I f you -much like most of the world- have decided to shift your work to the digital world, or are an avid user of computers and laptops, you would know that searching for a keyboard that fits your satisfaction can be a task harder than most. This is why knowing how to build your own keyboard can be a useful thing to know.
Sometimes the keys can be a little too loud, or so silent that you miss the sweet clicking sound. If you wish to have a customized keyboard to call your own, ordering one can be a hassle, and quite expensive. You never know if you will be able to find a model that meets all your satisfactions.
Rather than wasting loads of money and time, you can just follow these important tips and customize your very own keyboard!
Diving headfirst into the making will only make your creation rather blotchy and it may not even be the style you wanted.
Before starting, you should do enough research to know what sizing, texture, and overall build work for you. Along with that, you should also choose the kind of keyboard you prefer -mechanical or rubber. The best way to do this is to go around stores and sample the different types of keyboards available. When you’re satisfied that you have done an adequate amount of research, you can go ahead and design your dream keyboard!
Just like any other DIY project, you need to assemble all the materials before starting on the task at hand. Some of the necessary items are as follows:
There are a lot of options you can choose a case from, such as plastic, aluminum, acrylic, or even wood. If you love typing with the good old sound of keys clacking, aluminum is one of the best choices to make, however, it can be a bit pricey. If you’re working on a budget, plastic is the way to go! If aesthetic and style are a priority for you, look into wood or polycarbonate.
Possibly the most important feature on a keyboard -a PCB. This will allow input to enter from your keyboard to the PC you connect it to. If you like backlit keyboards, you can get a PCB with RGB lights preinstalled, or with an option to add in your lights too.
Switches are the details that dictate how your typing experience goes. You can choose between tactile, linear, or clicky switches, based on your preferences. The feel of pressing keys can be fairly personal to some people, and if you want to go the extra mile, you can order multiple testers to get the feel of each switch before committing to one.
The main attraction of your keyboard, there are a lot of options to choose from when getting keycaps. You can choose between different colors, aesthetics, and designs -this is the part where you splurge and go crazy!
If you want to make the extra effort to give your keyboard a more personal look you can buy basic keycaps and paint over them yourself, it will be a lot more time-consuming but cheaper.
Larger tabs, such as the space bar tend to wobble around if you do not have anything to hold them in place. Stabilizers aren’t that important, but having them makes a great improvement in your typing experience.
After you’re done collecting all the pieces necessary, it’s time to attach them, so you can get to use your very own keyboard as soon as possible. Make sure to check and assess each step you make.
Equipment such as solder and soldering iron are essential for a successful keyboard-making process. However, having items such as tweezers or keycap pullers make the operation much more bearable. Make sure to have a screwdriver with changeable sizes available at hand, and if you want extra support grab a few magnets so you never lose track of screws!
The last, and most crucial step you need to take, is to admire your masterpiece and get typing! Getting a new keyboard can be an exciting job to do, but making one yourself can be even more personal. Soon enough you’ll be teaching others how to build your own keyboard!
