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Author Topic: My first custom-made mechanical keyboard... made for an Apple Lisa  (Read 3263 times)

RebeccaRGB

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There are actually two keyboards pictured. I created two since I have two Lisas. :) The first keyboard is the one in the case actually connected to the Lisa and the second is the PCB underneath without keycaps to show what the inside looks like. :) The keycaps are custom-printed. The Lisa has some rather frustrating non-standard keys: I had to make the two keys on either side of the spacebar wider to make the spacebar shorter to the point where I could find one that size (original is 7.5u, this one is 6.5u) and the 1.5u backspace is unobtainium so it's a relabeled tab/backslash and the height is off. :P The image on the monitor is wavy because this was taken just before the power supply went unstable and I had to shut it off. :(
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stepleton

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Re: My first custom-made mechanical keyboard... made for an Apple Lisa
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2021, 06:42:04 am »

Wow, that looks incredible! Of course I had to right-click and inspect the picture at full resolution, and it looks even better up close. I notice that Caps Lock has an LED... and also the URL https://github.com/RebeccaRGB/lisakeysplus :)

I notice that the PCB itself is what attaches to the standoffs inside the keyboard case. The original Lisa keyboard uses a metal plate for stiffness. Is this keyboard PCB stiff enough on its own, or do you reinforce it somehow to reduce flex?

I've recently had a project where I've had to "glue" two PCBs together at right angles (with solder), and this makes for a nice rigid part. If you had encountered problems with board flex, a similar strategy could give your PCB a couple of long "floor joists". (I think some Apple IIc keyboards have a similar construction.) But if not, please disregard!
« Last Edit: October 10, 2021, 07:00:51 am by stepleton »
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stepleton

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Re: My first custom-made mechanical keyboard... made for an Apple Lisa
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2021, 06:46:38 am »

Oh wait, I've just noticed the mounting bracket.
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AlexTheCat123

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Re: My first custom-made mechanical keyboard... made for an Apple Lisa
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2021, 09:14:06 am »

This is awesome!
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rayarachelian

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Re: My first custom-made mechanical keyboard... made for an Apple Lisa
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2021, 09:44:14 am »

This is fantastic! I've been dreaming of just such a modern replacement! Well done!

Where/when can we buy these? :-D
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You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue, if you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing, too, Writing the code, Writing the code

RebeccaRGB

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Re: My first custom-made mechanical keyboard... made for an Apple Lisa
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2021, 07:06:47 pm »

The PCB I had made by PCBWaaaaaaaay: https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/LisaKeysPlus.html

The keyswitches I got from Max Keyboards: https://www.maxkeyboard.com/cherry-mx-red-keyswitch-mx1a-l1nn-soft-linear.html (I went with Reds since the original keys have no bump and no click.)

The keycaps I had printed also by Max Keyboards. One full custom ANSI 104-key set with 6.5u spacebar, and five custom singles (R2 1x1 for numpad comma; R2 1x1.75 (Caps) for return; R1 1x2.25 (L.Shift) for right shift; R1 1x2.0 (Numpad 0) for command (Apple); R1 1x2.0 (Numpad 0) for enter). Artwork here: https://github.com/RebeccaRGB/lisakeysplus/tree/main/keycaps

To prevent the PCB from flexing I designed a bracket that fits in the lower half of the case and 3D printed it myself. Four of them for best support. https://github.com/RebeccaRGB/lisakeysplus/tree/main/mounting-bracket
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