How we designed a mechanical keyboard PCB!

How we designed the Grabert mechanical keyboard PCB!
For more information: github.com/KoB...

[@rjrodrig]

The capacitors are important to load the output correctly and present the correct impedance where there are transients. Having decade capacitor like 1uF in parallel with 0.1uf and 100pF allows you to bypass high frequency noise. In a simple LDO you won't experience much trouble, but in a switching regulator with large transients you can have LDO stability issues where it can oscillate. So only then you appreciate adding decades of capacitance at the input and output of the LDO.

[@kobuss5680]

Ahh, I see. Thank you so much for this comment. I added a little card a 6:25 pointing to EEVblog's video explaining what you mentioned. Beginners mistake!

[@rjrodrig]

@@kobuss5680 The caps will lower your impedance over a broader frequency range. You would also appreciate it when you are testing for FCC/CE EMC trying to certify your product. You find that if your circuits switching are not properly bypassed, they produce unnecessary EMI and you simply fail the test :( That is rough! Sometimes you fail for other reasons like poor PCB design, lack of signal integrity on signals, but other times can be your regulators and switching circuits. RF is the other reason you can fail, but it all boils down to properly bypassing your circuits. Good Job in your video!

[@Fluxtrance]

@@kobuss5680 Just wanted to say - thanks so much for following up here and opening up discussions + providing corrections in the comments. As someone with only a CS background (no CE) and hardly any circuit design experience, just listening to someone walk through their process has helped tremendously in giving me a starting point on my own keyboard project. The video you referenced here cleared up a lot of confusion I had following both yours and others' guides around this particular part of the circuit. Rjrodrig6, thanks for taking the time to provide some context here as well!

[@papukaiffa]

No matter what your powersupply is I always recommend adding some capacitance close to in/out pins. Most linear regulators require some - but not too much - capacitance to input and output (read the datasheet)

[@johnlee7377]

@@kobuss5680 hey kobuss, i love your content man! would you happen to know if there are 3d cadcam models of current public keyboards?

[@acykablyatley]

really cool diodeless approach, not often you see someone moving such a mature technology forward like this!

[@TeeRexington]

Great video! I'd like to add auxiliary usb or even a nic port to the board I'm making. Great job on the very clear descriptions!

[@petermuller608]

Are you using an USB Switch Chip?

[@Handskemager]

The reset “button” can just be a resistor and when you need to reset, bridge the resistor with a pair of tweezers

[@KNCKeys]

Thank you so much for making these videos. I’ve been wanting to design my own board!

[@grindcorey]

I also would like to know this!

[@toxicitysocks]

Oh hai Kahlil! Love u and the stuff u put out!

[@logimite7174]

Hey, great video! I am actually designing the same exact project!

[@uriafassina]

Great video! Thanks for sharing all this knowledge!

[@fishadthethird]

Very nice overview! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@j6n_]

going through this process myself and dropping the matrix for the higher io chip was brilliant! I was wondering how much did the pcbs cost in the end and where did you go to manufacture these?

[@JoJoNumbarOne]

Why not use pins? You are a smart guy. You get my like and subscrption

[@dlofton123]

I would like to see a video on how you programmed the arm controller

[@SnowmansApartment]

with multiple layout configurations, you mean that in one section you have different positions for keys, where they could also be offset by half a centimeter? So if you don‘t want that, it should be quite straight forward, right?

[@nox_out]

Can I ask, how did you program the keyboard? Was it through DFU USB or through the SWD pins?

[@rangerdanger7289]

Great video :)

[@bangs_edit]

this might sound stupid but can I just cut a pcb board in half on a keyboard?

[@kobuss5680]

Unfortunately it would not work cut in half :) Check out all the open source split keyboards!

[@HopperDragon]

You're right, that did sound stupid.

[@jasonkim9579]

Hey little late to the party, I'm looking into making diode-less keyboard with QMK support. I do not see STM32F072V8T6 on the list of compatible microcontroller for QMK. I just wanna confirm if STM32F072V8T6 actually support QMK and have you tested with it? As I'm quite new to this any input would be amazing! Thanks in advance

[@SavageJay.]

Hey, great video! loved it, subbed :D

[@higaddrip7616]

Are there any major advantages to assigning each key its own pin on the micro controller? Like key press latency etc, and is there anything else you need to think about that you wouldn’t when using a matrix? I want to make a small gaming keyboard with only a few keys, and I want to have individually addressable LEDs per key. Obviously a matrix would reduce the number of pins I need, but I’m interested in the potential for the latency save somewhat?

[@disolsole9847]

How would I make this into something with a wireless chip and Bluetooth?

[@spru22amerda]

What company produced the PCB? Did you get the ST soldered by them?

[@herbivorouscyborg2398]

How much more complicated do you think it would it be if I wanted to support 2.4GHz and bluetooth wireless modes? Or how about per key RGB lighting?

[@bigblueenergy]

I was gonna ask that too

[@alexanderding606]

Hey I am actually doing the exact thing you did! I am creating my keyboard from scratch on KiCad and I would love to ask you some questions if you don't mind. Is there a preferred medium of communication you prefer?

[@justbake7239]

an individual pin for each key that's new

[@owenmcpro]

amazing video, i want to try and make my own keyboard, just one question the keyboard 3d model, which one do you use?

[@bigblueenergy]

Hey could you do this but basically how to make a keyboard pcb for dummies?

[@musicalwolf5481]

Would the process be a lot different if I’m designing a macro num pad with an lcd and Rotary dial?

[@kobuss5680]

It would be pretty similar, but the layout and wiring should be a lot more simple

[@bruinv3738]

How would you route data and power lines for addressable led, would it require a separate layer?

[@kobuss5680]

You could route them similarly on a 2 layer board. You could make one side of the board a filled zone with 5v and then route the data lines on the same layer.

[@jockyyang9890]

Im currently making my own pcb and there are some connections that I'm not sure of, so I'm trying to find some on github that are using the same MC as me, but I don't know how to convert the code into schematics that I can view.

[@Thomas..Anderson]

Is there any advantage to using separate MCU pins for each key instead od diode matrix?

[@eduardogears5259]

your audio is way too low, besides that great vid

[@rashidmp1986]

Iam also making the exact same keyboard but I want to add led between switches. Could anyone please explain where to connect led switches

[@Magmachu]

Hey, what's a good replacement for the MCU that you used?

[@JoaoPedro-xq3ku]

Hello! Why do you have 2 or more switches in the same place?

[@VishalSingh-wo9zv]

I couldn't find the BOM file in your GitHub, please help

[@martin_j_ward1871]

how much does something like this cost to print?

[@JL13DUB7]

what operating system are you using in this video?

[@X7cF4]

I subscribed coz cattttoooo

[@XeviousGG]

hi for some reason trying to load the project in kicad isnt working i think because im using v5.1.10

[@kobuss5680]

Yes, I think it has to do with the version. The Grabert PCB needs to be opened with the nightly build of KiCad.

[@Mr0kyuubi]

kicad gives me error opening schema file. Does not appear to be an eeschema file. There is no solution in any forum, need help pls.

[@kobuss5680]

You will need the nightly KiCad to open the files.

[@Hehexd29]

Hi! Wanted to know if you guys accept commissions for an alps 65% pcb :)

[@joeysartain6056]

All I can see it cats. You should disable their display. Plus too much zooming in and out.

[@CarsonMatthews-fq6bj]

wow this is really neat! i'm trying to build something like this and need your help because i'm only 14 and new to making stuff like this. I was wondering if you could help me and jump on a call with me please if you can consider it.

[@nicholasvandesteene8769]

how did you make the key switches on your schematic?

[@kobuss5680]

They are just the default push button diagram from KiCad

[@user-yx4bo6qo9x]

Why use a 32 bit controller?

[@kobuss5680]

I think the flexibility really comes with using a Arm Cortex-M MCU as you can then use a whole host of libraries other than QMK. Keyberon rust firmware is one great example.

[@davidespigolon8170]

Can you integrate an hub usb?

[@kobuss5680]

I believe it is possible to support chaining the USB 2.0 bus to another connector, but most micro controllers can't be USB hosts.

[@insu_na]

This reaaaaaaallly makes me want to make my own custom keyboard D: like custom, custom. self-designed PCB, self-designed case & plate.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh damn. I should never have watched this video :'( goodbye wallet & time

[@benedictarmstrong]

yea q