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ericandrewlewis / gist:a5bc6c31b840a556a813
Last active March 18, 2022 08:46
Notes on making a keyboard

Notes on making a keyboard

Instructions for making a 60% keyboard with an abbreviated navigation cluster.

Parts & Tools

  • A keycap is the part of the key that the user touches. It is non-mechanical, it is just a piece of plastic. It sits on top of a switch.
  • A switch is the electro-mechanical component that, when compressed, makes an electronic connection.
  • Switches are wired to a controller, which aggregates keypress info and tells the target device (e.g. Macbook Pro) what to do over USB.
  • Switches sit on either a PCB or a piece of metal.
  • The PCB or piece of metal sits inside a case.