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Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. (/thread-6648.html)

Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - Nickster258 - 06-05-2015

I recently bought the Cooler Master Quickfire Stealth, https://www.massdrop.com/buy/cooler-master-storm, and surprisingly, have been missing my number pad. As part of an adventure I am going to begin my journey on making my own number pad, design the circuit, design the PCB, get the PCB printed, and code the appropriate chips with the features I want on it. 


Design
I already have everything pictured in my head on how this board will be laid out and have yet to get designs made. I am going to design a simple circuit that is actually well known and used often, the technique of soldering diodes to each switch and have them arranged in columns with each column being processed based on signal power.

The basic way this is assembled is as follows: 

[Image: cYa3mPJ.jpg]

Most number pads have a few keys that are two-wide that use stabilizers. In an attempt to clean up my design and have a basic board, I have come up with a simple 4x5 matrix with blank key caps.

So, instead of this:

[Image: OQfzwdb.png]

I am going to do something like this:

[Image: tH4xlWn.png]

As far as the PCB itself is concerned, I am going to use Eagle CAD to design the basic device and get OSH Park to print the board because their manufacturing is so sexy compared to normal boards. Their boards are also around $5 per square inch for two-layered boards, so that isn't bad  Big Grin :

[Image: cdKw8pg.png]

I haven't done any other work other than theoretical work so I am going to keep this thread updated with my progress on the board as I work on this over the summer. From what I have estimated I can build this board for $150 max and around $120 if my design works flawlessly from the start. Heck, I may get 3 prints made of this board, which will cost money, but will still be worth it since this is an educational venture and my parents will maybe probably possibly just maybe fund it. if I go straight to getting a PCB designed and printed, however, I would like to get a test one made before I get the board printed. But since I do not have any of the equipment to make it myself since I have no plate to mount in on nor tools to use to make it like that, I am probably going to get the print made.

Just going to throw this in here, I am probably going to use a Teensy 3.1 https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/teensy31.html

[Image: teensy31_front_small_green.jpg]

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - jxu - 06-06-2015

$35 on amazon

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - Nickster258 - 06-06-2015

(06-06-2015, 04:44 AM)͝ ͟ ͜ Wrote: $35 on amazon

I want to make it myself. Read the thread.

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - jxu - 06-06-2015

idk how people can throw money at "educational ventures" like this

might as well blow $600 on an iphone lol

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - Nickster258 - 06-06-2015

Ever heard of someone doing something the "difficult" way because it was more fun and somewhat challenging? Apparently not.

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - slugdude - 06-06-2015

If you find a friend with a 3D printer, you could make the plastic casing with that - the process itself is pretty cheap.

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - Nickster258 - 06-06-2015

Quite frankly I dont want a casing. Im just going to use standoffs so I can show off the PCB and design work.

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - jxu - 06-07-2015

>"difficult way"
>arduino
>getting boards printed

3/10 would not EE with

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - Nickster258 - 06-07-2015

"Project"

RE: Custom Mechanical Number Pad. - Magic :^) - 06-08-2015

N-key rollover or riot

and use MX switches because overkill