Timeline
Kai Pereira 🚀
requested changes for lpkbv1 ago
Hey Nimit :D Your BOM needs to be significantly reduced, we are not paying for PCBA for keyboards! Could you also improve your actual BOM format in your repo, it should include USD prices, check out the guide on the website! Please also do a final assembly with your PCB inside of your case in your CAD model to make sure everything fits properly. I would also suggest getting your charging IC checked on the KiCad discord server! Nice work so far though :D
nimit 🚀
submitted lpkbv1 for review ago
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Finshed the CAD
Keyboard CAD! I should be able to fit the battery in there, everything else looks perfect. idk why the inserts are different colours but eh. also it was kinda fun to make all this now that i look back. time to make the bom and submit this :yay:. here is some padding text to reach the word count :thumbup:
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
CAD (2)
Freecad wasn't right for me, so I went to onshape to learn. I started with the basic keyboard, added the screws and set up the walls. Thin (2.5mm) walls and a not that large area of coverage. I will also need to figure out the way to slide in the battery but that's a future me problem. I'll probably sandwich the battery and then screw in a top case, screw the PCB into that.
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Rerouted the PCB again
Turns out gateron KS-33 LP have different footprints, so there goes my saturday. I also reinstalled kicad so i could get the 3d models rendering properly, and my god is it pretty. Tried the 18650, didn't like and am sticking with a 4000mAh lipo battery
here is the nice PCB now
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
CAD!!!
Learning freecad definitely has a curve to it, but it runs awesome unlike fusion. I am too used to fusion so it took me more than an hour to fix up the outline sketch of the case. After that, I need to add the mounting holes (also to the PCB, i forgot those) and the slot for the acrylic cover!
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Finished the PCB
I finally finished the PCB! Now everything looks (and hopefully works) awesome! Still debating between a black on white or white on black design, but it will definitely have acrylic on the case :yesyes:. Anyways check out the picture of the design! Rounded corners will be translated into the cad (2.5mm, 1cm is too much, i learn).
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Routed the rest of the PCB
Got the new power stuff working and routed the rest of the PCB. Also managed to figure out the PSU, although I might need to fix the resistors around. I also added an OLED screen. There is a cool thing where i exported the PCB as dxf and imported it onto the silkscreen, just because; and it honestly looks pretty cool ngl. The edge cuts is temporary, just so the board renders properly. Might round it off later or clean up the areas.
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
power stuff
tried to replace the shitty chinese charging thing with an actually good IC (the MCP73871). i have no idea how this works. my chatgpt free ended for today. i found a reddit thread from 2018 with no good answers. i need help. oh also the pcb looks pretty clean, i might replace the 18650 with a thin pillow, so i can expand the size later too!
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Added the diodes and routed some of the PCB
Added the diodes and routed most of the rows and columns! Decided where to put the Pico (only used for charging) and now it looks very clean. The battery will be near the top so i'll have to expand the case (chamfer?) around that area; or just get a lipo instead. Overall, i am very close to completing the PCB
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Laid out the PCB
pretty fun, just set the grid sizes to the MX standard and went at it. Still debating where to put the 18650 holder, but i'll probably put it near the bottom or the top side of the keyboard
The stabs are hard to find for low profile keyborads, so i came up with a cursed alternative. Just put the stabs and two extra switches smh
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Completed the Schematic!
Made a matrix and copy-pasted it to get the keyboard area. Then I used the research I did for the battery to make that area. The Pico and the encoder are standard, and the switches are MX. The 18650 also goes through a Voltage Divider to act as a Battery percentage somewhat. Finally, I set all the footprints for each symbol (thank you joe scotto)
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Make KLE Layouts!
I made some KLE Layouts for Matrix and Label! Matrix is going to be required for Vial later on so I decided to do that right now. I also made the PCB Files and added them to the repo! Gonna start work on the schematic now :D. Also, why are low profile keycaps so expensive, and I don't even have aliexpress 😭😭
nimit 🚀
added to the journal ago
Researched power system and battery requirements!
Calculated some of the power stuff, which BMS board I can use and a couple of the things to calculate the overall charging system :). Connecting the Pico will be through a USB Micro B port. The VBUS will connect to the BMS for charging, and BMS to VSYS. This is the Breakout I plan on using, but probably won't expose the USB Port on it!
nimit 🚀
started lpkbv1 ago