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Looking for a truly DIY keyboard kit (feddit.ch)
submitted 11 months ago by achille225@feddit.ch to c/mechanicalkeyboards@lemmy.ml
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I would like to build my first keyboard, but I feel like the DIY-kits available don't let you get your hands on the keyboard enough. For instance, I looked into the M1W barebone as it checks all the criteria I have (I would prefer a 75% board, with a knob, and wireless option), except the only thing left to do is to plug-in the switches and put on the keycaps.

For example, the Zoom 75 is something I feel would suit me, but it's 200$, not counting the 60$ shipping, and it's "only" the board, so I need to buy the switches and the keycaps as well.

I saw the "Practice 75" board, which is nice, but for example there isn't the knob and I would need to solder the switches to the board.

Is there a board out there that would ticks all the boxes ?

Thank you in advance for your answers !

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[-] achille225@feddit.ch 2 points 11 months ago

If i was to follow that intermediate road, what are the caveats I should avoid? I tried looking for a website like PCPartPicker, unfortunately it doesn't seem to exist And I'm afraid of picking up different pieces that will end up not being compatible with one another

[-] wfh@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

PCB, top plate and case need to be compatible, so you need to pick ones made for each other, usually from the same vendor.

99% of the PCBs and plates out there are MX compatible, so you can consider switches, stabs and keycaps universal.

[-] achille225@feddit.ch 1 points 11 months ago

Thank you ! Could you point me in the direction of one you would recommend, if you know any? Do you advise against some of them?

[-] wfh@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

I've built two XD64s from kprepublic, one with Box Jades for home and one with Boba U4s for work, because they perfectly fitted my use case: flashable with QMK, ISO layout compatible, bottom layout flexible enough to fit an arrow keys cluster despite being 60%. They're very good.

I don't have any experience with other vendors.

[-] asqapro@beehaw.org 1 points 11 months ago

Sorry to necro this thread a bit, but I saw your comment and wanted to recommend a site I recently found that’s exactly like PCPartPicker for keyboards: https://keyboardpartpicker.com/

I haven’t used it myself much, but it seems like exactly what you need.

this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
18 points (90.9% liked)

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