Who wants to build a custom space invader keyboard?

scottc · 09 Mar 2016, 23:07

Recently I decided that I no longer wanted to keep dozens of unused full-sized keyboards sitting around because, frankly, I never use them because of their sheer mass. Buuuuuuuuuut I'm really curious about Space Invaders, so I snatched a one being sold locally because I couldn't resist. I'm probably not going to have much use for it in its current state, so that got me thinking: how about a custom?

Would anyone else be interested in such a thing? I'm thinking either 60% or TKL because I'm still unconvinced about anything inbetween (but I'm waiting for a Whitefox to prove me wrong). 60% has the edge because it's smaller, easier to deal with, and has cases readily available.

I'm happy to learn how to use KiCad/etc in my spare time, but ideally I'd like to conscript people who are much better than me at these sort of things to help out with PCB/plate/etc design or double-check for mistakes. Who's up for it?

XMIT · 09 Mar 2016, 23:17

I think Engicoder and I were vaguely floating this idea, or maybe it was someone else

.

Most Space Invaders big Enter boards support a normal ANSI layout. They could maybe me modified to TKL, I haven't checked. We're wanting for normal size Enter keys.

scottc · 09 Mar 2016, 23:28

Doing a chop to TKL seems like it'd work well in some cases, but it seems far too easy to screw up. I'll have to take a look at the keyboard when it arrives before I commit to that, though!

Engicoder · 09 Mar 2016, 23:31

Yes, I have PCB designs for 60% and TKL boards about 90% complete, but have been sidetracked lately with other projects and life issues. My designs support both ANSI, ISO and Big-Ass Enter, but Space Invader (725) compatible ANSI and ISO enter keys are few and far between. XMIT and I discussed ideas to manufacturer some but haven't moved forward yet.

fohat · 10 Mar 2016, 21:20

It would be exciting if it came true.

scottc · 10 Mar 2016, 21:59

Very interesting, Enigcoder! What's left to do for the PCBs? I'm happy to offer any help that's needed.

As for ANSI keys, I'm happy to use off-profile caps until we find a good source for them. It's also easy to make a faux ISO layout using numpad keys where necessary.

What about plate designs? Is that somewhere where I could contribute some time?

Engicoder · 11 Mar 2016, 17:22

scottc wrote: Very interesting, Enigcoder! What's left to do for the PCBs? I'm happy to offer any help that's needed.

As for ANSI keys, I'm happy to use off-profile caps until we find a good source for them. It's also easy to make a faux ISO layout using numpad keys where necessary.

What about plate designs? Is that somewhere where I could contribute some time?

I'm close on the PCB's but plate layouts will need to be done. The PCB is flexible as far as layout. We'll have to see how many plate versions are needed. Let me finalize the PCB and possible layouts before we start on the plates.

Engicoder · 11 Mar 2016, 17:28

Here are the possible layouts I have added so far for the 60% PCB. The TKL would be the same with standard F-row and nav clusters added. They are based on the available key caps for the 725 series(space invaders) switches. Let me know where I've screwed up and what I have missed.

: 725-60-rows-annot.png (591.3 KiB) Viewed 4054 times

Note: I don't know of a NMB Hi-Tek board with a split right shift, but its a commonly desired feature and a caps lock could be used even if its the wrong row. If we end up making caps maybe a 1.75u shift could be worked in as well.

scottc · 11 Mar 2016, 17:33

Looks great! Have you considered adding extra keys in the gaps between ctrl/alt on the winkeyless version?

I just got my own space invader board earlier today. They're the two-eyed grey tactile version. Very impressed so far.

Engicoder · 11 Mar 2016, 17:38

scottc wrote: Looks great! Have you considered adding extra keys in the gaps between ctrl/alt on the winkeyless version?

I just got my own space invader board earlier today. They're the two-eyed grey tactile version. Very impressed so far.

Good suggestion...will add that.

gogusrl · 17 Mar 2016, 15:25

I built a linear space invaders numpad a while back. Used an ibm case with a butchered plate. Laser got my extra's, he's planning an invaders build as well.

link : workshop-f7/space-invaders-handwired-numpad-t11950.html

jacobolus · 18 Mar 2016, 10:54

I plan to someday make some custom space invader keyboards.

This particular project isn’t interesting to me though, since standard keyboard layouts are horribly broken 19th century relics.

Why not make something split in half, with a column-based key arrangement?

andrewjoy · 18 Mar 2016, 11:13

I would like to , problem is getting the caps. I would also never EVER want to break up my loverly ADDS ansi keyboard. It would also be wrong considering we have only ever seen 2 in this layout to destroy one of them.

It would also be nice to have custom springs as the linier i have are loverly but they are a tiny tiny tiny bit too heavy.

There was a massive haul of clicky space invaders in the electronics plus xmit haul , they would be the best target due to how common they are.

scottc · 06 Aug 2016, 23:50

Hey guys, how's this going? I completely forgot to follow up for a while. Anything I can do to help?

Engicoder · 07 Aug 2016, 05:26

I am still working on this. I am finishing up another project at the moment and plan to get back to work on this soon.