a bit of hardware and testing, but i am not very good at programing arduinos (never really done more than blinking an LED)...

If you would like, we could start an extra topic and work together on it?

Cheers, TOM:0)

Replacement Keyboard Project Update

Replacement Keyboard Project Update

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