This is something keyboard enthusiasts don’t talk about enough. If you get into this space, be prepared to spend at least $200. I’ve built my own as well and I spent well over $200, and I’m still not done.
See this as a hobby to play with electronics and learn. Don’t count too much on the final product!
He built several prototypes, used a lot of steel plate, and had a very particular wood material he wanted, so I wouldn’t say this is particularly representational. My first working build (that still works now over 6 years later) was done in acrylic and came in at well under US$150. It can cost a lot more if you want to get fancy, but it doesn’t have to.
The only thing I started with was a $20 soldering iron. I did live in a city with a laser-equipped maker space, but I’ve also had similar pieces cut over mail order in Thailand for not much more. If you take keys from an existing broken keyboard you can get it under $100 for a small board.
I didn’t finish reading the article to see if you ever learned to touch type, but I highly recommend it. I can push 90+wpm from my head, 120+wpm if I’m copying something. It’s nice to eliminate the interface bandwidth bottleneck for those (admittedly rare) times when it matters.
This is something keyboard enthusiasts don’t talk about enough. If you get into this space, be prepared to spend at least $200. I’ve built my own as well and I spent well over $200, and I’m still not done.
See this as a hobby to play with electronics and learn. Don’t count too much on the final product!
A+ post though, very very nice write-up!
He built several prototypes, used a lot of steel plate, and had a very particular wood material he wanted, so I wouldn’t say this is particularly representational. My first working build (that still works now over 6 years later) was done in acrylic and came in at well under US$150. It can cost a lot more if you want to get fancy, but it doesn’t have to.
$150 under what circumstances? You had some tools already? The parts came within the US? There are a lot of factors.
The only thing I started with was a $20 soldering iron. I did live in a city with a laser-equipped maker space, but I’ve also had similar pieces cut over mail order in Thailand for not much more. If you take keys from an existing broken keyboard you can get it under $100 for a small board.
I didn’t finish reading the article to see if you ever learned to touch type, but I highly recommend it. I can push 90+wpm from my head, 120+wpm if I’m copying something. It’s nice to eliminate the interface bandwidth bottleneck for those (admittedly rare) times when it matters.