The A500 mini - Working Keyboard Mod

Not the most useful mod I have done, but a cool one.
Amazon links help support this channel
My eBay Store (Amiga VGA/HDMI Adapters, Optical Mice, Gotek Floppy, and more) = www.ebay.com/sch/jond5/m.html
Buy anything on Amazon with this link to help me (no extra cost) = amzn.to/3drPhhp
My Website = www.retrofriends.com
00:00 Intro
01:18 Design
08:13 Cutting the Keys Out
10:55 The PCB
14:54 Assembly of the PCB
24:57 Test Fitting
25:44 Modding the Keyboard Controller Board
26:58 Making Everything Fit
28:29 Installing the Keycaps
30:39 The Finished Product
33:21 Demonstration and Final Thoughts
BOM
The A500mini = amzn.to/3TY8B5D
Keyboard Controller = amzn.to/3y6VeYA
Microswitches (x100) = www.digikey.com/en/products/d...
Ribbon cable pin header = www.digikey.com/en/products/d...
1206 SMD LED = amzn.to/3LYq2QO
Hookup wire, 30 AWG = amzn.to/3yfhsYj
USB hub = amzn.to/3V4cK9u
USB dust cover = www.thingiverse.com/thing:148...
PCB 1.2mm thick on PCBWAY = www.pcbway.com/project/sharep...
PCB from my ebay store = www.ebay.com/sch/jond5/m.html
Thingiverse link for membrane and spacer = www.thingiverse.com/thing:554...
Tools
Dremel = amzn.to/3rybi1L
Soldering station = amzn.to/3fI9v7o
Sandpaper 220grit = amzn.to/3CxNam8
Xacto knife = amzn.to/3SDUsKP
TPU filament = amzn.to/3V4Uvkv
Solder flux = amzn.to/3Cx37ZG
PCB holder = amzn.to/3CxvR4D
Headband magnifier = amzn.to/3CacBJa
CA Glue = amzn.to/3V0EXOq

[@boke75]

Well done ! Retrogames should hire you to do the A500 Mini Ver. 2.0 ! Why not ? You already designed everything.

[@wimwiddershins]

Hmm, with this the A500 suddenly looks like something I'd want.

[@dazealex]

I have been buying these since they may stop producing them anytime... So better get one while you can, to add to your collection.

[@MrLukealbanese]

Astonishing achievement. You sir are a genius and a madman!!

[@retrofriends]

Muahahaha!!!

[@czviktor]

Omg Somebody do it for all 👍❤️

[@Richard-ys9zo]

you should build full sized A500 replacement keyboards!!!!! This is amazing work

[@NiTye357]

Pretty awesome

[@Rick_Todd]

Really good job. All the best from UK England

[@cyrilf92]

This is madness, hard to believe 😮 Great job !

[@DanielBrainbox]

This is very cool. Great mod

[@AllensTrains]

I think this demonstrates that an A500 Mini with a working keyboard is a useful item. Although you would seldom need to use the keys, the fact that you have a working keyboard means you've got more options. If the A500 Maxi is not forthcoming, maybe this will inspire the manufacturer to supply a version with a working keyboard? Thanks for uploading.

[@V3ntilator]

If you are running Workbench on A500 Mini, you are forced to have a keyboard connected.

[@AllensTrains]

@@V3ntilator True. Most users wouldn't be running Workbench as you don't get that with it and have to set it up yourself!

[@V3ntilator]

@@AllensTrains True. I were a hardcore Amiga user, so i needed Workbench on it. Still remember Amiga system inside out as i didn't only play games on it. :)

[@AllensTrains]

@@V3ntilator I have got 3 Amigas - an A500, an A600 and a A1200 - all in working order" That's why I was interested in this video. But I came to the conclusion the Mini was too much hassle. If they make a full-sized one with a built-in keyboard I will be much more tempted to order it!

[@V3ntilator]

@@AllensTrains Yeah. I still own expanded CD32, 2x 1200 with 68030, A500+/020 and A500. I still bought the Mini yesterday on sale. It's named A500, but runs A1200 AGA games too. It's the best retro box ever for several reasons.

[@bigd5090]

What patience! Well done!

[@michaelbuddy]

This is so sick man, great job.

[@proteque]

Very impressive work you did here!

[@cemc.852]

Great job, well done!

[@zool8008]

Impressive project, well done!

[@garyhart6421]

Nicely Done !

[@Electrotat]

This is awesome! Well done for completing this project. 👍🏼

[@AmiMagTV]

Nice work bro!

[@gadgetmiser]

Well done sir! Lord of the Mod!

[@PatrikSIngvarsson]

Great work!

[@dadautube]

Say thanks for a great job so well done showing how patient and skillful you are! 🤩

[@naviamiga]

Blimey, that's awesome.

[@HidgRa]

Great job!

[@ralfr.5974]

Really Cool!! 👍🏻😎

[@anglebox1431]

Really great work I want to give it a go..

[@zahory77]

Wow!!! great job!!!

[@PaulPadoan]

Such wonderful madness!

[@retrofriends]

Well said!

[@gbraadnl]

Really nicely done. Kinda jealous now... I just received the A1200-net replcaement keycaps, but this is a level beyond ;-)

[@johnziggiridis3168]

Wow great mod dear friend enjoy the migi!!!!!p.s need patience to put all these micro switches!!!

[@ivanskido]

excellent. love it

[@easyerthanyouthink]

Holy cow dude you crazy 👍

[@retrofriends]

🤪

[@twotsunami]

nice job men!

[@alanhaynes4576]

Well done. and thanks for proving it is possible.

[@retrofriends]

Thanks for watching!

[@mertdemir958]

Thanks

[@CommodoreFan_nl]

Well done. A lot of work, too much for me, but nice to see.

[@ArdaKaraduman]

wow, great project sir ! my hats off to you, I was wondering if something like this is physically possible. I could possibly build and populate the PCB, but cutting the keys is beyond me. Most probably I would chop a couple of fingers off in the process lol :)

[@ClassicRetroByte]

Wow this is amazing 😍 and would compliment my amiga mod. Only if my eyes and hands where as good as yours. Great video and explanations. 👍

[@retrofriends]

My eyes are not the best. I wear glasses, and use a head-mounted magnifier. Thank you though 🙂

[@Dzanomaniak]

Un peu fou , excellent !!!

[@Mahrellon]

We need this to become a kickstart project and serial manufacturing thing.

[@retrofriends]

A sweet idea, but because of costs even a mass produced keyboard would be too expensive when compared to the low price of the A500 mini. I hope they come out with a full-size version like they did with the C64. Unlike the C64, you can actually do many practical things on the A500. A full sized version with working keyboard can be used for the internet/email, desktop publishing, etc. A real chance to be a daily driver theough a rebirth.

[@michaelmcpeters8098]

@@retrofriends or Make a "Kit" out of it... the membrane and PCB and the buttons, etc... 🙂

[@ThePiratmartin]

I will this! Take my money!

[@pawehektor6633]

Excellent! Now it will be good to mount a tiny floppy drive - lT-1 or iomega PocketDrive :D

[@michaelmcpeters8098]

Or internalize a SD card reader in that slot. 🙂

[@BleughBleugh]

Great video - you've documented quite well the development process to make these things work. The 'small' switches has been the bane of my getting a 'production' a500 mini keyboard going....I'm soooo close. The biggest issue is that all the small switches with enough 'meat' on the stem to grab onto a keyswitch are round!, and rotate within the body. D'oh!...I think i have it

[@retrofriends]

6:26 perhaps you didn't watch the whole video. I pointed out that trying to attach the keycaps directly to microswitches seemed unpractical to me, which is why I made an intermediate membrane instead. If you come up with an alternate solution that works, more power to you :)

[@BleughBleugh]

@@retrofriends Hi, I did watch it all :-) was more interested in that long list of switches you listed, and weren't clear if you actually purchased them!

[@retrofriends]

@@BleughBleugh I don't mind if you didn't, my videos can be boring - but thanks for sitting through it lol. I did purchase all of them - the price of prototyping :/ They all turned out to be very similar and the decision on which one to use was a combination of footprint and operating force. The footprint was a huge concern in relation to the PCB layout - need to have enough space between the switches!

[@BleughBleugh]

@@retrofriends honestly, I did :-) and i've subscribed....trying to steal ideas for my own product ;-) did any of the switches with stems not rotate? - the datasheets don't reveal this cruical nugget!

[@retrofriends]

@@BleughBleugh They all rotate AFAIK. I looked into that too. Take a look at "dome" switches.

[@zybch]

I wish I had your patience. I'd love to mod my A500 mini (and the C64 mini too). I was hoping RetroGames would create something like this, but alas its too niche to put into production I suppose.

[@retrofriends]

Not financially practical, I'll bet. If enough interest is made, they might come out with a full-size A500 with working keyboard, like they did the C64.

[@sluxi]

amazing project. wonder if there would be a way to make something similar work in manufacturing. A mini home computer based thing like this would really benefit from a kb

[@retrofriends]

You can buy some pretty small keyboards. I looked into it when researching this project. Had to roll my own.

[@arturk2021]

Hi Good idea write Full Version Amiga 500 !! Regards Artur

[@clivepotts1273]

Ha, brilliant but not for my chunky sausage fingers haha

[@ricknasher6227]

Really nice! Indeed if they would have done this from scratch a lot more people would have bought it. I never understand why instead of a full non-working A1200 keybd nobody went for an A600ish keyboard setup for would save tremendous space and at the same time make it large enough for being typeable. Just use numpad switch for the rare occasions you'd need it. It would be like having a brand new fully functional Amiga A1200, call it A1600 or so. 🙃 I'd buy it for sure: less desk space than my A1200 AND very versatile. The ideal compromise I'd say.

[@retrofriends]

It's all about the price point. I have a gut feeling that even at this price these units didn't fly off the shelf. They could make a full size version like they did with the c64, but only if they have the confidence that people will buy it. We have an example of their stratagy with the c64 line.

[@ricknasher6227]

@retrofriends True, there's probably a price tag to it. But I really would love an Amiga capabele of A1200 stuff (and perhaps some more, in an A600 casing for let's face it, my A1200 is too large to be on my already busy desk, but the A600 formfactor would be more easy to snug in on most people's desk. If this new small Amiga would have A1200 capabilities or better then this could be a real winner.

[@msuc5vette]

This is brilliant, although as you indicate in the description, a ton of work for the benefit. However....What about making a new PCB for real Amiga and C64 cases?? Could you upscale what you have done here to make a USB keyboard for those cases? As you likely know, there are a ton of options for both platforms to make a new modern emulation of those machines with brand new cases, but keyboards are either unavailable or very expensive.

[@retrofriends]

Someone sells a USB keyboard adapter for the a500. I think on eBay.

[@Vlad-1986]

Man, this is my problem with those "mini"stuff. For a console, I get it, but a full featured computer with multimedia capabilities? Man, that is dumb. Even if you sacrifice an usb port for a keyboard, the thing will take more room than if it was full sized. I eye the A500 mini a lot, is nearly what I want, but I am waiting for a version with working keyboard, so I can actually use it as a computer.

[@ridiculous_gaming]

The sad thing about this video is that it reminds me how unintelligent I really am. I know that I am not too smart, but videos like yours illustrates how utterly low I am compared to individuals like yourself. Nevertheless, what a fantastic project and add-on for the A500 mini...I know every Mini owner dreams about one.

[@retrofriends]

Everyone is smart in their own way :)

[@choppergirl]

l33t hAx award

[@VIRAL_DNA]

If you really want to keep that 4th USB port you can, just need to use something like a NanoHub Tiny USB hub (12x12x1.5mm).

[@hackerx7329]

As an educational exercise, neat. As a practical exercise, no. No way am I personally going to try to tame my ADHD brain to focus long enough to finish that tedious project for a result I can't feasibly use. I do appreciate somebody else having done it so I can watch the video and tell my brain to shut up because it isn't going to happen.

[@retrofriends]

Yep, we are in agreement of the useability of such a small keyboard. That's okay, because my interest in the project was to have fun, excercise my design skills, and learn from it 😊.

[@bigd5090]

A lot of effort for a keyboard you have to use tweezers to use!

[@retrofriends]

Lol

[@gregskuza7166]

Great video, do you have any keyboard matrix pcb left? I would like to buy one from you if you do…

[@retrofriends]

Click the link in the description for my ebay store to buy one from me :)

[@paulcotto]

Is it possible to make a plug adapter for an A1200 keyboard to the Keyboard Controller? Do you have an A1200 keymap to ribbon cable pinout?

[@retrofriends]

No I don't have that. Anything is possible, but I'm done with keyboards for a while.

[@mark12358]

@@retrofriends YUP! After watching you doing all of this great (but tedious) job, I'm going to agree with you!

[@owenbevans6062]

Now make a size appropriate monitor and drives that function.

[@markorollo.]

Bought this yesterday, as well as the commodore 64 version, i wanted to use them connected to my laptop but not sure i can, would you know if thats possible?

[@retrofriends]

These are stand alone emulator SBCs. You would essentially be connecting your laptop to another computer. Not sure why you would be doing that, but that's essentially networking, and these are not designed for that.

[@alessiotidei6237]

Isn't there another shop to buy microswitches? Shipping too expensive for Italy

[@retrofriends]

I'm not familiar with the options in Italy. I do know that any of these parts can be cross referenced and acquired from China suppliers.

[@robertjendrisak4246]

u r crazzy, IMHO absolutely not worth the effort :)

[@retrofriends]

Like I said in the video, I always learn from projects like this. No regerts :P

[@Tech-geeky]

Just opens up for hackers/mod's alike. Fingers are too fat for one. I like it and good job, but i don't understand the concept when all you would do is double typos anyway. What actually makes sense for all vs what you want it for are two very different things..

[@retrofriends]

I have made the same point about the usability of this project. It's all about the journey with this one. Think of this as a plastic model kit or a puzzle.

[@maniaque37]

why not simply use a usb hub and plug a full size keyboard ? this mod is cool but thats a much too small keyboard and alot of problems for nothing since you can just get yourself a usb hub. i dont see how you could use such a small keyboard properly unless you have extremely small fingers.

[@retrofriends]

Yes, although there are enough ports in the A500 mini for the keyboard - no hub required. We are all in agreement that its usefulness is low. As I said in the video, this multi-discipline project was great fun and a good exercise in making. (I don't blame viewers for missing details in these longer videos)

[@maniaque37]

@@retrofriends nope not enough ports if you plug in a usb key so yes you need the usb hub. usb key is essential as it is like having a hard drive and to stock games apps.

[@michaelevervall9889]

I just connected a wireless keyboard to my A500 mini. Took 10 seconds. Problem solved. ╮(′～‵〞)╭

[@retrofriends]

LoL "problem solved".

[@michaelevervall9889]

@@retrofriends Yeah the problem that it actually lacks a working, physical keyboard. No one likes on-screen keyboards. ╮(╯_╰)╭ And a keyboard as small as the A500 Mini's keyboard just feels crippled tbh. 😄 Dont get me wrong, it's a nice idea making the A500 Mini's keyboard into a fully functional keyboard, but I can't see the practical part of it. 😄

[@retrofriends]

I made the same determination before I started the project (in other words there was no problem to solve). For makers however, not all projects are useful, but all projects are an opportunity to learn. I also don't blame them for not making it a functional keyboard at this price point. I pretty much said all this in the video, but I don't blame you for not sitting through every minute.

[@michaelevervall9889]

@@retrofriends I think someone tried a similar mod with the C64 Mini. 🤔

[@arnolduk123]

I admire all that work in making the mod but why not simply put the A500 Mini PCB into an original A500 case and use the real A500 keyboard. The mini keyboard is not pratical or even suitable for typing on. Get one of those $10 mini usb bluetooth keyboards and plug it into the usb socket, much less expensive and much easier to type on.

[@retrofriends]

Sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination.

[@arnolduk123]

​@@retrofriends so whats a journey or destination got to do with plugging a usb keyboard into your mini A500 ?

[@retrofriends]

@@arnolduk123 Never heard our mantra? It is a phrase uttered by every "maker" today, and means the process of making something is just as important, often more so, as the final product. If the journey to making something wasn't fun and a learning experience, there would be no "makers", and a lot of inventions would never have been made. Artists would also be scarce. If you want to see a channel dedicated to the wonderful "journey", I suggest you check out Adam Savage's Tested.

[@arnolduk123]

@@retrofriends OK, I get waht you mean now, yes the fun is in the making :)

[@thickdickwad7736]

This is way too much work, that’s what the Asian sweat shops are for, tedium repetitive tasks

[@LeftIsBest001]

There really is no point, as it's too small to be used practically.

[@agassiaqua8328]

i want this too 🥹