exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

OK, so as an original keyboard with the HD6301 chip it works. Let there be an ESC key.

@Badwolf - listen to the clickity-clack

Icky wrote: 27 Aug 2022 21:41

JezC wrote: 27 Aug 2022 21:15 Can we have it cycling between all three (with user control over the rate of change...not to mention it changing intensity as it goes)...

:hide:

Well I have a dev area on the board for RGB LED Drivers for the key cap LEDs so there is no reason this can not be used on the power LED. Am currently looking at these drivers. https://www.ti.com/product/LP5036/part- ... LP5036RJVR

Ah, I've used the NXP equivalents in the past...we're finding the TI parts one of the hardest to obtain reliably in the current shortages!

Soldering these keys is a little tedious even more so without a key plate to keep them all in place / in-line. No point in getting one made until I know where all the keys should be i.e. if any positions need to be corrected.

Well so far I am pretty amazed how much I got right in terms of dimensions. Here it is partially built with key caps off of my non-uk mega keyboard.

There are a few changes required such as;

• The Return key is a little off to the right by about 1-2mm needs pushing left by that much.
• Function keys whole row need dropping down by 1mm this also will help to clear the HD6301 chip in its socket that just brushes the F10 key at the bottom of its stroke. Plan is not to use the HD6301 in the end anyway.
• Need to add in the extra key supports for the Return key (I forgot)
• Need to add in the supports for Space bar for both variants (long and short)

Icky wrote: 27 Aug 2022 21:48 OK, so as an original keyboard with the HD6301 chip it works. Let there be an ESC key.

@Badwolf - listen to the clickity-clack

Ooo, reminiscent of the sound of early IBM keyboards!

Touch typing test next time, please! :D

BW

This is cool, I'd love to build these for my STs, an XE replacement keyboard is another project that could be good to work on, I think they use the same keys so if it's open sourced the adapters could be shared. Love the idea.

JezC wrote: 27 Aug 2022 21:49 Ah, I've used the NXP equivalents in the past...we're finding the TI parts one of the hardest to obtain reliably in the current shortages!

I may well swap to NXP for the reasons you state @JezC. I have some of the TI ones on order but lets see once the chip shortage sorts itself out.

Astal wrote: 03 Sep 2022 06:55 This is cool, I'd love to build these for my STs, an XE replacement keyboard is another project that could be good to work on, I think they use the same keys so if it's open sourced the adapters could be shared. Love the idea.

@Astal - the key caps I am using are from a Mega ST keyboard which was also a cherry based keyboard and not the standard ST,F,M,E keyboard as they are different key caps. Am in the process of working through getting new key caps made though, cherry ones that is for this keyboard.

Woohoo, the assembler who had my v1 Phoenix Shifter boards that were destined to be bodged found them in their workshop. They are now on their way back which basically ups my FPGA count to 4 which one of these will go on the keyboard. Have been holding off soldering the rest of the keys to get the FPGA on and then finish off.

Aww that would've been awesome if they were the ST/F/M keys, still cool to see a good board for ST!

Astal wrote: 03 Sep 2022 06:55 This is cool, I'd love to build these for my STs, an XE replacement keyboard is another project that could be good to work on, I think they use the same keys so if it's open sourced the adapters could be shared. Love the idea.

@Astal, there is an XE keyboard in the works already by @gianlucarenzi - viewtopic.php?f=62&t=4277